Stefan Brown
Mastering Engineer at Abbey Road
Bio
After graduating from SAE London in 2022, Stefan Brown set his sights on establishing himself within the professional mastering world. Early on, he focused on building a strong professional identity, launching his own website and embedding himself within the mastering community. By spending time connecting with studios and fellow engineers, Stefan began developing both his technical practice and a growing independent client base.
These early efforts quickly gained momentum. As his reputation grew, Stefan became recognised for his work within underground electronic music, mastering releases that stood out for their clarity, impact and attention to detail. Over time, his work expanded across genres and levels, allowing him to collaborate with a wide range of artists, from emerging talent to established international acts.
A pivotal moment in Stefan’s career came when he reached out directly to the mastering manager at Abbey Road Studios. Through building a strong professional relationship over time, he was eventually invited to join the Abbey Road mastering team. In late 2024, Stefan joined Abbey Road as a full-time mastering engineer, marking a major milestone in his professional journey.
Since joining Abbey Road, Stefan has worked on number one records, including releases with Van Ness Wu in China, and ambitious large-scale projects such as Soda Blonde – Live With The National Symphony Orchestra. His work has also included extensive collaboration with producer and educator Warren Huart of Produce Like A Pro, and he has been invited to speak on industry panels at AES and NAMM, sharing insight into modern mastering workflows.
Stefan’s working schedule reflects both his personal creative rhythm and the international scope of his client base. With many clients based in the United States, his days often begin later than average, moving into long, focused mastering sessions that extend well into the evening. One of the biggest learning curves since joining Abbey Road has been understanding the inner workings of a large, complex studio environment, particularly when navigating major label releases and high-profile projects.
Among the many projects he has worked on, Straight Into The Arms of Something, a film project by Soda Blonde, stands out as a career highlight. As his first orchestral film master, the project required managing multiple formats and layouts, and holding the finished physical release was a particularly proud moment.
Reflecting on his time at SAE, Stefan credits the course with helping prepare him for professional studio life, particularly through developing accountability, independence and a business mindset. He found particular inspiration in modules taught by Matt Chapman, whose experimental approach and deep musical knowledge allowed Stefan to work at an advanced level while maintaining creative freedom. Learning how to present himself professionally and build an online presence proved especially valuable once he entered the industry full-time.
Stefan emphasises that graduating is only the beginning of a career in audio. Ongoing learning, self-motivation and relationship-building remain essential. His advice to future SAE students is to invest in meaningful connections, both with peers and industry professionals, as classmates often go on to work on exciting projects. Combining strong relationships with a solid work ethic, he believes, is what sustains a long-term career in the industry.
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