Jump to content

Bob Ludwig

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 130.49.25.218 (talk) at 22:33, 30 September 2008. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Bob Ludwig (b. circa 1945) is an American mastering engineer.

He is a well known and respected figure within the music industry[1]. Ludwig's craftsmanship is appreciated widely within the music profession, as testified by his extensive credits and demand for his work. His name is ubiquitously credited on the covers of albums released across the world, and he has won numerous awards over the years.

Throughout his career, he has mastered recordings on all the major recording formats for all the major record labels, and on projects for many important artists such as Paul McCartney, Madonna, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Metallica, Rush, Led Zeppelin, Nine Inch Nails, Pearl Jam, Tool, Def Leppard, Kraftwerk, Radiohead, Nirvana, Dire Straits.[2]

Biography

As an 8-year-old child in South Salem, New York, Ludwig was so fascinated with his first tape recorder he used to make recordings of whatever was on the radio. Ludwig is a classical musician by training, having obtained his Bachelor's and Master's degree from the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester, New York, where he was also involved in the sound department and played Principal Trumpet with the Utica Symphony Orchestra[3]. Inspired by Phil Ramone when he came to the school to teach a summer recording workshop, he ended up working as his assistant. Afterward, he was contacted again and offered work with Ramone at A&R Recording. Together, they did sessions on projects with The Band, Peter, Paul & Mary, Neil Diamond, and Frank Sinatra.

After a few years at A&R, Ludwig received an offer from Sterling Sound, where he eventually rose to become a Vice-President. After seven years at Sterling, he moved to its larger direct competitor, Masterdisk where he was Vice President and Chief Engineer. In 1993, Ludwig decided to take control over his career by starting his own record-mastering facility in Portland, Maine named Gateway Mastering.

His mastering credits are extensive, and include albums for many major classical artists and rock bands alike, including Jimi Hendrix, the Kronos Quartet, Alarm Will Sound, Nirvana, U2, Bryan Ferry, Tori Amos, Jars of Clay, AC/DC, Bonnie Raitt, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, the Bee Gees, Madonna, Will Ackerman and Dire Straits.

Although he is sometimes involved in long projects, such as remastering the entire back catalogues of Rush, Dire Straits and The Rolling Stones[4], Ludwig cites his most musically satisfying projects: as the CD reissue of Music From Big Pink (The Band), There's a Riot Goin' On (Sly and the Family Stone), Led Zeppelin II, Painted from Memory (Bacharach & Costello), Spirit (Jewel), Loreena McKennitt, Ancient Voices of Children (George Crumb).

Awards and recognition

Ludwig has won many Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards[5].

  • First winner of the Les Paul Award 1991 from the Mix Foundation created to honor individuals or institutions that have set the highest standards of excellence in the creative application of recording technology.
  • 1986, 1987,1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000 TEC Award OUTSTANDING CREATIVE ACHIEVEMENT - Mastering Engineer
  • 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 OUTSTANDING INSTITUTIONAL ACHIEVEMENT - Mastering Facility

Since the inception of Gateway, Ludwig/Gateway have been regular winners of TEC Award for "Best Mastering Engineer" and "Best Mastering Facility", namely:

  • 2001 TEC Award OUTSTANDING CREATIVE ACHIEVEMENT Record Production/Album: - Riding With the King, B.B. King & Eric Clapton
  • 2002 TEC Award OUTSTANDING CREATIVE ACHIEVEMENT Record Production/Single or Track: - The Space Between • Everyday, Dave Matthews Band
  • 2004 TEC Award OUTSTANDING CREATIVE ACHIEVEMENT Record Production/Album - Hail to the Thief, Radiohead

In the 48th Annual GRAMMY Awards in 2005, he won an award for the Best Surround Sound Album: - Brothers In Arms - 20th Anniversary Edition, Dire Straits[6].

Other

Ludwig is active in the Audio Engineering Society and was a past Chairman of the NY section. He is on the advisory board of the Producers and Engineer’s section of National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences[7].

Quotes about Ludwig

"No mastering engineer has mastered more music that has been enjoyed by more people ever than Bob. I can't think of anyone else that might be true of. So there's a start. Simple fact" - Mark Parsons[8].

References

  1. ^ Brown, Mark (2006-08-24). "Fogerty's CCR classics in 'respectful' hands". Rock Mountain News. Retrieved 2006-09-09. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  2. ^ Ludwig, Bob. "Client list". Gateway Mastering. Retrieved 2006-09-09. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ Anderman, Joan (2001-11-08). "Sound judgment - Music stars find a master's touch in Maine". Boston Globe. pp. D1. Retrieved 2006-09-09. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ Murphy, Steve. "Remastering the Rolling Stones". Pro Audio Review. Retrieved 2006-09-09. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ "The TEC Awards". The Mix Foundation. Retrieved 2006-09-09. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ "The Grammy Awards". The Recording Academy. Retrieved 2006-09-09. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  7. ^ Audio Engineering Society. "Recent Activities". McGill University. Retrieved 2006-09-09. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  8. ^ Parsons, Mark. "An interview with Bob Ludwig (from Expo98)". Parsons Audio. Retrieved 2006-09-09. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bob_Ludwig&oldid=242099793"