Recording
Matt Kennedy records out of the world-class Empire Sound Studio, located in Dallas, TX. With over 15 years of experience and access to top-tier gear, Matt provides a professional and inspiring environment to bring your project to life.
Recording with a seasoned engineer like Matt is the foundation of making a great record. The studio features a vintage SSL 4048 E/G+ large-format console, a wide selection of high-end microphones, racks of premium outboard gear, amazing amps / drums / instruments, and a spacious, comfortable atmosphere ideal for creativity.
Whether you’re tracking to analog 24-track 2-inch tape or working in the latest Pro Tools environment, you’ll get the best of both classic and modern recording workflows.
Need to record elsewhere? Matt is fully equipped to travel and has successfully led full tracking sessions at top studios including:
NRG Recording Studios – Los Angeles, CA
Empire Sound Studio – Dallas, TX
Power Station – Pompano Beach, FL
The Bunker Studio – Brooklyn, NY
Engine Room Audio – NYC, NY
Cleartrack Studios – Clearwater, FL
Robert Lang Studios – Seattle, WA
Palmyra Studios – Palmer, TX
Fort Worth Sound – Fort Worth, TX
Austin Signal – Austin, TX
Chicago Recording Company – Chicago, IL
Mixing
Mixing is where your song truly comes to life—balancing and blending all recorded elements using EQ, compression, effects, automation, and creative decisions that shape the final sound. It’s one of the most critical stages in making a great record.
At Empire Sound, mixing is done through the legendary SSL 4048 E/G+ console, paired with top-tier outboard gear from API, Neve, Manley, Focusrite, Urei, Empirical Labs, and more.
With thousands of hours behind the console, Matt Kennedy brings an impeccable ear, deep musical knowledge, and a seamless creative workflow to every mix. The result: a polished, professional sound ready for radio, film, or streaming.
Mastering
Mastering is the final and essential step before releasing your music. It’s both a technical and artistic process—shaping the overall loudness, tonal balance, and sonic character of your mix to ensure it translates across all playback systems.
Matt approaches mastering like playing an instrument—with intention, feel, and connection. His goal is to preserve the emotion and dynamics of your performance while enhancing clarity, punch, and depth.
Your tracks are mastered using a precise monitoring system featuring:
- Augspurger 2x15s with TAD drivers (6,000 watts of power)
- Focal Twin BEs with a Focal 12” sub
- Kali Audio
- Yamaha NS-10Ms for detailed referencing
Analog mastering chain includes (but not limited to):
- API 2500
- Focusrite Red 3
- Manley ELOP+
- SSL 4K Mix Buss Compressor
- Empirical Labs FATSO
- Summit Audio Master Class A Tube EQ
- Pluggins
The result is a dynamic, emotionally intact master that sounds incredible on any platform—from streaming services and radio to film, vinyl, and live playback.
Dolby Atmos Mixing
Take Your Music Into the Future of Sound
Step into the next generation of audio with Dolby Atmos Mixing—a truly immersive experience that surrounds your listener in a 3D sonic space. Dolby Atmos is more than surround sound—it’s an object-based format that dynamically adapts to any playback system, from full home theater setups to Apple Music’s Spatial Audio or binaural stereo headphones.
This revolutionary format is quickly becoming the industry standard—and for good reason. It adds depth, space, and emotion that traditional stereo simply can’t match.
At Empire Sound’s Studio C, Dolby Atmos mixing is powered by a 7.1.4 Kali Audio monitoring system with Intonato Monitor Management and Control, delivering accurate and immersive sound placement for every element in your track.
Your final deliverables include:
- A Dolby Atmos ADM master file (ready for immediate upload to platforms like Apple Music)
- Stereo and binaural reference files for easy review
Whether you’re looking to elevate a new release or reimagine your catalog in 3D audio, Matt Kennedy ensures your music stands out in the most modern, compelling format available.
Production Support
From Vision to Final Track
With hundreds of recordings under his belt, Matt Kennedy is more than an engineer—he’s a trusted creative partner. As part of your team, Matt helps shape your music from the ground up, offering support at every stage of the production process.
Whether you need help with:
- Songwriting and musical arrangements
- Hiring and producing session musicians
- Creative direction and pre-production planning
Matt brings the experience, musical intuition, and network to turn your ideas into a fully realized, professional recording. Whatever your project requires, he’s ready to guide it from dream to reality.tt has helped produce hundreds of recordings. He plays a key role as apart of the creative team. From writing, musical arrangements, hiring and producing session musicians. What ever your projects needs he can help you take the necessary steps to get your project from dream to reality.
Editing and Studio Polish
Fix It, Tighten It, Make It Shine
Every great record has a little behind-the-scenes magic—things you won’t find in the liner notes, but they make all the difference. If your tracks need a little cleanup or extra love, Matt Kennedy has you covered.
Whether it’s:
- Vocal tuning
- Drum timing correction
- Instrument note adjustments
- Or even creative solutions involving a kazoo—Matt can make it work.
With expert editing skills and a deep understanding of performance and feel, Matt ensures your tracks sound tight, natural, and ready for release—without losing the soul of the music.
🎧 Audio Post-Production
Precision. Emotion. Immersion.
At mixedbytheengineer, Matt delivers world-class audio post-production that elevates your visual story into a cinematic sonic experience. From film and TV to branded content and immersive digital experiences, every project is mixed with the same attention to detail and depth that defines our music work.
Services Include:
- Dialogue Editing & Cleanup – Removing noise, pops, and inconsistencies for crystal-clear, intelligible speech.
- Sound Design – Crafting or enhancing the sonic world of your project with creative textures, ambient layers, and impact-driven FX.
- ADR & Voice-Over Recording – Capture pristine performances in a controlled studio environment using industry-standard mics and preamps.
- Mixing (Stereo, 5.1, 7.1, Dolby Atmos) – Delivering cinematic mixes optimized for streaming, broadcast, and theatrical release.
- Loudness Compliance – Ensuring mixes meet international standards (Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV+, YouTube, etc.).
- Music Integration – Blending custom compositions, score, and licensed tracks seamlessly into your project’s narrative.
Why Choose Us:
Our post-production workflow integrates Pro Tools Ultimate and a fully calibrated Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 mix environment, ensuring your content meets the same standards used by major studios and networks. Whether you’re producing a short film, podcast, commercial, or feature, our goal is to make your sound every bit as powerful as your visuals.