Last month, second-year Music Production and Sound Engineering and Electronic Music Production students travelled to one of the most exclusive mastering facilities in the world: Super Audio Mastering (SAM), for a day that would fundamentally change how they listen to music.
Tucked away in a converted granite-walled roundhouse on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, SAM is where subtle sonic decisions become the difference between a good mix and a record that truly connects with listeners. For students studying their Advanced Mixing and Mastering module, this visit was a masterclass in the precision, artistry and decades of experience that define elite-level audio production.
The session began with Simon Heyworth sharing the story of his four-decade career in audio. From his early days as a studio assistant to becoming a studio engineer, co-owner of London's renowned tape copying facility "Chop Em Out," and eventually one of the industry's most respected mastering engineers, Simon's journey offered students a rare glimpse into how mastering careers are built, not overnight, but through years of dedication and critical listening.
Bill Sellar then took students deep into SAM's technical heart, demonstrating the highly sought-after (and extraordinarily expensive) mastering equipment that makes the studio a destination for artists seeking the finest sound quality.
Walking through pieces from Manley, Avalon, and Thermionic Culture, alongside extensive analogue-to-digital and digital-to-analogue converters, Bill explained not just what each processor does, but why it matters. Students watched as he demonstrated routing paths and signal chains, A-B testing each piece of equipment to reveal how even subtle processing shapes the final master.
"Visiting a world-renowned mastering house offers the students a highly professional perspective from engineers who have been in the industry for a long time," explains course leader Pete Day. "The attention to detail in the minute choices made to critically analyse and alter the audio to bring out the very essence of the artist's intention is a rare opportunity."
That opportunity clearly resonated with our students. Curt Hennells described it as "an outstanding day at SAM with Simon and Bill. Their deep experience and subtle artistry brought the essence of mastering to life in a way I've never experienced before. Remarkable teaching, and incredible value." Paul Mortley praised "a really inspiring insight into the precision, technical knowledge and critical listening skills required to produce professional-level masters," while Luke Strawson noted the exclusivity of the experience: "A very interesting session at a studio which would be hard to get invited to outside of dBs, well run."
One student reflected after the visit that when he first attended as a first-year student, he couldn't hear the differences Bill was demonstrating. One year into his studies, he could now clearly distinguish the significant sonic changes each processor made. It's proof that the technical ear develops with time and training.
For students learning Advanced Mixing and Mastering, this visit offered something textbooks and lectures simply cannot: the chance to witness how elite mastering engineers make the micro-decisions that transform a mix into a finished record. In an industry where the difference between amateur and professional often comes down to critical listening and years of experience, spending a day with Simon and Bill at SAM was an education in what it truly means to master music at the highest level.
Join us at one of our upcoming Open Days to explore our facilities, meet our tutors, and discover how dBs Institute connects students with world-class professionals and studios.