Vic Malvolti Mastering

I caught the mastering bug in 2017 when I began working at La Source, one of the top mastering studios in Paris. It was there that I honed the attention to detail and refined the critical listening skills needed to master at a professional level.

Portrait de Victor Malvolti

References

What People Are Saying

“He guided me by pointing out areas for improvement in my mix, which was extremely helpful. I will definitely work with him again for future projects.”

— Nerpson

“Excellent engineering quality, simple and effective. Understands the track well and compliments it with his ability.”

— Anton

“Perfectly understood the track, clean, crisp and dynamic masters as well as friendly communication!”

— Augustin B

“Vic is extremely knowledgeable picking things out in the mix that I had maybe missed on the first stage of mixing. It is this attention to detail and honest feedback that helps provide a great-sounding master delivered in an extremely timely manner. Will definitely use it again”

— Day Two

“Very good job, open to feedbacks, prompt and efficient! Recommend!”

— Nicolas

Studio & Gear

My mastering workflow is built on a hybrid setup, blending high-end analog gear, transparent converters, and top-tier plugins. My monitoring system is anchored by Dutch & Dutch 8c speakers, Audeze MM-500 headphones, and a meticulously treated acoustic space.

Enceinte de monitoring dans le studio Manley Massive Passive en rack
Monitoring
  • Dutch & Dutch 8c — main monitoring
  • Audeze MM-500 — planar magnetic headphones
  • Topping A30 Pro — headphone amp
Outboard Gear
  • Manley Massive Passive
  • Elysia xPressor — VCA compressor
  • Gainlab Wizard — tube saturator
  • Gainlab Dictator DM — vari-mu compressor
  • Maselec MLA-3 — multiband compressor
  • Elysia Museq — mastering EQ
  • Bettermaker Mastering Limiter
Acoustics
  • Dedicated mastering room inside Octavox Studio
  • Additional acoustic treatment based on the recommendations of Clément Bastiat
  • 15 m³ of glass wool
  • Reverberant front wall with cardioid monitors
  • Semi-reflective (absorptive/reflective) ceiling
  • 2 × PSI Audio AVAA C214 — active bass traps
Software

Reaper, Wavelab, TDR, FabFilter, iZotope Ozone, RX, Acustica, Tone Projects, Schwabe Digital, Naturl Audio, Hacienda Labs, etc.

Pricing

All prices exclude VAT. French VAT (20%) may be added where applicable.

Invoicing takes place once you are 100% satisfied with the masters.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions — I’ll be happy to help.

Stereo Mix Mastering — €50 / track Unlimited revisions + 1 alternate version (instrumental, extended mix, etc.)
Stem Mastering — €80 / track Please refer to the stem mastering specifications in the FAQ at the bottom of the page.

Options

Alternate version — €25
DDP master — €75
Format conversions (MP3, FLAC, alternate sample rates & bit depths) — Included

Vinyl

Vinyl sequencing — €75 / side
Vinyl master (alternate version) — €25 / trackFor projects mastered by me.
Vinyl master (from scratch) — €50 / trackApplicable when the original digital master was not created by me.
VU-mètre du studio

Prepare for mastering

Bit Depth: 24-bit is preferred (16-bit only if necessary).
Sample Rate: maintain the same sample rate used during mixing.
Format: WAV or AIFF are preferred; FLAC and ALAC are also accepted.
Headroom: ensure the audio does not peak at 0 dBFS — anything below is acceptable.
Label Copy: please share all the required information before we start mastering — title(s), track order, duration, ISRC codes… If a label copy is made, please forward it!
File Transfer: please use the service of your choice. Avoid the free version of WeTransfer, as it does not retain files for long. For free services, I recommend SwissTransfer and Smash.

Pre-master and the final limiter

Many mixing engineers place a limiter at the end of their chain to increase loudness, create a certain vibe, or both. The limiter often plays a crucial role in shaping the mix’s overall sound.

Please send me two versions of your mix:

  • The mix with the final limiter applied (commonly called the “pre-master” or “rough master”)
  • The mix without the final limiter

FAQs

Do you provide mixing services?

No, I don’t offer mixing services, but I’d be happy to recommend talented mixing engineers based on your budget and musical genre.

Do you do stem mastering?

Yes, I do offer stem mastering, but I’m strict on two things: the stems must be of equal length, and you need to provide a version of the master that perfectly matches the sum of the stems. If the combined stems don't perfectly represent the master bus, I won’t take the time to do the stem mastering. This ensures that the stem balance aligns exactly with the vision of the artist or mixer.

Can I send you a mix for review?

Absolutely! Feel free to send your mix for review, and I’ll let you know if it’s ready for mastering or if any adjustments are needed.

Should I remove all of my master bus processing?

No, you don’t need to remove it. If the processing is part of your desired sound, it’s best to leave it on. However, if you're unsure, feel free to send me multiple versions of the track, with or without processing, and I’ll choose the one that works best.

Could you clarify your pricing with an example?

Here's an example for a 4-track EP for a French client, including a DDP. The total cost is €288.00 including tax, broken down as follows:

  • Base price: €50 per track
  • 17.5% discount for 4 tracks
  • A DDP at €75 (not subject to the quantity discount)
  • 20% VAT in France

The calculation: (50 × 4 × (1 − 17.5%) + 75) × (1 + 20%)

Contact

To get in touch, please send me an email at:

Make sure to copy and paste the email address, as many people tend to forget the "L" between the "O" and the "T" in "MALVOLTI".

I typically respond within 48h.