Ray Staff

Ray Staff is a British mastering engineer, best known for his work with a diverse mix of artists including Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Clash and Black Sabbath. Most recently he has mastered albums for Muse.

Biography and career Joining Trident Studios (a recording facility originally located at 17, St. Anne's Court in London's Soho district) in 1970, Ray Staff became part of the newly formed Mastering Department contributing to projects such as: David Bowie, Aladdin Sane, Ziggy Stardust and Elton John. Staff moved on to become Trident's first Chief Mastering Engineer.

For Monty Python, Staff created the world's first three-sided album by cutting two spirals on one side of the disc, creating the "hidden" third side. This was topped later with a Johnny Moped album for Ace Records, where the first track on the A-side was double cut, the two spirals then joined to play the remaining side of the album.

Whilst Senior Mastering Engineer at Sony's UK Studios, Staff became part of the international team developing Sony's proprietary archiving system.

Other classics mastered by Staff include Physical Graffiti and Presence by Led Zeppelin, Crime of the Century by Supertramp, It's Only Rock 'n Roll by The Rolling Stones and Hemispheres by Rush.

Recent years He is regularly featured in Hi-Fi publications for his work on audiophile vinyl releases. He is also much sought after by labels Alchemy Soho from the worlds of jazz, world music, classical and crossover. Staff is also building an increasing number of surround mastering projects to his portfolio, including Gary Moore, Deep Purple, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Alice Cooper released during the past few months.

Discography Engineer, mastering 1990 Guitar Paradise of East Africa|Various artists Mastering 1999 Healing Angel|Touched by an Angel Mastering 1978 Hemispheres Rush Mastering 2004 HeroesSony Various artists Remastering 2000 Highland Cathedral| Mastering 2001 History|Penguin Cafe Orchestra Remastering 1989 Home Ground|Battlefield Band Mastering 1996 Hot| Engineer, mastering 1994 Hot House|Reykjavik Jazz Quartet Mastering 1996 I Gotta Right to Sing| Engineer, mastering 1999 I Gotta Right to Sing / Nice and Easy| Engineer 2007 I Love the Future|Caufield Mastering 2004 I Only Wrote this Song for You: A Tribute to Johnny ThundersDiesel Motor|Various artists Duplication 1995 I Only Wrote this Song for You: A Tribute to Johnny ThundersEssential|Various artists Mastering 1965 In a Mellow Tone| Mastering, preparation 1996 In Memory of Thunder| Mastering 1986 Various artists Mastering 1995 Indestructible Beat of Soweto, Vol. 3: Thunder Before Dawn|Various artists Mastering 2005 It Was Not Here| Mastering 2005 Jazz Warrior| Mastering 2001 Kilas o Mau da Fita| Remastering 1991 Various artists Mastering 1996 Kon'ko Man| Mastering 1997 Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space|Spiritualized Mastering 2001 Lake of Shadows| Mastering 2006 Last Dance| Mastering 2003 Let Freedom Ring!| Mastering 1979 Life on the Ceiling| Editing 2000 Linn Box One Mastering 2000 The Linn Box: 3| Mastering 2006 Mastering 2006 Live at Montreux 1996|Deep Purple Mastering 2007 Live at Montreux 2002|UB40 Mastering 1991 Live at Ronnie Scott's|Irakere Mastering 2007 Live at the BudokanSpecial Edition Mastering 1994 Live at the Point Mixing 1998 Live EvilRemastered Black Sabbath Remastering 2007 Live in Asia|Asia Mastering 2004 London Calling25th Anniversary Legacy Edition Remastering 2002 Love Is Here|Starsailor Mastering 2006 Import Bonus Tracks Mastering 2000 Loveboat|Erasure Mastering 1996 Lozko|Maanam Mastering 2007 MagicEdsel Bonus Tracks Gillan Mastering 1997 Majoun| Mastering 2000 Maroon| Mastering 1971 Master of Reality|Black Sabbath Remastering 2002 Me Without You: Music from the Motion PictureOriginal Soundtrack Various artists Remastering 2003 Mediterraneo| Mastering 2004 Meets Scientist in a Midnight Rock Dub, Vol. 1|King Tubby Mastering 2004 Melek Mastering 1989 Mettle|Hugo Largo Mastering 2006 MettleBonus tracks Hugo Largo Mastering 1999 Michael Flatley's Feet of Flames| Mastering 1979 Mick Taylor Mastering 2000 Midian Cradle of Filth Mastering 2002 Mods Mayday '792 Disc Various artists Cutting engineer 2001 Erasure Mastering 1977 Moroccan Roll|Brand X Mastering 1977 Post production 1990 Bonus tracks Post production 2007 Mr. UniverseBonus track Gillan Mastering 2005 MTV Unplugged|Giorgia Mastering 2005 Multitudes|Illapu Engineer 1996 Murder Ballads|Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Mastering 2007 Music for Astronauts and Cosmonauts| Mastering 2005 Music for Films IIIBonus tracks Mastering 1995 Naked Flame| Mastering 1994 Nebuchadnezzar| Mastering 1978 Never Say Die!|Black Sabbath Remastering 1996 N'ga Funk| Mastering 2005 Nice Guy| Mastering 1963 Night and Day| Mastering, preparation 1986 Various artists Mastering 2002 Mastering 2006 Nine| Mastering 2001 No More Shall We Part|Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Mastering 2001 No More Shall We PartBonus tracks Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Mastering 1996 Baby Fox Mastering 2005 Nova Latino, Vol. 4|Various artists Mastering 2006 Now Listen| Mastering 2005 Nude|Iconcrash Mastering |2000 Obsession| Mastering 2010 Oh Vanille/Ova Nil180g audiophile vinyl [2010 Reissue] Mastering 2000 Open Mind| Mastering 2001 Origin of Symmetry|Muse Mastering 2006 Out in the SunBonus track Cut 1979 Over the Rainbow| Cutting engineer 2003 Overgrown EdenJapan bonus tracks InMe Mastering 1971 Paranoid Black Sabbath Remastering 2004 Pastora|Pastora Mastering 2001 De Pequenino Se Torce O Destino Remastering 1998 Perfect Time| Mastering 1980 Permanent Waves Rush Mastering 1998 Mastering 2005 Picture Kino Mastering 2007 Soundtrack Mastering 2007 Platinum CollectionEMI Bonus Tracks Mastering 1978 Pleasure Signals| Mastering 2001 Point of EntryBonus tracks Judas Priest Mastering 2001 Remastering 1979 Product Brand X Mastering 2007 Prog Mastering 2001 Remastering 1997 Quiet Nights Mastering 2015 Reaching For The Light King King Mastering 2015 Reflections The Mentulls Mastering 1996 Rocket Primitive Radio Gods Mastering 1996 RocketEdited, clean Primitive Radio Gods Mixing 1977 Round the Back| Mastering 2005 Rush Hour|Sean Hargreaves Trio Mastering 1973 Sabbath Bloody Sabbath|Black Sabbath|Remastering 1996 SabotageESM Black Sabbath Remastering 1993 Sabroso!|Various artists Mastering 1989 Sabroso!: Havana Hits Various artists Mastering 2001 Remastering 1982 Scatterlings|Juluka Mastering 1981 Scientist Meets the Space Invaders|Scientist Mastering 1999 Searchin' / Hot| Mastering 1986 Seventh Star|Black Sabbath Remastering 1990 Mastering 1991 Capitol Mastering 1976 Shouting and Pointing| Mastering 1990 Shumba| Mastering 1998 Silence Between Waves| Mastering 2004 Sixties Rebellion, Vol. 7: The Backyard Patio|Various artists Mastering, cutting engineer 1998 Slain By Urusei Yatsura|Urusei Yatsura Mastering 2001 Smiling & Waving| Mastering 2001 Os Sobreviventes| Remastering 1991 Solo Piano| Mastering 1983 Sonero| Mastering 1964 Sonny's Blues Live st Ronnie Scott's Mastering, preparation 2005 Soul Providence| Mastering 1995 Spirit of the Eagle|Various artists Mastering 2005 Standard Issue| Mastering 1978 Stižemo|Laza & Ipe Cutting engineer 2006 Stranger on the Sofa| Mastering 2005 StripBonus tracks Digital remastering 1997 Nicole Mastering 2006 Superbi| Mastering 1996 S'Wonderful| Engineer, mastering 2004 Thank You for the Years| Mastering 2007 Standard version Second Person Mastering 2007 Limited Edition version Second Person Mastering 1977 UK version, [UK Remastering 1979 US Version, US Remastering 1995 Vanessa-Mae Mastering 2007 Deep Purple Mastering 2007 DVD Deep Purple Mastering 2004 Timeless: Daniel O'Donnell and Mary Duff| Mastering 1997 To Have & to HoldSoundtrack Various artists Mastering 2000 Trabendo| Mastering 2006 Truth and Lies| Mastering 2005 Single Mastering 1996 Under Wheels of Confusion: 1970–1987 Black Sabbath Remastering 1994 Engineer 2006 Until the Next Time| Mastering 2002 Up the Bracket| Mastering 2002 Up the Bracket|US Bonus Tracks Mastering 1998 Victim of Circumstance| Mastering 1999 Limited Edition Bonus CD-ROM Vanessa-Mae Mastering 1993 Virunga Volcano| Mastering 2005 Vive Le RockBonus tracks Digital remastering 2007 Wait for Me Mastering 1995 Mastering 2003 War Child: Hope|Various artists Mastering 2002 WarriorsBonus tracks Original mastering 2001 Welcome to the Madhouse|Shy Mastering 1997 Welcome to the World|Psycho Motel Mastering 2003 Procol Harum Mastering 2007 When I Fall in Love| Mastering 1999 Whisper to the Wild Water| Mastering 2004 Wide Eyed And Legless: The A&M Recordings| Mastering 1983 Work for All|Juluka Mastering 2007 XitintodayBonus track Mastering 1978 Zimbabwe Frontline, Vol. 2: Spirit of the Eagle''Various artistsMastering