At Benchmark we specialise in supporting Independent Music and our
Engineers are experts in achieving that world class sound from your
home studio and budget projects. We
work with all the Major Record Labels from Australia and overseas and
are always asked what new artists have been in recently. All artists are welcome at Benchmark Mastering.
Don BartleyDon grew up fascinated with sound. His father was trained as a radio
technician and, as a child, Don watched and listened to him while he
built and repaired valve radios. In the evenings they listened to the
radio, and that's when Don discovered that sound can create images and
he learnt the true meaning of "HI FI". Early in high school, Don was
given a mono 1/4" tape recorder, and he learnt to record, mix and edit.
Soon Don moved on to a stereo tape recorder, home built amps, mixer and
pirate radio station. This is when The Beatles arrived and changed his
life. Don joined the Sydney Waterboard after high school. Don really
wanted to work in a sound studio but was advised against it. After 5
years at the Waterboard, he joined the Australian Record Company (CBS)
as a technician come mastering engineer. Don was finally in his element
and he never looked back.
Don has been mastering in Sydney, Australia, since 1971. Don started
cutting vinyl masters, dubbing and editing for CBS Records at their
Artarmon Plant. Don moved to RCA Records and headed up their new
facility in 1975 after RCA's huge success with ABBA. In 1980, Don
joined EMI Record's Studios 301. At Studios 301, he followed the
transition from the analogue age into the digital age and watched with
sadness the demise of vinyl. In 1988, Don became a freelance engineer
and incorporated his own company - INTERNATIONAL MASTERING SERVICES
P/L. Don has now built and set up "Benchmark Mastering", a mastering
facility dedicated to the music industry, incorporating his broad
experience with his Australian and international client base.
Don’s Credits are too extensive to mention all of them and but some favourites are:
Metallica
Alanis Morissette
Duran Duran
The Beatles
Slim Dusty
Silverchair
Powderfinger
The Vines
The Saints
Inxs
Cold Chisel
Missy Higgins
Midnight Oil
Paul Kelly
The Whitlams
Dallas Crane
You Am I
The Living End
Youth Group
Tex, Don & Charlie
Don also has mastered numerous multi million selling releases for
international artists from Japan, Russia, and Indonesia as well as
countless classical and world music productions.