The Mastering Show Podcast
116 episodes listed below
Ian Shepherd and working mastering engineers dig into Atmos, loudness wars, and vinyl cutting.
The Mastering Show treats mastering as both a practical trade and a set of judgement calls. Episodes move patiently through loudness, dynamics, vinyl, sync, translation, plugins, and the strange places where technical decisions meet taste.
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The Mastering Show is a long-running interview podcast hosted by mastering engineer Ian Shepherd, who also runs the Production Advice website and the Perception AB and Dynameter metering plugins. Most episodes are one-on-one conversations with other professional mastering and mixing engineers, though occasional solo episodes have Shepherd working through a single topic, such as whether streaming normalization has made loudness wars pointless. Guests tend to be working engineers with specific technical stories to tell: Oli Morgan on stem mastering and Atmos work at Abbey Road, Emre Ramazanoglu on rebuilding Brian Eno's catalog for immersive formats, Ian Stewart on measuring loudness and tonal balance trends across chart hits, and Matt Boudreaux discussing podcast audio fundamentals and his own interview show, Working Class Audio. Recurring subject matter includes Dolby Atmos and 7.1.4 immersive mixing, stem versus stereo mastering delivery, LUFS and loudness range measurement, how streaming platforms normalize playback, vinyl and lathe-cut cutting, and the mentorship paths that shaped current engineers' careers. Episodes mix hands-on technical detail, such as plugin chains, console models, and filter reconstruction of missing audio, with career and industry discussion, including how engineers navigate the boundary between mixing and mastering with clients. The show is aimed at people who already work in or are entering audio production rather than casual music listeners. Sponsor mentions of Leapwing Audio plugins appear regularly within episodes. Production is a straightforward two-person conversation, generally 45 to 80 minutes, without narrative framing or sound design beyond the interview itself.
Made for: Working and aspiring mastering and mixing engineers, plus podcasters and producers wanting a grounding in loudness and mastering fundamentals.
What sets it apart: Unlike broader music-production shows, it stays narrowly focused on mastering craft, with guests who are practicing mastering engineers discussing specific client projects and technical problems rather than general production talk.
This is the show where we cover all aspects of mastering. If you're interested in mastering, want to learn how to get better results mastering your own music, or even want to be a mastering engineer, this is the show you want to hear!
Based on 6 episodes we listened to · September 2026
Detailed engineering conversations make mastering decisions, tradeoffs, and delivery formats legible without reducing the work to plugin recipes.
The Mastering Show treats mastering as a chain of judgment calls rather than a hunt for the perfect plugin. Through detailed conversations with guests, the host moves easily between technical settings and the practical question behind them: what will make the music translate…
A limiter can make things louder; this can make you suspicious of what "better" actually means.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A clear, useful look at lathe cuts, test pressings, and why manufacturing detail matters.
The episode takes a narrow mastering question and turns it into something practical. It is strongest when it shows that every lathe cut is a fresh cut, done in real time, so a bad one can simply be a dud, and when it sets that against test pressings, where a flaw on the stamper…
Modern mastering is simple in principle, but the right tools still matter when subtle control or practical mix fixes are needed.
The episode treats mastering as simple in theory and demanding in practice, making the case that modern DAWs already provide enough to reach strong results.
A patient mastering conversation about restraint, tools, and rebuilding Brian Eno soundworlds.
Brian Eno sits at the center, but the episode really turns on mastering: how far modern plugins can be pushed, and where restraint still matters.
A practical mastering conversation that values judgment over gear.
The episode treats mastering as a craft, and it keeps coming back to a plain idea: judgment matters more than the tool. It moves through SRT, working from home, and the modern plugin era without losing that thread.
Practical mastering talk that keeps tools in view without losing judgment.
The piece treats mastering as simple in principle and hard in practice, with modern DAWs giving enough control to reach strong results. It uses Leapwing Audio tools such as Stage One and Dynone as concrete examples of how a mix can gain shape and fullness, while also keeping the…
A grounded case for judging loudness alongside width, tone, and translation.
The discussion treats loudness as one piece of mastering, not the whole job. It starts with the basic point that modern DAWs already cover a lot, then moves into newer plugins that give more control over depth, stereo width, and parallel or upward compression.
Judgment stays central; the plugins matter only when they clearly improve the mix.
This episode frames mastering as a matter of judgment more than gear. A modern DAW already offers plenty, and the newer Leapwing Audio plugins are presented as ways to shape depth, stereo width, fullness, density, and richness with more nuance than basic mid-side moves.
Joe Wong interviews drummers and musicians about craft, history, and the working musician's life.
Lij Shaw interviews producers and engineers about mic technique, mixing, and studio business.
Co-hosts Ed Thorne and Paul Third dissect mixing, mastering, and studio gear with working engineers.
Hip-hop history, loud and off-script.
A lathe cut is a one-off.
Mastering is simple, not easy.
This episode discusses mastering techniques and loudness trends at the Grammys, exploring whether there's a secret formula for success in modern audio production.
This episode explores mastering for sync licensing, discussing tools like Leapwing Audio plugins and featuring an interview with sync expert Chris SD.
This episode discusses the balance between technical tools and creative approaches in mastering, highlighting specific plugins like Leapwing Audio's Stage One and Dyne One.
This episode explores the concept of 'translation' in mastering, discussing how modern plugins like those from Leapwing Audio can enhance audio quality while emphasizing that technique matters more than tools.
The Mastering Show #101 follows Emre Ramazanoglu through Brian Eno projects including Forever and Ever No More, Another Green World, The Ship, and Aurum, with Ian Shepherd framing the session around Atmos mastering and remix work.
Mastering is simple.
This episode explores recording, mixing, and mastering acoustic guitar with guest Richard Durrant, focusing on modern tools and techniques.
Mastering is simple, not easy.
This episode of The Mastering Show features mastering engineer Ian Shepherd discussing whether to learn mastering first, with legendary guest Ken Scott, exploring tools like Leapwing Audio plugins and practical advice for music production.
Ian Shepherd discusses revolutionary mastering plugins from Leapwing Audio and introduces a repeat guest, Joe Caithness.
Loudness is not the whole story.
This episode features an interview with mastering engineer Scott Hull discussing vinyl mastering techniques and modern audio tools.
Ian Shepherd discusses mastering techniques and interviews mastering engineer Nick DiLorenzo about using Leapwing Audio plugins.
A mastering engineer discusses the use of Leapwing Audio plugins and explains different types of LUFS loudness units.
This episode features an interview with renowned film score mixer Alan Meyerson, discussing mixing and mastering techniques for movies, with insights into tools like Leapwing Audio plugins and his work on major Hollywood films.
Ian Shepherd discusses mastering tools and techniques, then interviews Alexei Lukin from iZotope about DSP engineering.
Mastering is simple, not easy.
A mastering engineer discusses revolutionary plugins from Leapwing Audio and their application in mastering, inspired by a Dan Worrell video on loudness for DJs.
Ian Sheppard discusses mastering philosophy and highlights Leapwing Audio plugins, then introduces guest Mike Senior.
The episode discusses revolutionary mastering plugins from Leapwing Audio and how they enhance the mastering process.
Ian Shepherd discusses mastering techniques and highlights Leapwing Audio plugins for enhancing depth, width, and density in masters.
The host discusses mastering plugins and interviews Nick Rives about mixing Billie Eilish's album in Atmos.
A mastering engineer discusses revolutionary plugins from Leapwing Audio and their application in music mastering.
The hosts discuss mastering techniques and review Leapwing Audio plugins for enhancing depth, width, and density in masters.
Ian Sheppard and John Tidy discuss mastering techniques and review Leapwing Audio plugins.
Ian Shepherd discusses mastering techniques and highlights Leapwing Audio plugins for enhancing depth, width, and density in masters.
The episode discusses mastering techniques and highlights Leapwing Audio plugins for enhancing depth, width, and density in music masters.
The hosts discuss mastering techniques and plugins, specifically Leapwing Audio tools, and introduce the topic of mastering crappy mixes.
The episode discusses mastering techniques and highlights Leapwing Audio plugins for enhancing depth, width, and density in masters.
The hosts discuss mastering techniques and tools, focusing on Leapwing Audio plugins and the topic of loudness normalization on streaming services.
Ian Sheppard discusses mastering techniques and highlights Leapwing Audio plugins for enhancing depth, width, and density in masters.
The hosts discuss advanced mastering plugins from Leapwing Audio and address common misunderstandings about mastering.