Masterdisk

Masterdisk is an American audio mastering facility based in New York City known for its work on popular music, classical recordings, and film soundtracks. Founded in the early 1970s, the company has been associated with numerous prominent artists, record labels, producers, and engineers across multiple decades. Masterdisk's engineers and facilities have contributed to landmark releases in rock, pop, jazz, hip hop, and electronic music.

History

Masterdisk originated in the 1970s amid a changing recording industry landscape when engineers and entrepreneurs sought specialized mastering houses to serve labels such as Atlantic Records, Columbia Records, Capitol Records, Warner Bros. Records, and Island Records. Early personnel included engineers who had worked at studios like RCA Studio A, A&M Studios, Electric Lady Studios, Criteria Studios, and Record Plant. During the 1980s and 1990s Masterdisk interacted with executives and producers from Arista Records, Epic Records, Geffen Records, Motown Records, and Def Jam Recordings, adapting to shifts driven by formats including vinyl record, compact disc, and digital audio workstations influenced by tools from Sony Corporation, Philips, and companies such as Apple Inc. and Avid Technology. The firm navigated industry consolidation events involving Time Warner, Vivendi, Bertelsmann, and independent distributors while collaborating with mastering engineers who had associations with projects by Phil Spector, Quincy Jones, Rick Rubin, Brian Eno, and George Martin.

Services and Operations

Masterdisk provided analog cutting, digital remastering, audio restoration, mastering for vinyl and CD, and preparation of digital delivery formats used by distributors like Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and independent labels. Its workflow integrated equipment and standards from manufacturers and formats such as Neumann (company), Scully (film business), Ampex, Studer, SSL (Solid State Logic), Neve (company), API (audio electronics), and producers using consoles similar to those at Sunset Sound. Masterdisk offered services to projects destined for physical media pressing plants operated by firms akin to GZ Media and digital aggregators influenced by platforms like iTunes, Spotify, and streaming services run by companies such as Amazon (company) and Tidal (service). The facility also liaised with rights holders represented by entities like ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and unions including AFTRA and IATSE.

Notable Projects and Artists

Over decades Masterdisk worked on releases for high-profile artists and ensembles including The Rolling Stones, The Beatles (via legacy releases), Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Madonna (entertainer), Prince (musician), Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Queen (band), Michael Jackson, Nirvana, Radiohead, U2, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Duke Ellington, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Joni Mitchell, Rick James, Public Enemy, Run-D.M.C., The Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Celine Dion, Adele (singer), Coldplay, Metallica, R.E.M., The Clash, Patti Smith, Tom Petty, The Who, The Police, Sonic Youth, Beastie Boys, Depeche Mode, The Cure, Elvis Presley, Billy Joel, Carole King, Janet Jackson, D'Angelo, Kendrick Lamar, Dr. Dre, and numerous soundtrack projects tied to studios like Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, and producers affiliated with Hans Zimmer and John Williams.

Facilities and Equipment

Masterdisk's facility housed analog cutting lathes, digital converters, monitoring systems, and restoration suites comparable to gear from Neumann (company), Ortofon, Stanton Magnetics, Scully (film business), Van den Hul, Dangerous Music, Burl Audio, Lindell Audio, Manley Laboratories, API (audio electronics), Neve (company), SSL (Solid State Logic), Studer, Ampex, and mastering software by companies like iZotope, Waves Audio, and Universal Audio. Monitoring included loudspeakers inspired by designs from Yamaha Corporation, Genelec, PMC (company), and Bowers & Wilkins. The facility maintained quality-control processes aligned with standards propagated by groups such as RIAA and technical references from institutions like AES (Audio Engineering Society), collaborating with pressing plants, duplication services, and metadata systems used by distributors including Discogs and rights management platforms.

Awards and Recognition

Engineers associated with Masterdisk and projects mastered there received industry recognition including nominations and awards from the Grammy Awards, A2IM (American Association of Independent Music) acknowledgements, and citations within technical forums such as AES (Audio Engineering Society) conferences. Releases mastered at the facility featured in industry lists maintained by publications such as Rolling Stone (magazine), Billboard (magazine), NME, Pitchfork, and MOJO (magazine), and were part of retrospective exhibits at cultural institutions like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Library of Congress, and university archives associated with Berklee College of Music and New England Conservatory.

Category:Audio mastering studios Category:Recording studios in New York City