Program Overview

Audio Mastering

Program Overview

Unlock the secrets of audio mastering and learn to develop, train and attune your ears to powerful effects including EQ, multi-band compression, soft & brickwall limiting, mid/side processing and more. Learn to master your own EP using software such as Izotope, Waves, Brainworx and T-Racks and obtain the invaluable skills required to polish up your tracks to a professional standard and help them stand out from the crowd, ready to release.

Key Info

• Duration: 1 Term
• Start Dates: July 2025, October 2025, January 2026, April 2026, July 2026, October 2026, January 2027, April 2027
• Timetable: One 4-hour class each week for 10 weeks. Daytime, evening & weekend slots available.

Fees

• Payment in Full: $2,545
• Registration Fee + Balance: $100 reg fee + balance of $2,445
• Registration Fee + Monthly Payments: $100 reg fee + $895 per month

Accommodation

While we don't offer on-campus housing, we work with trusted partners to help you find safe, comfortable student housing that fits your needs and budget. Whether you're looking for short-term housing or apartment rental, there are plenty of options—many fully furnished and equipped with high-speed internet and secure access.

Course Breakdown

• The Role of the Mastering Engineer
• The Physics of Sound
• Monitoring
• Basic Acoustics
• Critical Listening
• Advanced Dynamic Processing
• Mid/side Techniques
• Mastering for Streaming Platforms
• Audio Restoration Techniques

Expert Instructors

• David Aguila: Mastering engineer for Ted Taforo, Snow Nerds, Scot Ray, and more. World-class trumpeter for Chosen Vale, Vinny Golia, & Tonight Show with Jay Leno. BM Eastman, MFA CalArts, DMA candidate under King Britt at UCSD.
• Andres Antonio Bretel: Renowned artist, composer/songwriter, audio engineer, whose career spans decades, having performed and opened for the likes of Guns'N'Roses, Smashing Pumpkins and Stereophonics.

Student Spotlight

• Bryan Dotel: Latin GRAMMY-nominee & pointblank LA alum Bryan Dotel produced his first single Aventura ft. Ilegales at age 17. Hailing from the Dominican Republic, he moved to LA after high school to study at pointblank, where he produced the hit Mejor Así off the Ilegales Tropicalia album, garnering a nod for Best Tropical Fusion Album at the 2019 Latin GRAMMYS.

Career Opportunities

• Mix Engineer
• Music Producer
• TV/Film Composer
• Recording Engineer
• Sound Designer
• Studio Manager
• Remixer
• Video Game Composer
• Artist/Performer
• A&R Label Manager

FAQ

• Are there any admission requirements?
  • Admission into any college-level program at pointblank requires that the prospective student:
    • Be 18 years of age or older (under age 18 may be accepted only with signed parental consent)
    • Possess a high school diploma or the equivalent
    • Be provided a current pointblank Music School Catalog
    • Sign a School Performance Fact Sheet and an Enrollment Agreement for their program
• What equipment do I need to buy?
  • None at all! Every pointblank student has access to their own fully-equipped workstation in class and during their practical studio work outside of class time.
• When are the classes scheduled?
  • For most 10-week courses within in this program, classes meet once per week for 4 hours (with a 15-minute break included) at one of the following session times:
    • 10:00am – 2:00pm (Morning Session)
    • 2:30pm – 6:30pm (Afternoon Session)
    • 7:00pm – 11:00pm (Evening Session)

Included with Program

• 50% off Ableton Live Suite
• 50% off MSRP on NI Komplete 14 or Komplete 14 Ultimate
• 70% off Eventide plugins
• 55% off Roland Cloud Ultimate