Address: Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A
Fiounder: Bernie Grundman
Current Status: Active
Bernie Grundman Mastering is one of the most highly respected mastering studios in the world. Founded in 1984 by legendary mastering engineer Bernie Grundman, the facility has handled some of the most important and best-sounding recordings of the past four decades. Built for absolute acoustic neutrality and equipped with custom analogue and digital electronics, the studio has become the global benchmark for mastering quality. From Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Prince’s Purple Rain to Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories and Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly, Bernie Grundman Mastering remains synonymous with precision, warmth, and musical excellence.
Notable Recordings from Bernie Grundman Mastering
After more than a decade as chief mastering engineer at A&M Records, Bernie Grundman decided to build his own purpose-designed facility that would offer the highest level of sonic accuracy possible. In 1984 he opened Bernie Grundman Mastering on North Highland Avenue in Hollywood, California.
The studio was designed from the ground up with an emphasis on acoustic isolation and transparency. Every mastering suite was built as a floating room within a room to ensure perfect neutrality and minimal external interference. Grundman also commissioned custom mastering consoles using his own circuitry designs, giving him complete control over every detail of the sound.
Within a few years of opening, the studio became the premier destination for mastering top-tier projects. Artists such as Michael Jackson, Prince, Steely Dan, Quincy Jones, and Herbie Hancock trusted Grundman and his team with their final masters. As digital technology evolved, the studio adapted by integrating high-resolution digital converters and hybrid workflows while retaining its custom analogue heart.
Today, Bernie Grundman Mastering continues to serve major artists across every genre, maintaining its reputation as a mastering facility where musicality, precision, and craftsmanship come first.
The studio’s sound is characterised by natural warmth, detailed midrange, and extended dynamic range. Every decision made during mastering aims to preserve musical emotion and deliver balance across all playback systems, from vinyl to digital streaming.