MASTERPIECE SCHOOL OF MASTERING AT SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS
Seasoned mastering engineer Billy Stull offers unique opportunity to learn his trade.

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas - September 2006 -- Mastering engineer Billy Stull, owner of Masterpiece Mastering and pro audio equipment manufacturer Legendary Audio, announces the establishment of the Masterpiece School of Mastering at South Padre Island.

The school, an intensive three-day course on all aspects of the mastering phase of commercial recordings, will be held at the resort setting of South Padre Island, Texas. Step-by-step procedures, techniques, and equipment involved in mastering the wide range of projects presented to a mastering facility will be covered.

The Masterpiece School will be held on a bi-monthly schedule and enrollment will be limited to small groups.

"In our marketing activities with our Masterpiece analog mastering system designed by Mr. Rupert Neve, we've come across many engineers and recording studios that are wanting to establish a mastering facility or service but are unsure of exactly what to do or how to be successful", notes Stull. "This new course is designed to not only acquaint these individuals and companies with the fundamental principles of mastering, but also to really bring them up to speed with numerous tips and tricks that I and others have accumulated over years of professional experience. As more and more recordings are done at small or project studios, the need for quality mastering is greatly increasing. Unfortunately, that service is not always readily available, yet without it, these projects can't possibly reach their potential. Therefore, we hope to train, guide, and assist engineers in their efforts to either start a mastering studio or enhance their current business and ultimately satisfy their customers. Although analog and digital mastering equipment will be explained, the course is more about the engineering than specific equipment".

One of the highlights of the course will be an hour-long conference call with New York-based mastering veteran Alan Silverman (Norah Jones, Cheap Trick, The Kinks) who will be sharing his operational philosophies and approach to mastering.

The host hotel and headquarters for the school will be the beautiful Sheraton South Padre Island Beach Hotel. Special room rates for students have been arranged for at the resort, which features a 6,000-square-foot swimming pool, beach access, and views of the Gulf of Mexico from each hotel room.

A portion of the course will also take place at Stull's new Masterpiece Mastering facility, a 2500-square-foot building that features a 1000-square-foot mastering room with specially treated walls that effectively eliminate any reflections. According to Stull, "having a mastering suite this large really takes the room out of the equation and feels very much like being outdoors, but with no ambient noise. It's terrific in terms of accuracy, which is what we're after in a mastering environment, of course".

Cost for the three-day school is $900 and includes lunch each day. However, various manufacturers' discounts will be offered to participants, which can more than offset the cost of the school if equipment purchases are made within 60 days of attending.

A protege of the renowned producer/engineer Norman Petty (Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Waylon Jennings), Billy Stull has spent the last 40 years immersed in just about every aspect of the music business, including being a musician, recording artist, manager, publisher, producer, engineer, major label A&R and marketing executive, retail store owner, pro audio gear manufacturer, and, for the past decade, respected mastering professional referred to by the legendary Mr. Rupert Neve as a man with "golden ears".

The 2008 Mastering School at South Padre Island schedule is as follows:
March 6, 7 and 8;
May 1, 2, 3;
July 17, 18, 19;
September 11, 12, 13;
November 13, 14, 15.
For more information and an application form, contact info@legendaryaudio.com