Mastering.com Reviews 358

A year ago, signing up for "The Reverse Engineer" was one of the best decisions I've made.

I'm challenged and encouraged every day. I've made lifelong friends. My listening and production skills have reached levels I never thought possible, and I'm only just beginning.

I don't need to talk about the quality of materials, the accessibility of live instruction or anything like that - look at the other reviews.

If you are willing to spend the time - and the money - to get real guidance from industry experienced instructors and you are still undecided - consider, an Instructor will interview *you* before you are admitted.

Think about that. What does that process tell you about how the organization aims to be effective in your learning, and their dedication to building a supportive community.

The Reverse Engineer program might not be for anyone, but if you're looking for a way to overpass your lack of knowledge, confidence or discipline concerning your music path then no need to look further! It requires a real dedication but that path totally worth it!
I've been so impressed by how much clarity I was getting from each lesson they provided through this program! I remember getting worried a few times, at the idea of being overwhelmed with what may come next in the program. Not sure that I could handle all the informations that may come after the one I learned... I sincerely don't know how they could almost magically manage to make every step stick into my mind and bring me another dimension of overall clarity about mastering and mixing process with each new lesson! They found a way to make it feel easy to get to learn quite a lot !
Also, if you need any answer from the team for anything still unclear to you or not totally related to the program there will always be someone to get back at you with an answer very quickly!

I couldn't recommend enough!

Will

Excellent Instructors, great experience so far! I've joined their monthly membership and have had some of the best mentors and online learning available for musicians. Am gaining confidence in my mixing and mastering skills thanks to all of their free online events and online courses. Highly recommend.

TRE has warmly welcomed me into their program with no hesitation. They've made me feel very taken care of as a student with their patience and attentive listening to any question I may have had. I continue to move forward confidently with this program because with this in depth (yet digestible) curriculum paired with such enthusiastic teachers (and co-students) I'll without a doubt remain in a forward, steady direction.

I cannot say enough great things about this program!! I'm re-entering the world of Audio and Mastering Engineering and Production after trying about 20 or 30 years ago. Great Community of people with great instructors and they often improve the coursework so its not the same stale material. They address your questions and concerns without judgement.

I have been in Mastering.com's The Reverse Engineer program (TRE) for over a year now. This is not only a really in-depth program for working through mastering, mixing, and production to whichever goal one has in applying those skills, but also has an amazing community with many other valuable opportunities. There are ample feedback opportunities from mentors, and while certainly a day-job or living in distant countries may make attendance difficult, there are many options and ways to get help and feedback. The mentors are always adding additional content and/or at least updating with changes.
With life and some distractions otherwise, I have not made it more than a third of the way through the program at one year, but what I've gotten to do for hands-on practice with mastering has been great. Some of the material may be lightly covered to this point or assumed in the presentations, but among the many resources they fill the gaps and one can move around between tools and things easy enough.
Referring back to the community, there is a good time to be had supporting each other, getting feedback on efforts, and keeping each other in the loop about good ways to do things, plug in sales, etc. The main caution would be not to get TOO busy interacting with the community that it contributes to slowing down your progress in the curriculum :)

It has definitely been a good experience and I really have appreciated the great folks involved so far.

I participated in the Mastering.com Membership (now "Members Club") before joining TRE, and it was definitely a great experience with many opportunities to participate and learn, too, so if you aren't sure about TRE and the price tag, get a sample via the Members Club and see if going any more in depth feels right from there!

The Mix Feedback service is the bomb! Luke Despain has improved my track in 30 minutes and showed me how he did it. He was able to produce/mix the sounds in my head that I can't seem to figure out. Great learning lesson! Thanks again!

The content is excellent, staff and community members are super helpful and supportive. Feedback is the most critical component to growth and with TRE you get a ton!

UPDATE: Its been a year and 2 months...

I'm not the same PERSON I was, let alone producer/engineer. TRE is the standard when it comes to this industry.

To be honest I didn't understand "community" or the impact until I joined TRE. For those looking for clarity and transparency in the music industry, look no further. This has been the best decision I've made in my entire life.

I adore The Reverse Engineer program and mastering.com. Learning mixing, mastering and production is not easy, takes a lot of work, time and ear training but I don't think I could have found a better place to do it. The mentors really care and they are continuously seeking out ways to make improvements and to find ways to add more value the program. You can go at your own pace with the well done tutorial videos and then get help in the form of live calls and song feedback from the mentors almost everyday. The community is endlessly supportive and I was happy to find many women in the program and more joining all the time. I have learned so much. It is the best investment I have made for myself.

I joined The Reverse Engineer program 1 year ago and went through the mastering and mixing portion of the program since then.

I find the program amazing for the following reasons:

- it has a very good structure guiding you through the workflows of the production steps and teaching you where to start and where to finish
- I like the amount of theory that is tought. It is enough to give very detail about everything you need to get to pro-results but leaves some topics open for self-studying such as plug-in deep dives (Even if there is a plug-in deep dive call which covers even that), transfering the things you have learned to your workflow, choosing go to plug-ins, etc..
- it teaches mindsets/ideas/workflows to be able to be adapted to own projects, instead of binding you to only specific types or genres of projects.
- it offers plenty of rehersals for training
- you can get feedback on every project you did, and ask all kinds of questions that rise throughout the way. I like how the feedback calls are structured and that everyone gets a specifc slot to ask personal questions.
- the goal of the program is not be able to answer a multiple choice test about music production but to be really able to do pro music. In the end of module tests you have to prove that you are able to use what you have learned. I find that brilliant.
- when I started the program I was able to do average mixes and basic mastering without really knowing what I am doing. Now I can do mixing and mastering on a high level with confidence and am not insecure
to offer my skill as a paid service. Before I started the program I felt like I plateaued in my skills. I recognized my results did not sound professional but I did not know how to improve (even if I tried hard, watched tons of videos and even took lessons in a local studio). The program helped me to get to the next level and now I know the keys that make the difference.
- the staff of mastering.com has a great attitude, that you will find in calls and the lessons, which is human focused and valuing people. There goal is to not only make good producers but good and grow people expressing themselves with music.

I think the program is for people who have some music production experience already (have tried some things, know basic tools a bit, etc.) to get to a professional level. I think it would work for absolute starters as well but they would need a bit more work and time to research the basics because the curriculum doesn‘t always start at absolute zero. But if you are a starter there are enough mentors and community members who would support you.

The program is not for people who want to do a quick short cut though. Since I started I invested about 15 - 20h a week constantly to get through the first 2 portions. And I would say my speed was between quick and average. If you are not ready to invest this time, the program won‘t really help you and you should save your money and consider if you really want to get a producer (because no program in the world will offer you to get a pro without being ready to do you work on it)

What you should be aware of, when starting the program is, that you will need some extra money apart from the program fee for some equipment (which will be recommended)

- computer (in case you don‘t have a suiting one)
- audio interface and cables
- at least headphones (mastering.com recommends Ollo Audio X1 which are great)
- acoustic measures and room treatment (optional but necessary if you want to work with speakers)
- make yourself ready to get some plug-ins. This is not mandatory and theoretically you could do the whole program with stock plug-ins but you will come to a point where you will want to get some stuff making life easier and sounding better. However the program offers great discounts on some major plug-in companies such as FabFilter, Soundtoys, etc. Furthermore many plug-in companies accept the enrollment letter for their educational programs.

Before I started the program I did lots of research on alternatives, prices and curriculums. But I did not find a program that would be able to be compared to this one. In the most programs I found - especially in Germany (where I am from) - where a lot less detail, often had a big share of marketing and economic contents and the amount of music production lessons was little. They didn‘t give me the impression, that they would be able to help me reach the next level in music production.

I am absolutely happy with my decision to start The Reverse Engineer and would definitely do it again.

TRE is a Life Experience. Being part of this amazing community of support has transformed what were only distant dreams and ideas in my head and started the engine moving on a course towards perpetual learning, curiosity, and confidence building. The mentors are top notch and available to help when things are going well, when they're not, and everything in between. I highly recommend the program to anyone who has musical dreams but doesn't quite know how to start achieving them. If you're willing to do the work, TRE is the place for you!

The technical curriculum is fabulous - and constantly evolving. Each lesson builds on what came before laying a foundation that teaches you "why" you're doing what you're doing.

But it's the people that make the experience so great.

First, the hugely talented mentors are friendly and engaging - always ready to help you wherever you are in the program or whatever your skill level.

Second, the community is hugely supportive - and goes beyond just "audio school" stuff. I've made some real connections, and have now got a bunch of new friends that I hope (and plan...) to meet in person someday.

There are so many ways to engage at whatever level works for you: free online courses, short term "intensive" programs, monthly Membership, and the flagship program - The Reverse Engineer.

I've been engaged with Mastering.com in all those ways over the last 3 or 4 years, having joined The Reverse Engineer program a year ago.

I have learned so much and had such a great time doing it!

I can't recommend Mastering.com highly enough.

This has been a great experience for me. The learning method of TRE works with my schedule and the amount of information contained in the program is incredible. It has boosted my confidence and given me skills that I did not have before. I would highly recommend this program.

The community is absolutely amazing! Whether you are just starting out or are familiar with making music, these programs are really in-depth and everything is explained very well. The teachers have tons of experience and everyone is helping each other out! No stupid questions or answers as everyone is there to learn. Furthermore, something that is very unique in my opinion is the "Goals & Mindset" calls that are part of "The Reverse Engineer". It gives you more than just technical stuff and als give you information and encouragement on how to approach setbacks. So overall, really great and extensive curriculum to expand your knowledge on pretty much everything that is part of the music production process!

Perfect advices. For beginners and pro as well

It's a community of people interested in learning and helping others. It's not just video lessons and mentorship, but a lot more. Other students often helped me a lot, and you get answers very quickly. This is place where you can get knowledge about everything regarding music production. They will guide you how to treat yours studio acoustically and teach you how to get a good listening environment. Not just quick tips, but real teaching from the basics to more advanced stuff. If you do this, you can expect growth.

My time with Mastering.com has been life changing. Since I was 18 rapping in my closet, I have dreamt of acquiring professional audio skills to fulfill my sonic vision. Over the years I have researched several other options that compare to The Reverse Engineer program. I throughly believe I made the right choice to work and learn with this group. The curriculum is extensive and delivered in digestible chunks. There are several mentors who have distinct niches and offer high quality feedback. The community is active, encouraging, and inspiring. I have achieved massive steps forward in my development as an artist and audio engineer in this space. Can't say enough good things. TY Mastering.com!!

Worked with Luke and he was awesome! Great, clear advice and recommendations that will help me in my future mixes. Really helpful!

The feedback I received was incredibly clear and detailed. The instructor helped me understand exactly why my mixes had issues with sub-bass control, vocal compression, and low-end masking — and how to fix them.

It wasn’t just theory; every point was practical and immediately applicable. I left the session knowing what to change in my tracks to make them translate better across all systems.

Even though I might join the full course later, this single session already gave me a huge push forward. Truly one of the most eye-opening experiences I’ve had in mixing.