Our Main Staff
John Vestman
Chief Engineer
John Vestman has mastered albums and singles for clients ranging from labels to local musicians to Gold & Platinum, Grammy-nominated & award winning artists, in several genres, for over eleven years.
Together with Mastering Engineer, Don Sundstrom, he defined “Separation Mastering” - a process for audio mastering that utilizes multiple separated stereo musical tracks instead of the classic two-track stereo format in order to better "sculpt" sound.
He continues to develop ground-breaking audio techniques and favors musical integrity over shifting sonic trends. Vestman's audiophile and characteristically-based understanding of sound keeps him at the cutting edge of sound recording developments. He has written articles and conducted interviews that have appeared in prominent industry magazines.
Vestman also launched Nautilus Master Technology, a high-end audio equipment line that has won kudos from major recording industry magazines. The equipment utilized Discrete Class-A circuit designs with attention-getting features and details.
In 1975, he began a 20-year career as a recording studio owner, engineer and producer.
From 4 to 48 tracks on analog tape, Vestman garnered a reputation as a skillful recordist and session musician/vocalist - often guiding projects to completion of vinyl records, post production for film and early digital Compact Disc recordings.
He was one of the first recording engineers to use refined audiophile listening systems in a professional recording environment, and has been presented with RIAA Gold and Platinum records.
John Vestman has been passionately involved in the music business for over 40 years. He began playing classical violin at age 8, continuing into college. His studies included composition, music theory and ear training. In 1970, he toured Europe playing in 11 different countries.
Don B. Sundstrom
Mastering Engineer
Don B. Sundstrom, Mastering Engineer, is currently the protégé of John Vestman at Vestman Mastering, Westminster CA, USA.
Together, in 2005, they evolved Separation Mastering as a process to overcome sonic compromises inherent in traditional 2-track mastering, particularly in the age of the DAW.
While also mastering projects, Don handles client relations and studio management. His great organizational, communications, engineering and musicianship skills benefit client's interaction in projects so that the best possible results are attained.
Sundstrom worked as an electronics engineer on guided missile technology in the defense industry and as a management and technology consultant before returning to his first love of engineering and mastering music.
Don is an accomplished jazz bass player, multi-instrumentalist songwriter, an honors graduate of the Musicians Institute in Hollywood CA, USA and a member of AES. He started his audio career as an engineer for the somewhat legendary recording console manufacturer Quad Eight.
