Álvaro Domene Mastering

labels · artists · producers · mixers · all genres

“Álvaro Domene’s work is music’s future rendered in the present.”
— Ian Chainey, Stereogum

Welcome

My name is Álvaro Domene and I split my time between New York and Spain. I’ve got over 2 decades of dedicated experience in music creativity and industry: composing, performing on guitar and electronics, both solo and in collaboration with many projects, touring internationally, recording, mixing and mastering records, curating concerts, and producing and releasing original works by myself and other artists.My ear and aesthetic sensibility have shaped my sonic signature and approach to mastering, the last step in music production, in which I specialize and hold as my personal favourite.Mastering focuses on both enhancing the sonic and emotional impact of the music and providing rigorous quality control for its final destination medium and commercial release.Below you can listen to examples of my work:

“I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with Álvaro Domene in a range of musical contexts over the past decade. His sonic insight is exceptional: he’s mastered several of my solo albums, opening up their soundscapes, revealing new depth and detail, and even rescuing recordings compromised by signal-path artifacts. Working with Álvaro is always both a pleasure and an education. He’s a remarkable musician and a true craftsman of sound.”
– Ed Keller

Approach

Mastering began as a natural extension of my work as a recording artist, guitarist, composer, session engineer, indie label co-owner and sound obsessed neurodivergent person. Having released over 50 albums of original music myself, I bring the perspective of someone who lives on both sides of the glass. This dual experience shapes every decision I make: technical precision, always in service of the music's expressive power.

I work with a wide range of artists from different backgrounds and across all music genres, though my specialized focus lies in music that challenges and expands creative boundaries, often rooted in the rich traditions of Jazz, electro-acoustic, Musique Concrète, Free Improvisation, Noise, western contemporary classical/New Music, Electronic [from so-called IDM to drum & bass, Breakcore, Techno and beyond], avant-garde and progressive metal, Death metal, and other "experimental" musics.Above all, I'm dedicated to delivering work that reflects and elevates the artistic vision of the clients and collaborators who come to me looking for meticulous quality control, thoughtful augmentation, and genuine sonic depth.When music leaves my studio, it's ready to be shared with the world. That responsibility is one I take VERY seriously, and it's also a process that I genuinely love and obsess about. Every project is an opportunity to contribute something meaningful, and I approach each one with care and respect for the artist's vision.

Many of my own mastered recordings have been played in radio stations all over the world and recognized by outlets including The Wire, Jazzwise, Stereogum, New York City Jazz Record, All About Jazz, RTVE Spain, Brooklyn Rail, and Avant Music News. Four of my albums appeared on "Best Albums" year-end lists, and I won the Conlon Nancarrow Award for Excellence in Music for my 2022 album Not Arbitrary.Let’s connect and chat about your project and how I can contribute to making your work speak for itself and stand the test of time.

"It is rare to encounter an audio professional with such a nuanced understanding of the sound spectrum who can simultaneously impart a distinct personal touch in the finishing phase of a project. Highly recommended!"
– Javier Pedreira

FAQ

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO MASTER MY MUSIC, HOW DO I PROCEED?● Send me an email [alvaroATalvarodomene.com] and I will reply with details of how to transfer your mixes to me. Once I’ve received your files and verified they're ready to go, I will master and deliver them as promptly as possible.

WHAT GUIDELINES SHOULD I FOLLOW WHEN MIXING MY MUSIC BEFORE I SEND IT TO MASTERING?● Make your mixes sound as good and compelling as you possibly can.
● Verify that all of the sections in each piece sound how you want them and the balance of instruments is as you want it.
● If able, check them on several different playback devices, and also consider referencing them against music that you like, ideally level matched. I will then bring the very best out of them.


FOR CREATIVE PURPOSES, I MIX INTO COMPRESSOR/IMAGER/CLIPPER/LIMITER ON MY STEREO OUTPUT CHANNEL. SHOULD I KEEP THE PROCESSING ON OR BYPASS BEFORE SENDING?● If you’ve been mixing into this processing and it’s part of the sonic and emotional identity of the track, leave it on. Simply verify that the highest peak is under 0dB.
● However, if the mix preserves its cohesion after bypassing the processing, export that version and include it. This will allow for the best results from me.
● If you’re not sure, let’s chat about it. We’ll find clarity and get to work.


CAN YOU LISTEN TO MY MIXES AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO IMPROVE THEM BEFORE MASTERING?● Yes, I do offer mix consultations. Send me an email and we’ll discuss the details so that we set up your mixes for a successful master.


WHAT ARE THE GUIDELINES FOR MIXES, AND WHAT DO I SEND TO YOU?● Mix down at 24-bit/32-bit floating point.
● Nothing over 0 dBFS on your master channel. The exact amount of headroom is not critical, as long as there is some.
● Export as WAV or AIFF, and at the same sample rate that the tracks were mixed.
● If you have alternative versions (a cappella, instrumental, radio edit, TV, etc) ensure that you include them with the main mixes and that they're otherwise identical.
● Don’t forget to name the files clearly.
● Include any notes which are important to your recording, as well as any metadata (ISRC codes, CD-Text, etc) that you’ll want encoded onto your masters.


WHAT FORMATS WILL YOU DELIVER?● Unless a different format is requested, the final mastered tracks will be delivered as WAV files at 16-bit/44.1 kHz, and also 24-bit at your native sample rate.
● DDP for CD, and/or vinyl sides can be supplied for an additional charge.


TURNAROUND TIME?● Most masters are delivered within 5 business days, depending on the project’s complexity and current workload. If you are in a tight spot, contact me ASAP.


RATES● Contact me to discuss your needs and desires and to receive a personalized quote for your mastering project.


WHAT IF I'M NOT HAPPY WITH THE MASTER(S)?● It’s unlikely but not impossible. Simply communicate what changes you would like and I’ll provide a new version addressing them.
● Revisions are free of cost. However, more than one revision is rarely required.


CAN I HEAR SAMPLES OF YOUR WORK?● Yes! Besides the links on the ABOUT section, here's a simple portfolio with 25 singles to give you a reference of what I can do

Contact

Tell me about your project and feel free to ask any questions: