Deluxe Mastering

17/06/2024

So today I completed my 61st orbit of the Sun.

I feel privileged to have arrived here in this present moment amazingly in good form physically, emotionally and spiritually.

My previous life choices shouldn't have allowed me to do so.

It's a sad indictment that (depending who you ask), the average lifespan of an artistic / creative is 57. I'm truly blessed to have eclipsed that mark.

Today is not that much different to other days in that I'm feeling immense gratitude for the things that cannot be bought, put in a box and wrapped up in a bow.

The love and devotion of my beautiful wife Connie Gourvelos, wonderful family and friends, general well being, a successful studio that somehow still manages to keep its doors open, and above anything else, the greatest gift of all.........Life itself.

As I age each year a little more disgracefully, I pity those who see each anniversary of their birfday as a curse......a reason to complain about aches and pains.......wrinkles........saggy bits.......double chin......love handles and just not being as sprightly as their previous selves.

Ageing is a privilege that is not bestowed upon everybody.

Losing 2 very close mates (Phil Krokidis & Michael Bradley) within a week of each other in recent years, who were both quite younger than me was a sobering reminder of this truism.

The odds of being here in this realm is 1 in 400,000,000,000,000.

You probably have a better chance of getting hit by lightning twice and then winning the lottery in the same week.

So while things may not be exactly as you'd prefer today, (if you have the presence of mind), I invite you to ponder and celebrate that.........and know you can do something to improve your situation.

I'm acutely aware there are less years ahead of me than I have enjoyed to date.

This makes my remaining time here more than ever my most valuable resource.

Time to stop counting time and making time count.


It's my intention to make the best use of it, by being the best Father, hubby and friend I can be.

This also means continuing to serve the community I love so much, through my mastering studio both as an engineer and a mentor to those open to what's on offer, not to mention speaking to those who want to make positive change(s) in their world.

Time does fly.........make the most of it.

Don't put off the things that excite and inspire you.

Father time will creep up on you like a Ninja.

Oh and don't "grow up"........it's waaaaaay overrated and I refuse to "act my age" ;-)

Happy Tuesdee Kids.

Image Barry C. Douglas

13/06/2024

On a hunch I reached out to somebody today that's not particularly close to me, but reading behind the lines of some of his recent postings I decided to check in on him.

As it turned out I was right.

Something (or as in his case) more than one thing was up.

We're all feeling different feels right now with financial pressure, personal struggles and uncertainty in the world on a grand scale.

Some of us are in it deeper than others.

I have spent my fair share of time in the bottom of the pit.

In light of this situation, I'm extending an invitation to those of you open to considering this.

If / when you have the time and / or mental bandwidth, check in on anybody you feel could use a friendly ear.

If they're not open to it, then respect their wishes and try again with somebody else.

No doubt there will be someone who will be open to your offer and appreciate you holding space for them.

Don't be there to dispense advice not matter how good you think it might be (unless invited to).

Just listen.

Don't underestimate the power that simple act can have.

Happy Thursdee Kids.

Image Barry C. Douglas

12/06/2024

Big shout out to my newest top fans! 💎

Scott Bertram

11/06/2024

One question that I get asked often and comes up from time to time on various mixing / production / mastering forums is on automated mastering services and what people think of them.

It's a hot topic with a wide spectrum of opinions. For some it's the death knell of mastering as we know it and for others it's the answer to their prayers.

Personally I never had an issue with them. In fact I have to give props to whomever had the foresight to create such a service. It's evident there is a demand for it given how much they have grown.

They have their right to exist in the mastering ecosystem.

Like with anything there will be pros and cons depending on what you're needs are and on what you place value on.

Everybody has a different perception of value.

Rather than complain about it, I feel those who are vocal would be better served looking at finding ways to highlight their point of difference, so as to better serve prospective clients.

If you don't compete at the price range they offer services for it's unlikely you will get their business anyway, so whatever you say will fall on deaf ears making your displeasure a moot point.

I don't have a crystal ball but for now this my forecast as to how things might play out. In the same way fast food outlets haven't completely destroyed fine dining establishments, I doubt automated services will be driving human mastering into extinction for the foreseeable future.

Automated mastering is here to stay. The genie is out of the bottle. Any negativity expressed for the sake of it only negates what good can be offered.

My preference is to continue on finding ways to bring value to that niche market I serve, who understand what it is I bring to the table.

Being upset at anybody deciding to use an on-line service is like a chef being outraged at me for having the temerity to scramble my own eggs.

This post is not an endorsement of automated mastering but I certainly am not an opponent. I just want to get on with it.

If you have made it this far thank you for reading.

Image Barry C. Douglas

24/05/2024

More great RAWK mastered here by me. Thanks to Ablaze for the opportunity to look after them.

Stellar mix as always courtesy of Ricki Rae at Lighthill House Studios

❄️💋 NEW MUSIC VIDEO JUST DROPPED 💋❄️

Special thanks to the amazing Hannah Lind for putting together and performing an amazing routine for the video, and to every legend that helped bring this clip to life:

📽 Filmed and edited by Daniel Armstrong & Rom Anthonis at Strongman Pictures
🎙 Song recorded and mixed by Ricki Rae at Lighthill Sound Recording
🎛 Track mastered by Tony Jack Mantz at Deluxe Mastering
📍 Filmed on location at The Pole Room Mitcham and Musicland Melbourne

Link's in the comments, go watch it 25 times each plz 🤜💥

06/05/2024

My facility Deluxe Mastering is more than just a mastering studio.

It performs that task better than most and will continue to so well into the future.

I will be a place where community is built.

A space for artists / musicians, freelance engineer / producers and studio owner / operators will meet up to talk about the stuff that affects their lives and how to improve upon the current situations they find themselves in.

It will be an environment that fosters support and nurtures talent.

The place where all will be treated respectfully and compassionately sans judgement.

A hub where new friendships and peer groups can start and flourish beyond the four walls they begin in.

I have no grandiose ideals based on delusion, but I know there is power in the individual.

To be that domino that tips enough force to create a chain reaction in other people's lives.

Great leaders do not just amass "followers".

They inspire others to become leaders in their own right, in order to rinse and repeat the process.

Thursdee May 16 I'm facilitating another informal hangout group for those so inclined.

You can register you interest by emailing on the link below

Thanks to those who have come to the groups so far.

I hope to be of service to more of you open to joining us.

Happy Mondee Kids

Image Barry C. Douglas at Barry C. Douglas Artist.

09/04/2024

For the remaining Thursdays of April, I’ll personally master your tracks for $100 per song (limited to 5 per person). Details below.

07/04/2024

Something's becoming patently clear to me these last 2 weeks. this.

People right now are responding positively to a couple of initiatives I have implemented as an experiment.

Firstly my (yes I know cheesy) Thrifty Thursdee offer.

For those of you unaware of this it goes like this.

I'm mastering people's tracks for $100 per song (limited to 5) for the remaining Thursdees of April, after more interest being shown by people still working on projects, but couldn't get their tracks ready in time.

This is my small way of offering value to those who care enough to complete their art to the best representation possible and wanted to work with me, but in the current times found it to be financially prohibitive.

I will post more details and drop a video about this later on today.

Secondly, my private informal hangout groups where artistic / creatives, studio owner / operators & freelance engineer / producers can join me at Deluxe Mastering to participate in an open dialogue to see how we can be a supportive hive mind to and for each other.

There's no cost involved.

As small as these gestures are, they're my way of making a feeble attempt to provide something back to a community that has supported me these last 18 years at my current location.

As we head into more uncertain times, we must look at seeing how we as a community can create smaller self-organised hubs to keep the embers glowing.

Nobody will come to save us.

No Grubbermunt, ideology nor bureaucracy will bring us relief, or levity either.

And the money fairy has taken her gold watch and left us with her superannuation package sipping a pina colada in a tax haven.

Its up to us.

I have faced financial obliteration no less than 3 distinct times these last 40 odd years of being an active participant in the music biz.

If it takes me down, it won't be without a fight to the death and if I ever have to close these doors, know that I will give every ounce of my will to keep this place open to serve.

As cliched as the saying goes -

"Tough times don't last, but tough people do".

Happy Mondee Kids.

Image Barry C. Douglas

01/04/2024

Can squeeze a couple of more of you in for this Thrifty Thursdee. I’ll master your tracks for $100 each. Send 24 bit WAVs (no limiting pls) to [email protected] Looking forward to being of service to you & your music