Jean-Marc Boulier - SoundWise

I’m excited to share some of the tracks I’ve had the privilege of mastering! From acoustic ballads to heavy-hitting metal, each one got the same care to sound its best.

🎧 open.spotify.com/playlist/3u1...

🌐 swmastering.com

#MasteringEngineer #AudioMastering #MusicProduction #IndieMusic

Summoning clarity from the spectral realm… it must be Halloween 👻

Thinking about pressing CDs? 💿
A DDP (Disc Description Protocol) fileset ensures perfect replication—accurate track order, ISRC, CD-Text & UPC codes, all error-free.
Even today, CDs offer great sound, collectability & fan support.
💬 Ever worked with DDP before?

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Proper metadata ensures your music is credited, tracked, and monetized. Embedding ISRCs in your masters preserves this info across platforms and future re-releases, helping future-proof your music as lossless streaming grows.

💬 Comment if you need clarification!
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Mixers & producers often specialize in specific genres because their work involves highly creative choices. Mastering engineers focus more on sound itself, using technical expertise to enhance sonic characteristics across all styles.

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Artists, mixers & producers often listen to songs hundreds of times. It’s key for refining, but it can blur objectivity: imperfections start to slip by. A mastering engineer brings fresh ears & a precise environment, catching what’s missed & making your music shine for the audience.

swmastering.com

Free test master

Curious how mastering can transform your music? 🎶
I offer first-time clients a free test master—streamed in high-quality audio. No pressure, no commitment. Upgrade only if you want to use it commercially.

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Tailored mastering for independent artists & producers:
✔️ Digital/streaming
✔️ DDP for CD replication
✔️ Vinyl premasters
✔️ All formats organized and delivered
✔️ Metadata & ISRCs
✔️ Apple Digital Masters certified

Mix feedback & revisions included.
swmastering.com

Future-Proofing

Even as lossless grows, mastering isn’t just about formats. It’s about ensuring your music translates everywhere. As an Apple Digital Masters Certified Provider, I deliver that.

The ADM Badge

Tracks mastered to ADM standards get a label on Apple Music. Subtle, but it signals credibility & quality — valuable for listeners, playlist curators, and labels alike.

Better Encoding, Better Sound

ADM optimizes audio before AAC encoding. That means fewer artifacts, more clarity & depth, and better playback even in other lossy formats (MP3, OGG, Opus). It’s about translation, not just specs.

Most Users Don’t Stream Lossless

Lossless is available on Apple Music, but it’s not the default. Many listeners stick with AAC due to mobile data limits, Bluetooth, or settings. ADM ensures music sounds its best in AAC — still the most common format.

Apple Digital Masters in 2025: Still relevant? 🎧
With lossless streaming on the rise, is ADM (formerly Mastered for iTunes) still worth it? My answer: yes — and here’s why. 👇
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The best part of my job? Seeing a client's reaction to the final master.

Huge thanks to Justine for the amazing review. Your album was a joy to work on—a beautiful blend of acoustic instruments, heartfelt lyrics, and compelling vocals.

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Before mastering begins, we’ll discuss your project, goals, and any specific concerns you have. Whether it’s achieving a particular sound or ensuring your tracks flow seamlessly as an album, this step ensures the process is aligned with your artistic intent.

If requested, I offer a mix review to help address any issues that could impact the mastering process. This ensures your mix is in the best possible shape, so the final master reaches its full potential.

In the studio, I tailor tools and techniques to each track, not relying on presets. Every song gets hands-on treatment for clarity, depth, balance, and impact. The first master is uploaded securely for your review.

Mastering is a collaborative process. I welcome your feedback and provide revisions as needed to fine-tune the final product until it’s just right.

Final masters in all formats — hi-res WAVs, DDP for CD, vinyl-ready, plus metadata, ISRC, UPC/EAN. Apple Digital Masters-certified if desired. Files securely archived for future access.

Every track deserves a master that fits its vision. 🎧
Here’s my 5-step process: understand your goals, review your mix, optimize audio, revise with your input, deliver final files ready for streaming & distribution.
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❌ Myth 1: Mastering can fix a poor mix
Sure, we can mitigate issues — but buried vocals or muddy low end can’t be “fixed.” Pushing a bad mix in mastering often creates new problems. That’s why mix revisions are part of the process.

❌ Myth 2: Louder is always better
A powerful master isn’t about maxing LUFS — it’s about clarity, balance, and energy. Some of the “loudest” tracks aren’t actually the loudest on a meter, they just hit right.

❌ Myth 3: Mastering is just technical
Numbers matter (EQ, LUFS, peaks), but judgment matters more. Tools don’t make decisions, engineers do. That’s what separates humans from AI mastering.

Professional Online Audio Mastering for Artists Worldwide High-quality online audio mastering by Jean-Marc Boulier at SoundWise. Expert mastering with clarity, punch, and fast turnaround worldwide. English & French.

Mastering is about decisions, not just settings. What’s a mastering myth you’ve come across? Let’s talk!
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Mastering misconceptions

"Mastering Can Fix a Poor Mix" Sure, a great mastering engineer can mitigate mix issues—but that’s not the same as fixing them. If the vocal is buried, the low end is bloated, or the balance feels off, mastering can only do so much before the trade-offs become obvious. Pushing a problematic mix through EQ, compression, and limiting often creates new problems instead of solving old ones. That’s why mix revisions are sometimes part of the mastering process—it’s not about perfectionism, but about making sure the final result holds up everywhere.

"Louder is Always Better" Yes, some genres thrive on aggressive loudness, but the assumption that "louder = more impact" is flawed. A track that’s perceived as louder often has more to do with its midrange density, transient clarity, and arrangement than just pure level. Plus, some of the loudest-sounding records aren’t actually the loudest on a meter—they just hit right. Mastering isn't about squeezing every last dB; it's about shaping the energy so the song feels powerful at any volume.

"Mastering is Just a Technical Step" On paper, mastering is about numbers—EQ curves, LUFS targets, peak ceilings. But in reality? It’s about judgment. Two engineers using the same tools could produce vastly different masters, because what matters isn’t just the gear, but how the engineer interprets the music. Even in a fully digital workflow, the real magic isn’t in the processing—it’s in the choices. AI mastering might be able to match tonal profiles, but it can’t listen like a human, and it definitely doesn’t care about why a mix needs a particular touch.

3 big myths about mastering — and the truths behind them. 🎚️
Swipe through the carousel, and check this thread for details 👇

Mastering isn’t just “the final step”—it’s what makes your music shine on any system, in any format. I balance precision with creativity to preserve impact, fix issues & ensure your track is ready for release.

👉 swmastering.com
#AudioMastering #MusicProduction

Every song is unique. I give each project the same care and precision—whether it’s from a chart-topping artist or a home studio. As a songwriter & producer myself, I know how much your music means.

swmastering.com

#MasteringEngineer #AudioMastering #IndieMusic #StudioLife #SoundQuality

Mastering isn’t magic—it enhances what’s already in your mix. Before sending it off, check: does your mix tell a story? Any reverb/delay buildup? Stereo wide but mono-safe? Enough headroom/dynamics? Export clean, compare with refs, and test on small speakers. 👉 swmastering.com

#Mastering #Mixing

Hi, I’m Jean-Marc Boulier, an Apple Digital Masters-certified audio engineer. I began my career in Singapore and now work from France, helping artists bring their music to life with care and expertise. I’ve worked with indie and pro musicians worldwide.
swmastering.com

Is that meat I see? I thought you were a veggie.