Bob Ludwig

Robert Carl Ludwig (born December 11, 1944) is a retired American mastering engineer. He mastered recordings on all the major recording formats for all the major record labels, and on projects by more than 1,300 artists, including Led Zeppelin, Lou Reed, Metallica, Queen, Jimi Hendrix, Bryan Ferry, Paul McCartney, Nirvana, Bruce Springsteen, Radiohead, Tool and Daft Punk, with more than 3,000 credits. He is the recipient of thirteen Grammy and other awards. In 1992, Ludwig founded his own mastering facility, Gateway Mastering Studios, in Portland, Maine. He retired in 2023.

Biography

At the age of eight in South Salem, New York, Ludwig was so fascinated with his first tape recorder that 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 degrees from the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester in New York. He was also involved in the sound department at Eastman, as well as being principal trumpet of the Utica Symphony Orchestra. Inspired by Phil Ramone when he came to Eastman to teach a summer recording workshop, Ludwig ended up working as his assistant. Afterwards, he was contacted and offered work with Ramone at A&R Recording.

After a few years at A&R, Ludwig received an offer from Sterling Sound, where he eventually became a vice president. After seven years at Sterling, he moved to its competitor, Masterdisk, where he was vice president and chief engineer. In December 1992, Ludwig left Masterdisk to start his own record mastering facility, Gateway Mastering Studios, in Portland, Maine. Supertramp, Will Ackerman, Pet Shop Boys, Radiohead, Elton John, Daft Punk, and Alabama Shakes. Ludwig occasionally undertook larger projects, such as remastering the back catalogues of Rush, Dire Straits, Creedence Clearwater Revival and the Rolling Stones.

As a judge for the 8th and 10th-14th annual Independent Music Awards, Ludwig's contributions helped assist the careers of upcoming independent artists. Ludwig is active in the Audio Engineering Society and is a past chairman of the New York AES section. He was co-chair of the Producers and Engineers Wing for 5 years and is presently on the Advisory Council of the P&E Wing of National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

On July 2, 2023, Ludwig announced that he had retired and had closed Gateway Mastering: "Music has always been my love. I’ll miss you and the whole music community with whom I’ve worked. I wake up every day enjoying what I do, which has been such a blessing. It’s been an extraordinary experience to work with you all these years."

Ludwig ended his career with 7,892 credits listed on the Discogs database and is listed on that database as the most collected individual or group in the music industry, performing artists included.

Awards and recognition

Grammy Awards

The Rising Album Of The Year

Avalon

Brothers In Arms - 20th Anniversary Edition In Your Honor 2008 Lorraine Hunt Lieberson Sings Peter Lieberson: Neruda Songs Best Classical Album

In Rainbows

Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends

Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (Super Deluxe Edition) Best Surround Sound Album Music Is Better Than Words

Ashes & Fire Love Is a Four Letter Word Babel

Blunderbuss

Annie Up "Get Lucky" Record of the Year Charlie Is My Darling - Ireland 1965 Best Historical Album

G I R L

Bass & Mandolin Beyoncé Best Surround Sound Album

Album of the Year

Are You Serious

Is This the Life We Really Want?

Scenery Riley: Sun Rings Best Engineered Album, Classical Kverndokk: Symphonic Dances

The Savior 2021 Black Hole Rainbow Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

Clique

The Future Bites 2023 Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2022 Remaster) Best Historical Album

APRS

2012: Association of Professional Recording Services Sound Fellowship - received 27 October 2012

Audio Engineering Society

2015: AES Gold Medal