Chief mastering engineer Kathy Naunton explains, “the art of mastering begins with LISTENING. Don’t laugh! This is probably THE most important part out of the whole process”.
Listening in an acoustically engineered environment, specifically designed for mastering, will mean your mix can be appraised objectively, while also bringing a fresh set of ears and outside perspective.
“I often hear from clients who attempt to master their own productions and are frustrated that their masters don’t seem to translate to the real world. This is because It is incredibly difficult to remain objective after spending hours, days, maybe weeks labouring over the mix and why it’s so important to engage a professional to listen closely and to take your music to the next level”. – Kathy Naunton
“I often hear from clients who attempt to master their own productions and are frustrated that their masters don’t seem to translate to the real world. This is because It is incredibly difficult to remain objective after spending hours, days, maybe weeks labouring over the mix and why it’s so important to engage a professional to listen closely and to take your music to the next level”. – Kathy Naunton
dB Mastering utilises a range of classic analogue equipment and state of the art digital tools. Combined with our expertise we tonally shape the sound, add punch, clarity and define the dynamics of your mix, enhancing width, depth and definition. The processes and techniques are chosen specifically for each and every track.
dB Mastering utilises a range of classic analogue equipment and state of the art digital tools. Combined with our expertise we tonally shape the sound, add punch, clarity and define the dynamics of your mix, enhancing width, depth and definition. The processes and techniques are chosen specifically for each and every track.
“I believe my background in recording, production, editing, mixing for bands, film and tv gives me an empathetic perhaps even telepathic understanding of how other peoples tracks and mixes have come together, the challenges that may have been faced during production and the possibilities that still remain for mastering to create the ultimate version”. – Kathy Naunton
“Kathy Naunton from dB Mastering is not only an exquisite person, but has the best mastering ears in Sydney. Having worked with us on our last 3 releases, Kathy has brought new life to already great-sounding recordings, and mastered for us the highest selling Australian jazz release of 2012, the ‘Best Jazz Album’ Aria-nominated album from 2011, and the ‘Best Jazz Album’ ARIA winner from 2013. The beautiful warmth and intricate nuance she brings to her work is matched only by her great depth of innate understanding of what any given recording needs from her expert sonic ‘polishing’. Not to mention how incredibly easy she is to work with. As long as Kathy’s still mastering, we won’t be going anywhere else in a hurry.”
“No matter how well you play, what great mikes you use, or who records your work – the result will always depend very heavily on how it’s mastered. That’s why I trust my music to dB Mastering, Kathy treats the sound with the same care and attention to detail as the musicians themselves.”
“Kathy Naunton is always my first port of call when it comes to mastering my releases. Not only does she have an amazing ear with sound, but what I dig about Kathy is that she genuinely loves what she does for a living. That love and attention to detail that she provides is so very important in producing a quality end product. It’s always a pleasure hanging out and working on a project with Kathy.”
“Mastering is a mysterious process, and not one I pretend to understand well, but as a producer who is often entrusted with the precious goods at the end of hundreds of hours of work, it is very reassuring to be in the safe hands of an expert with very good ears and a room full of good equipment. I have had the pleasure of working with Kathy many times on different projects for more than ten years now, and I’ve always been overwhelmed with the quality of the masters she delivers. She has a great way of dealing with people, and a great touch for sweetening your records before they are handed over to the audience.”
“I trust Kathy Naunton’s ear more than anyone else in the industry,
I always get the exact sound that I want plus more, I wouldn’t go anywhere else for mastering. And I love you!”
“I never go past the shine and wonderful master-after touches that Kathy puts into all my music deliveries…… whether it be music for production music libraries, scores to television series or features. I always book into dB Mastering for all my final tweaking — and it makes such a difference. And best of all, Kathy is a pleasure to work with, and I have a solid 15 year history with them to prove it !”
“Having worked with dB Mastering since it’s inception with the Volition label, I find a high level of skill and expertise that I can rely on – I return and always get the goods.
What I look for and get from Kathy at dB Mastering, is a quality finish for a quality album and over 15 years of consistency counts for a lot in my books.
On a personal level, it also pleases me greatly that the idea of establishing a superior mastering facility in Australia with her late great dB partner, Robert Racic, when the first Volition releases were coming through, is a reality that lives on. Respect!”
“While we have swapped and changed studios and producers, Kathy has been our single constant pillar in the recording process. We have used dB Mastering since the inception of our band and intend to continue doing so. Kathy’s quality of work and professionalism are second to none. The translation of the song from studio to mastered version is always night & day. She enables us to clearly hear everything that is going on in the mix, ultimately giving a warm, fully rounded, radio quality song.”