Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Rio
Hi Brian, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 2014, multiple GRAMMY Award-winning mastering engineer and CEO of SING Mastering, Colin Leonard, faced a fortunate dilemma: he needed to provide his expertise and patented SING Mastering Technology to more creatives than he could humanly accommodate. The solution turned out to be anything but human; with help from CTO Michael Heiler, Aria Mastering was created. Aria is the world’s only automated analog mastering service, utilizing the same processes, techniques, and equipment that Colin uses daily to master music for the biggest names in the industry. Although Aria’s not human, it analyzes the user’s mix, optimizes the world-class analog signal chain based on the user’s direction, and even allows them to fine-tune their master by precisely adjusting the physical knobs on the gear using robotic arms. At the core of its identity is the mission to provide premium mastering services at an accessible price while never compromising quality. Today, Aria serves a diverse community ranging from audio hobbyists to some of the world’s most renowned mixing engineers.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like the rest of the world, the pandemic was an intense and trying time for us. While our team dealt with the challenges and uncertainty facing society during those years, the pandemic became the most significant growth period for Aria as a business. As people sheltered in place, they spent more time making music, and Aria’s inherent remote capabilities made it an effective tool for people who could not be around other people. Scaling a business during that uncertainty and societal unrest wasn’t easy, especially for a small team. Years later, we have managed to keep the team small, which presents significant challenges and opportunities. We’re nimble, able to make quick decisions and act fast, which is objectively positive for our customers. At the same time, we do almost everything ourselves, which can make for long but rewarding days.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Our most fulfilling service at Aria is giving creatives with budget constraints access to expertise and equipment they’d typically not have access to. Not all audio creators can afford the cost of human mastering engineers and the facilities they operate out of, and that’s not fair. Aria democratizes some of that access, and as we’ve grown, we’ve found that to be one of the most gratifying parts of what we do. What sets us apart from other online mastering services is Colin’s SING Technology and the world-class analog equipment that makes up Aria’s signal chain. There are other online services in the space with humongous marketing and development budgets, but none leverage high-end analog signal flow, and none utilize SING Technologies. Aria is genuinely unique in the market.
Pricing:
- $9.90 per Master
- Multiple Subscription Tiers
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ariamastering.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ariamastering/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ariaautomatedmastering
- Twitter: https://x.com/ariamastering
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ariamastering2287
