Masters that last forever
I’m Sam Kumar Tandon, a musician and mastering engineer in San Diego. Since 2018 I’ve mastered records with artists like Paul Wall, Yvie Oddly, TTNG and THRONE for labels including Sony Music, Alcopop! Records and Victor Entertainment.
Before mastering I want to know what the music means to you and what you want people to feel when they hear it. My role is to make sure that feeling translates everywhere people listen.
Records
All recordsTTNG
Juggling Moves (Beginner)2026Beauty Sleep
The Whole Damn CakeAlcopop! · 2025The Band Royale
The Well2025T H R O N E & Kingjp
LionfishHidden Renaissance · 2022As Living Arrows
Hope and Ruin2024HAI-LIFE & Yvie Oddly
Miss Messy BootsHAI-LIFE Records · 2025TYA
Venetian BlindMrshmllw Productions · 2024Sakurako Ohara
Marude Cider!Victor · 2026Jasper Typical, Jelani Aryeh & Blonder
RIDE AGAINRAT CREATURES · 2022lili maua
ID222026
Refinery v. Redesign
Here’s one song three ways, all loudness-matched: the approved mix, a refined master and a redesigned master.
Refinement is always my starting point. A redesign only happens when the artist and production team decide they want one.
Pearl by Jade Jacobs, shared with her permission. A is the approved mix, B is refined and C is redesigned.
The studio
I work in a 400 ft² room built for critical listening with extra care to present accurate bass. The analog chain is built around Knif and every connection is Mogami. You’re welcome to sit in on your session in person or over webcam, or I can handle everything remotely.
Clients say
“Righteous and terrifying”
“Sam is one of the very few mastering engineers I trust to enhance the music while still doing justice to the song, leaving my mix and productions intact. The clients are given the best version of their vision. Period.”
“Everything is so forward! The drums sit better than I ever thought they would. The kick and bass relationship is heavenly. And the vocals sit exactly where I want them to. It’s perfect.”
“An acute ear. It’s the most important piece of gear that a mastering engineer has at their disposal. This is what Sam brings to his mastering, and it's why I continually bring him my mixes. Besides having killer gear; I know that Sam will take the time to listen to the music and craft a master that always exceeds my expectations.”
Pricing
Singles are $150.
EPs and albums are about $100 a song. If you’re putting out a run of singles, I can bill them up front at that rate too.
You can also master your record with me in my studio. Attended sessions are booked by time rather than by song and you hear every decision live. An attended single is $200 for up to 2 hours and two or more songs are $400 for a four-hour session. Extra time is $100 an hour and records over 12 songs usually need some. One round of revisions within a week is included and further rounds are $50 each. Attended sessions are in person in San Diego by appointment.
Alternate mixes (instrumentals, a cappellas, clean versions, etc.) are $25 each if you send them within 10 days of mastering the main mixes and $50 after that.
CD masters are an extra $50 for DDP authoring. Vinyl is an extra $100–200 depending on how much the masters need to change to translate to vinyl. Dolby Atmos is quoted per project.
Every project comes with my complete digital delivery package.
Writing
All writing
Thirty-Five Miles for a dB: Choosing Headphones for Mastering
Which headphones can you trust with mastering decisions in the bottom octaves? I visited Dan Clark Audio and Audeze to find out.
Refinery v. Redesign
Mastering is the act of making a finished mix the best version of itself. The key word is itself.
Mastering Acoustics
Our approach to bass and reflection management flips the script entirely. We absorb aggressively. Far more than conventional wisdom suggests.
Tell me about your record
Tell me what you’re working on, how many songs and your timeline. Private listening links are welcome and will remain private. Your mixes don’t need to be finished. I’m happy to provide feedback at any stage of the production process.
I’ll reply personally with availability, next steps and a quote.
Already know what you need? Book a session. Singles are $150 and EPs and albums are about $100 a song.