Michael Romanowski
Coast Mastering
Michael Romanowski is a Grammy nominated mastering engineer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is owner and chief mastering engineer at Coast Mastering and co-owner and founder of the analog tape label The Tape Project. Michael is currently a Trustee of the The Recording Academy San Francisco Chapter (NARAS), Former Chair of the National Presidents Council, former president of the SF Chapter and serves on the National Advisory Council to the Producers & Engineers Wing, and member of the AES Technical Committee.
Since 1994, Michael has worked to support the tradition of the diverse San Francisco sound and has become a national expert in the art and science of mastering (Mix Magazine, Electronic Musician, AES, NAMM, SXSW, Tape Op, Potluck Con, AES Mexico, AES Europe). Michael started his audio career as a musician and live sound engineer in Nashville, where he quickly progressed to recording and mixing pop, rock and alternative acts. In 1994, he relocated to the Bay Area to apprentice at Rocket Lab with Paul Stubblebine and Ken Lee, learning the art and craft of the mastering engineer. In 1999, he became the chief mastering engineer for Sausalito’s Plant Studios, in 2001 he reunited with Paul Stubblebine and built two new mastering rooms at the former location of Coast Records. In 2007, Michael acquired the business and continued to expand the facility. In 2015, Michael Romanowski Mastering and Coast Recorders merged as Coast Mastering and relocated to the infamous Fantasy Studios Complex in the former Studio C. Working with Acoustician extraordinaire Bob Hodas, The tracking room and former foley room for the Saul Zaentz Media Center, was transformed into a multi channel mastering room. Michael just completed the newly built, and TEC Nominated, Coast Mastering, an analoge mastering room capable of up to 9.1.6 Immersive audio.
He has been an educator at San Francisco State University, Pyramind, SAE, and is a guest lecturer at other regional colleges.
Michael’s extensive credits include America, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Alicia Keys, The Eagles Third Eye Blind, G-Love, Pat Monahan, Devotchka, Jeffrey Gaines, Sea of Bees, Chuck Prophet, Train, Peter Case, Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas, Los Amigos Invisibles, Pentatonix, Craig Carothers, Laura Pausini, Matt Nathanson, San Quinn, Jacqui Naylor, Pete Ham, Will Kimbrough, Sutro, The Dynamites, Thompsonia, Megan Keely, Bobby Walker, Jinx Jones, Sun Monks, Ant Banks, SF Jazz, Norton Buffalo, Too $hort, Colorado Symphony, Chanticleer, Dredg, The Devil in California, !!!, Junior Toots, Diegos Umbrella, Daddy, Bill Martin, Brendan Smith, Richard Howell, Alexander String Quartet, Bad Finger, Keith Greeninger, Dan Wolf, Antonio Iturrioz, Phife Dawg, Sara Lovell, Raelyn Nelson Band, Megan Slankard, Chanticleer, Media Hyperium Surround (Sting, Cheryl Crow, Marvin Gaye, Tears for Fears,Soundgarden, Pink, Evanescence, Seal, Yes, Lady Gaga, Alanis Morisette, Matchbox 20, James Blunt), Jeff Larson and Jeff Foskett, Gerry Beckley, Brother Ayouba and several thousand more...
Since 1994, Michael has worked to support the tradition of the diverse San Francisco sound and has become a national expert in the art and science of mastering (Mix Magazine, Electronic Musician, AES, NAMM, SXSW, Tape Op, Potluck Con, AES Mexico, AES Europe). Michael started his audio career as a musician and live sound engineer in Nashville, where he quickly progressed to recording and mixing pop, rock and alternative acts. In 1994, he relocated to the Bay Area to apprentice at Rocket Lab with Paul Stubblebine and Ken Lee, learning the art and craft of the mastering engineer. In 1999, he became the chief mastering engineer for Sausalito’s Plant Studios, in 2001 he reunited with Paul Stubblebine and built two new mastering rooms at the former location of Coast Records. In 2007, Michael acquired the business and continued to expand the facility. In 2015, Michael Romanowski Mastering and Coast Recorders merged as Coast Mastering and relocated to the infamous Fantasy Studios Complex in the former Studio C. Working with Acoustician extraordinaire Bob Hodas, The tracking room and former foley room for the Saul Zaentz Media Center, was transformed into a multi channel mastering room. Michael just completed the newly built, and TEC Nominated, Coast Mastering, an analoge mastering room capable of up to 9.1.6 Immersive audio.
He has been an educator at San Francisco State University, Pyramind, SAE, and is a guest lecturer at other regional colleges.
Michael’s extensive credits include America, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Alicia Keys, The Eagles Third Eye Blind, G-Love, Pat Monahan, Devotchka, Jeffrey Gaines, Sea of Bees, Chuck Prophet, Train, Peter Case, Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas, Los Amigos Invisibles, Pentatonix, Craig Carothers, Laura Pausini, Matt Nathanson, San Quinn, Jacqui Naylor, Pete Ham, Will Kimbrough, Sutro, The Dynamites, Thompsonia, Megan Keely, Bobby Walker, Jinx Jones, Sun Monks, Ant Banks, SF Jazz, Norton Buffalo, Too $hort, Colorado Symphony, Chanticleer, Dredg, The Devil in California, !!!, Junior Toots, Diegos Umbrella, Daddy, Bill Martin, Brendan Smith, Richard Howell, Alexander String Quartet, Bad Finger, Keith Greeninger, Dan Wolf, Antonio Iturrioz, Phife Dawg, Sara Lovell, Raelyn Nelson Band, Megan Slankard, Chanticleer, Media Hyperium Surround (Sting, Cheryl Crow, Marvin Gaye, Tears for Fears,Soundgarden, Pink, Evanescence, Seal, Yes, Lady Gaga, Alanis Morisette, Matchbox 20, James Blunt), Jeff Larson and Jeff Foskett, Gerry Beckley, Brother Ayouba and several thousand more...