Berkeley, CA — August 27, 2019 — Mastering and mix engineer Michael Romanowski collaborated with engineer Eric ‘ET’ Thorngren on an immersive Dolby ATMOS™ mix of Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s #1 Billboard blues album, “The Traveler” (Concord and Provogue/Mascot Label Group). Romanowski’s Coast Mastering facility in Berkeley, CA is set up and tuned for Dolby ATMOS work featuring six Focal floor speakers, four Neumann overhead speakers and a Meyer sub for the LFE channel. Thorngren mixed the stereo version of The Traveler album earlier this year, as well as six of Shepherd’s previous albums and the “10 Days Out: Blues from the Backroads” hit movie, co-produced by Jerry Harrison. Romanowski also mastered the Dolby ATMOS version of “The Traveler” album at Coast Mastering and offers immersive mastering services to other artists, producers, and record labels.
Recorded in Nashville and Los Angeles, “The Traveler” album was co-produced by Marshall Altman, and features vocalist Noah Hunt, drummer Chris “Whipper” Layton (formerly of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Double Trouble), bassist Kevin McCormick and keyboardists Jimmy McGorman and Joe Krown, alongside Shepherd’s stunning guitar playing. The album was released in Europe May 31, 2019, and shot to #1 on the Billboard Blues charts on June 15.
Romanowski stated, “This is an exciting time to work in immersive audio. It seems to be really growing as a focal point across the entire entertainment industry, in games, virtual reality, and film and TV. I am especially enthusiastic about the possibilities of immersive audio in music-only releases, expanding the palette of creativity that artists can use to express themselves. The Dolby ATMOS system offers so many possibilities for surrounding the listener and creating a unique new experience. I look forward to working with other artists and record labels bringing this level of listening and creative possibilities to the world. My room at Coast Mastering is all set for new projects.”
“After mixing all the Talking Heads records in 5.1 surround with Jerry Harrison, I already have a good feel for immersive music and mixing,” said Thorngren. “And I have worked with Kenny for so many albums, in the studio and live, that I was right at home mixing the tracks with Michael—and of course I had just mixed the stereo version of The Traveler at my own LBC Studios, in Long Beach, CA. so I brought my multi-track files to Michael’s studio that were already EQ’d, just like I used for the stereo mixes.”
“The main thing in any mixing is to keep the focus on the song,” adds Thorngren. “Michael and I placed the band as if in a circle around the listener, so they feel like they are sitting in the band—which also happens to be the best way to rehearse and learn songs as a band I think—so that makes musical sense too for the presentation of the music. ATMOS opens up all these possibilities that could never be achieved in stereo.”
“Working with ET was a real pleasure. He knows exactly what he is looking for in terms of sound and presentation and was still open to trying other ideas—all in the service of the songs and the artist. I greatly respect him and I am very proud of our work together on this record,” added Romanowski. “Kenny was open and very excited to push the boundaries of his music and try something new by expanding into an immersive format. He plays from the heart and it really shows on this album.”
For more on Kenny Wayne Shepherd, visit: https://kennywayneshepherd.net
Find out more about Dolby ATMOS at: https://www.dolby.com/us/en/brands/dolby-atmos.html
GRAMMY®-nominated engineer Eric Thorngren can be reached at: mailto:[email protected]
Michael Romanowski, the GRAMMY-nominated owner of Coast Mastering, has mastered music in the San Francisco Bay Area since his move from Nashville in 1994. He is a Trustee of the San Francisco chapter of the Recording Academy and is on the National Producer & Engineers Wing Steering Committee. For more information please contact the studio via email at [email protected], call the studio at (510) 984-0554 or visit their website at: http://www.coastmastering.com
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