Mastering engineer, recent clients and testimonials

Carpe Sonum Records – ” Your golden ear and attention to detail really came through in the mastering of Die Welt ist Klang. Given the size of this project (8 CDs), I had the pleasure of working with you over a period of months, and your patience, diligence and professionalism were unparalleled. You routinely exceeded my expectations, even when my decisions resulted in extra work on your part. “Good enough” is clearly not in your vocabulary ! ”

10 years as pro audio engineer plus 13 years full time mastering engineer

Public Service Broadcasting – Acclaimed UK top 10 selling album mastered here.

Denise Chaila – Go – 2020 RTE Choice music prize  – Album of the year award mastered here.

Clients include : BMG Chrysalis, Warner Bros. Japan (full list below)

1Track £30.00 | 4TEP £112.00 | Album £230.00 (10-12 tracks) DDPi + £35.00 no tax added – Allow me to exceed your expectations

A short video about mastering engineer Barry Gardner :

Mastering engineer biog:

Developing the skills to be an audio mastering engineer takes time, it is a highly specialized form of audio engineering, always check the credentials of your mastering engineer (and see a room photo) and find out what they have been doing in their career. I have been full time professional engineering for 22 years (including head of engineering at the UK’s largest audio production company), have recorded 100’s of world famous artists direct to stereo/multi track during BBC broadcast sessions.

I have been trained for 3 years+ by a former BBC studio manager and hold an audio engineering diploma. As head engineer I was point of contact for 7 room professional music/ broadcast production studio design/build. This in depth experience has stood me in good stead to understand musical balance and the technical requirements behind it. In addition Safe&Sound Mastering has now been established for 12 years.

A large part of my prior work as head of engineering at the UK’s largest independent audio production company was mixing music sessions. In addition I have been producing electronic musical styles since 1991 and have many years experience recording and mixing musical performances.

Becoming a mastering engineer was a natural progression and a work which I have a real passion and ability for. I am as comfortable working with heavy sub bass infused dance music or heavy rock as I am acoustic performance. I have been in the fortunate position of being a professional recording engineer and recording all musical genres performed by prominent artists.

This is in addition to my varied work as a mastering engineer. Seriously equipped 28 huge bass traps in room for flat response to 25Hz – PMC IB1S (large format 10 inch drivers not near fields) with Hypex Class D amplification, Manley Massive Passive hardware, Crane Song Solaris Quantum DAC, Vari-Mu compressor, Summit DCL-200 compressor, Sontec custom  mastering equalizer. Professional career history, ear selected digital tools, means serious mastering.

World Class musician recording experience :

Music session recording selections as head engineer:

Ronnie Wood (Rolling Stones), Lemar (HIT40UK), Craig David and Kano (HIT40UK), Estelle, Chick Corea (BBC Radio 3 Jazz on 3),The Rumblestrips (HIT40UK), The Coral (HIT40UK), The Hoosiers (HIT40UK), Avishai Cohen (BBC Radio 3 Jazz on 3), John Legend (BBC Radio 2) Billy Cobham, Terry Callier, (BBC R1 Gilles Peterson WorldWide) Sun Ra’s Arkestra lead by Marshall Allen (BBC Radio 3 JO3), Steve Lehman Trio, Steve Noble and Raymond McDonald, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Luisito Quintero, John Hollenbeck.

Tim Garland, Reid Anderson, mastering jazz, Theo Bleckmann, Incognito (BBC Radio 2 Soul Solutions),June Tabor (BBC Radio 2), Still Remains, (BBC Radio 1 Rock Show), Amp Fiddler, Bat for Lashes, Raul Midon, Bela Fleck, Lamb (British Council), Roachford , Jimi Tenor (BBC R1 WW/BC), Ride in 2001, Lamb, Turin Brakes, Martha Tilsdon (single release), The Pippettes, Keith Tippett, Steve Spacek, Soweto Kinch / Jason Yarde, June Tabor, Anthony Hamilton, Farmyard Animals Trio, Jade Fox, Cass Fox, Martha Redbone.

Goapele, Lucky Soul, Billy Cobham, Metronomy, Kate Stables, Yungun and Fingers, Amp Fiddler, Get Cape. Wear Cape.Fly, Raul Midon (Guitar session), Incognito, Kate Nash, The Rumblestrips, Half Cousin, Quade77, Holymoonmusicorchestra, Lau, Battle, Jamie Scott, Flipron, Bosco D’olivera, Terry Callier, Eugene Mcguiness, MUM (Icelandic band), Ola Obunlade, Luisito Quintero.

Roberto Quintero, David Coulter (Pogues producer), Freerunner, Rahsaan Patterson, Nancy Elizabeth,Marva King (Prince BV) Nate James, Kevin Michael, Buen Chico,The Heavy, The Oscillation, The Winterkids, Kids in Glass Houses,The Duke Spirit, Eric Roberson, MC Skepta, Tom Williams and the boat , Flipron and many others.

Work as mastering engineer selection, the Safe&Sound Mastering global musical family is growing fast, amongst many others :

Recent online mastering clients selection : BMG Chrysalis, Warner Bros. Japan, Acid Jazz Records, The Flirtations, Kuljit Bhamra MBE (Composer), Omni Trio (D&B), Evolution Music Group (Hong Kong), Terence Collie, jazz (Tecjazz), Robin Beck (USA), Jungle Records, The Beat (ska band,) Planet Magnetic (MPL Music Publishing), Fujistu, MONSTAAR Media,  Pete Namlook tribute CD’s, Fridolijn, Låpsley, Daniel Esrich, Lemongrass Music (Dee C’rell), Ellie Lawson (Atlantic/Independent), Liquithority, Andy Bird (Composer), Giant House Media, I Am Harlequin, Michael Dornan (Flora & Forna), Ozric Tentacles, of1000faces (Matt Walker, Smashing Pumpkins, Garbage) Patricia de Mayo, Keldian, The Mostar Diving Club, Unit2 Studio London, Himmelstorm, OfficialSKRecords (Ashley Walters). Steve Robinson (DJ – House)

Larry Stabbins, Kevin Ambrogi Quartet (Jazz), Public Service Broadcasting (PSB), Stones Throw Records (UK), Lee Scratch Perry feat. Subdelux, ORION (Jean Borelli), PAPER BUOYS, OHL Music (Germany), Christopher Churcher (composer), Tomo (folk music), Olly Ashmore (composer) René Gruss, VOLTIJ,  Len Seligman, Ross John Martin, Max Schnoor, Nimrod Productions, Optimum Recordings, 1EYE (reggae), Kate Ockenden (composer), Torsten Jensen, Meadowlark, San Remo Records Ltd. (Scott Matthews), The Pagans S.O.H., Strange Conversations (Prog rock), Abe Abraham (USA, Folk) The Old Smithy Recording Studios, Dynamic Talent, Karakum (Live band techno).

Joshua Zulu, AstroNordik, Equalisation.Global, The Moods, Steve King Big Band, Laura Grandy, Cynical Management., Big Joe Pleasure, Allstar Studio, Bobby Tank, Randolph Matthews, Gaynor Perry, Brisk Records, Louis Jones, Monacle/Polemics, The Cream Room Studio, Deep London Records, Lytie, Major Popular (reggae) Jam Factory Studios, Reznik and Isometric (d&b), My Good Man William, Electronic Sound, ZY Records (UK), Euphonios Records, Arcadion (DC Recordings), Leo Morshead, After Aura, Krÿstan (Canada), The Soul Immigrants, Jakarta Records (Germany), Matthew Walker, Retrofuture, Seedy Sonics (label).

Irene Serra, Dr. Trippy, HÜDS, Babatunde Tony Ellis (reggae), Socialite Fiasco Music LLC, Kevin Murphy, 7DEN, Essonite, Arcadia Repeats, Marcell Kerepesi, Summerland, Caitlin Grey – Celtic folk, Anil Kamath (Composer), Fraser Mackenzie (singer song writer), JussBuss (Jamaica), Andy Higgs (composer), Pavle Jovanović jazz, DJ DEF CUT (HipHop), Leo James (folk guitar/vocal), Rain City Sirens, SoulNasty, Ridley Woof, CDT Muzik, TIP Records (Goa/Psy), Lone Pigeon, Versatile Reggae Band, DJ Dantrex, Holy Two and Zerolex, Cynical management, Crush Proctopus, Garavi Sokak, Pete S (Rave Era), Paula Seling (Romanian Eurovision entrant), TWIST/XO Music, Nomad Collective, Son Of Eagle, TotemWolf, Limbo, DJ Dirty Law (Paris, France). Carpe Sonum Records.

Cascade Records, Axlo, Charly Mae, Brigantes (punk), Lost Souljah, Issy Ferris, Multi-mission (acid/techno), Blind Monk Trio (jazz), Miilk Tooth (Psy-punk rock), PSALMS, Granite Jungle, Popuprecords.es, Paul Dal Broi (Australian pianist), Krÿstan, The Sifu Led, RasaSound (Spacerock/Prog rock), The Steersmen (USA), D-Star (Jason Derulo Remix/Warners), Prospect, Barcode Zebra, Jayne Powell, (very) Distant Lands (glitch), Barcode Zebra, Soul2Streets, Are Jaama (Estonian record producer), ShadowSpeech(breaks/nurave), The New Year Project (Fusion), Den Stora Vilan, Edison Herbert (Jazz), Stompin’ Caravan, hotel lima, Dakhari Drew, Fatbit.dk, Simon Pereira, Kodeine, Tune Studio (Malaysia), Jake Downs, Two Minds, Glass Ankle.

Abandoned Faith (Rock music), Gordon Star, Roger Berhalter, OffWorld, Mantango, Mothers Music, Abberline, RED7 (Canada) , One Handed Music (Label), Astro:Dynamics (Label), Casee Wilson, Our-Dubs (Label Dubstep), Miracles, King Chuga (D&B), The Kosmik Kommando, (acid techno), Mirson, Flutterbyone (D&B), ArtMedia London, Digital Sanctuary (Dubstep), Code One and MizAgata, The Colour Bold (USA), Bugseed Japan, Glebstar (Dubstep), Rootz Records, Broken Air (live Russian D&B), Glennis Dawes (Pianist), And Now We’re Even, Schul Kid, Jonteknik, DAMIDGE (Psy-punk), Prospect, Ollie G.

Key Jones, Father John, We Have Band, Hazden, Phibber USA, Danny Leslie/Benji Summers, Liquid Drumz (D n B Label), Von UKUF/DJ Sinner, 9LivesOfficial, Waykiki Boys, Nils Niemand (Germany), The Pulsarix, DJ Peabird (Germany), FWINKIMusic, The London Lucumi Choir,  Perpetuity UK Ltd., Kairos, Paul Killey, CascadeRecords.fr, InfiniteRecordz.fr,The DirtyTricks, Microburst, Afrotree, Alice Avenue, The Aparte Project, Symon James, DJ Mark Breeze, Anima Creations, Caroline McLavy, Unstoppable Music.

Tatami Records, GrooveProject, JunkFoxx, Midtown, Monisax, Turn back to Spring, Leendert (Folk, Holland), Birdbrother, Camena, Coco Solid, T-Menace (d&b) , Nosebleed Productions, Chris Bannister, Reet Kromel, A Sweet Niche, Frank Lau, Greg Stainer, Rico Muse, Reinier Zonneveld, (Techno) Emmanuel “E-Monie” M, Round in Motion (label), AffectedDJs, Finn Todd (reggae), Tony Gurney, Amongst The Pigeons, Sound Warehouse, The CoGo, Final Touch UK, Rei,Team GXR (label), Massimiliano Tonelli (Jazz), Ryan Teague (Pianist), Fake Obsession, Nick Molyneux, Chromadynamics, Alex Engstrom, Sean J Rankine and Justin Atherley, Green Queen Music (Label), D-Boy, Kinetic Groove Ltd., Cassilis, Damon (Heavy Rock), Skullfire Records Ltd.

Krystian Shek (ambient), Rawdon Evernden, Torus, Tale Lights, Just By Chance, The Painted Birds, Marcus Peak,The Unkindness of Ravens, Neil Halliday, WhiteQube, KillerKutz, Badger Studios, Voodoo Trombone Quartet, Three Faces, Alfilo, Little Triggers, Mothers Watching Chair, Five Minute Pop Promo, Repeat Pattern and Broke (mastering hiphop), The Lancashire Hustlers, Edapollo, Three Day Weekend (Rock), Bes Rakthai, Anthony Duke, Dirty Mindz (Rock), MESDITS DnB, Knol Bowie, AKTioN 51,  Isis Unveiled, Long Day Gone (Rock),The 66, Jax (Summer Jam), Brainstormcm.dk, Sapient, Mondojetset, The Sonic Revolvers, Rita Morar, Robert Emanuel (mastering reggae), 800xL, E.Versatile, Mudz (Asian club).

Elpoep, Zen-Dub (ambient dub/d&b), Sonic Router Records, Joel Corcoran, Meloz (D&B), Heathen Zoo (Rock), Unpunished Monsters, Control (Subconscious Paradigm), Ivan Clare, Sycamore Sykes, Stone Rain Music (Sweden), DJ Jon Lockley, Magnitizdat (Label), Distant Soundz, Watchtower Records (Speed trance), Tasha Tah (asian club) Xistent, Sentatic (Russia), Dee C’rell, AudioRadar, The Chairmen (Rock), Straw Bear, ArdenGalaxe (Holland) Tweekadub, Marco Ranieri, The Quiet Days, Mike Szarejko, BorderlineJack, Greenwood Park, Johnny and the rest (Iceland), Mistic DW, DJ Structure (USA dubstep), Sonamusic, Pieces of Rome, The Madoc Vanguard, Kill The Ideal (Rock), Simon Pereira, Arbeia, Key Jones,The Banzukes.

Robert Rorison, Sonic Soul, TigerVenom,The Real Quaid, Gentlemen Vultures (Canada), Dividual Recordings,Captain SKA, Paul Absorbtion (producer), Duncan Silvey,  Ian Stephenson, Gipsy Rufina and Juhana Livonen, Unsigned records, Sancho Panzer (punk), Jonaton F (Sweden, trance), Illcom (D&B), K!lla Byte, M4thlab, (D&B), Risey, Conclusion Bass, POST (Italy), Captain Horizon, Sham – One and Only (RnB/HipHop), 1224 Project (jazz mastering engineer), Skeletons on Holiday, LATERBOX France, 51 Records (Japan), Envy Entertainment, Cream Ov Da Crop, Soder Entertainment (Sweden).

Balcony Players (folk/acoustic), The Electric Foxx, Scratched Rhythms, Float Method (Ambient), Vacious (D&B), DJ Mar (Balearic),State Azure (Ambient) HUMORSVANGNINGAR, (Sweden), Little Triggers, Bukiah, Rue Duo, BZerQ (dubstep), DJ Doust, Catchklickemceez, Sexton, The Rebel (Dubstep, USA), ToNks, Introvert (Finland), Tuesday Born, Junior Desai, Mosquito Media, Henchman (Hardcore/Punk, Paris), Hillside Recording Studio, Tweeka (dubstep), Patootihed (dubstep), Andrew Dickens (Grizla) Pit’a Mbongo (Afrobeat/World), Grhymey (Rhemic Entertainment Ltd.), Panda Scandal, mastering services, From The Cradle To The Rave (Punk/DnB), Rag ‘n’ Raw Records, Bullion, Paul White, Konoba, Anthony Duke Music.

Ignat Karmalito (World/Psy/Ambient), Brigitte Aphrodite (Kate Nash support), YourTune (Label), Dharma Sunset, Famous (dubstep), Her Eyes like Static, Brittle Head Girl, Mr Peure (Grime) Ethos music, The Works (band Glasgow), Miroslav (Electronica/glitch, USA), ASG Entertainment (Bhangra), Pseudonymph, The Machines, Aaron Taylor, Thomas Leighton, Elyh (Finland) Magnetik Soul, Little Victories, Affray (DnB), DJFilthyYello, Ryan Hannah,Marcus Peak, Monday Morning (Belgium), Fulgeance, Dave C (trance), Dub Master Gaudi (Weirdub), Insanitygroup (London), The frequency D’ici (Pleasance Theatre Edinburgh), MOVE (Brazil/ heavy rock), PhilBee/Undisclosed Audio, The Sharp Darts, Deadheadz folk (Belgium).

Talelights, Daylight Fireworks, 4ngelrecordings(label), Heartcut Records, Wolves (Metal), Girls that scream, TD RANKIN (mastering reggae), Market Stall Records, Mozès, Nic Williams,The Oktavists, Tianco (Colombia), The Sleepless, Stompbox Studios, K.O. BIg Rock, Outlier Records (UK) PhilBee/Undisclosed Audio, Stonewater, Beatcircle Ltd. (Bhangra), Dharmasounds.dk, Sinestezjia (Serbia), Chapo (Hip Hop, Denmark), Rana Bolla, Thermal (DnB Norway), Public Service Broadcasting (cd mastering), DJ Zeta, Sam Taylor, 7th Suite, Dark Street Records.co.uk, DJ Carl Parker, Havalina Heat, Enuff Love records, Imaginary band, Anorexic spiders, System Request, Recht OP.be (social project).

The Fireflys, J.murderhewrote, Noisyzine compilation, David Turnbull, Steve Winchester, Tranquill (UK Hip Hop), Daniel Mcbrearty, Lace, Acer Maple (audio mastering), Goodwin Sands(folk), Strength and Unity, DJ LiveWire, Quasi Queasy (electro), Thomas B, Soulelectrix, Jazmine Ava, F-Jay, Jim Thackeray, Forever Searching (Charity), Tom Baird, Thomas Bruel, mastering engineer, Face the Unknown (Metal cd mastering), K’nekt (Sweden), Fantastikclick and SPORT G (France) online mastering, BiggyWiggy Music, Conor Barron (Half Light), Blast! Films (UK), FireloxMusicAcademy, Mosquito Media, Voodoom (Denmark).

Sondinas (Denmark), Duncan Alex, Donald Carver, D-Star , DJ Allan Morrow (audio mastering), Glow ‘n’ Global (Hard house audio mastering), Kashmere Hakim (folk, Holland), Starcade (USA) online mastering, Dwane Williams (dancehall anthem), The Straylings (UK), Deerstalker (UK), Brooklyn Hype (DnB), Kevin Simpson (Soul/Gospel cd mastering), MachineMakesNoise (Dubstep), Who’s Your Mama now? (Acoustic/roots/soul), Matt Davenport, Al Fleeman (Ambient), Tom Galeery, The Procession, Warlords (Metal), Clement L and many more.

Recent mastering engineer client testimonials:

I would like to mention that my clients Straw Bear, Public Service Broadcasting (UK top 10 selling album) and Ewan Jeffrey are getting good BBC Radio exposure across their networks.

Acid Jazz Records : “Very impressed with your work. I will definitely be sending more mastering work your way”

Neil (Vagabond) :”The songs really do sound great now after being through your capable hands. It has been a pleasure dealing with you and thanks for your care and attention throughout the process.”

Tommy Skoglund – “Thanks for an absolutely great and warm master! You brought this track up to a whole new level. I am fully satisfied.”

Simon Brobyn, UK Songwriter “The track sounds great.The tweaks you suggested made a big difference and I very much appreciated your critique, your comments were spot on. The Song really has punch and bounces along just how I envisaged (long winded way of saying “You nailed it!”).”

Symon James, “My album project really needed to be taken to the next level. Having searched online I found Barry’s mastering studio. Barry not only knows his craft but clearly has a natural ability and talent for mastering audio. He treated my project “The Big Pond” with due respect and produced exactly what was needed. The songs were given careful consideration and Barry’s advice and options have culminated in a production that shows my works as it’s absolute best. He is a great guy to deal with who happens to have an exceptional pair of ears. This is a top drawer service that I highly recommend.

Cascade Records, France : “Awesome work ! We are very happy with the results. Once again you managed to exceed the speed of sound.”

Unstoppable Music Group (Platnum), Ben “Barry worked quickly and still managed to take the records to the next level. Brilliant Work.”

Dylan Kay (1224 Project), “Barry mastered our latest CD, which had been somewhat crudely mixed in my home studio. Right from the beginning I was impressed by his professionalism, punctual communications and advice. Barry did an incredible job, went out of his way to ensure that we were happy with the final product and was very supportive of the material we had recorded.

The finished product really brought the music to life, and proved to me how important it is to get your material mastered by someone who really knows his stuff.We will definitely be using him for our next album, thanks Barry”

Daniel at Digital Sanctuary- “The tunes sound dope and it’s a pleasure working with you!”

Julian Jackson, www.our-dubs.co.uk – A friend in the music industry recommended Safe&Sound Mastering and I would do exactly the same. Very happy with the masters and also importantly the manner in which we were dealt with. Professional finish and a fast turnaround”

San Remo Records: “It’s been a privilege working with you and we hope to do more work with you in the future” (the feeling was mutual)

Lighthouse Guardian: “I have to say you have always made my sounds great, warmer and with a nice ( but not excessive) touch of colour that make them more interesting to listen to, not necessarily ” as loud as possible”, so as to preserve their inner dynamics and very pleasant to hear. Great!!”

The Rebel (dubstep, USA) “They sound xxxxxxx awesome, best sound I have ever heard and I have been making music since 95”

Sham (One and only) – “Thanks for everything, I looked all over the place for mastering engineer to master my album and did not find anyone to meet the standard I was looking for till now, I really liked what you did for my music, you have skills and I hope we can work together again in the future, keep in touch.”

Public Service Broadcasting : I am extremely happy with the mastering – it sounds both smoother and fatter, exactly what I was after, without being over hyped. I had tried doing the mastering myself but nothing beats a fresh pair of good ears in a good room with good equipment – and Barry has all of those. Great mastering engineer, thanks a bundle ! ”

Imaginary Band : “This is superb, I just want to say right now, can you do the mastering for my next album too? You’ve really brought the best out in every song.”

4ngel Recordings : “Thanks to Barry our tracks are sounding great, I will be using his mastering services from now on as the quality and communication is amazing”

Jazmine Ava : “Thank you so much for your professionalism and for such a great sound”

Adrian Claighten: “Beautiful work Barry, as always.”

Tom Baird : The tracks are sounding great, perfectly rounded and polished, you have good ears, thanks for lending them to my music” (album cd mastering)

Mastering engineer contact :

Barry 0(zero)781 0271371 Email to safeandsound123atgooglemail.com (at is an @ symbol)

Send files using https://wetransfer.com/