Des Grey Mastering: Bringing Dolby Atmos music to Every Artist – Music First, Always

In a world where streaming giants pocket billions while artists scrape by on fractions, the last thing independent creators need is another luxury gatekeeper. Yet that’s exactly what the Dolby Atmos mixing landscape has become: a premium club with entry fees that rival a small record deal. At Des Grey Mastering, we’re tearing down that wall. Just as we offered a higher end stereo mastering service by putting indie artists first, we’re now doing the same for spatial audio. Atmos isn’t a VIP add-on—it’s the future of immersion, and it belongs to every musician.

The Problem: Atmos as Elitism

Let’s call it what it is. The going rate for a professional Atmos mix hovers between R2500–R5000 per song. For a label-backed act with major-label advances, that’s an annoyance. For the bedroom producer funding their art with gig money and hope? It’s a non-starter.

Meanwhile, platforms like Spotify and Apple Music have trained listeners to expect spatial audio. Fans want the headphone swirl, the phantom-center vocal, the drums that breathe around their skull. Denying independent artists access to that experience isn’t just unfair—it’s creatively bankrupt.

Our Ethos: Music First, Paywalls Second

We built Des Grey Mastering on a single principle: great sound shouldn’t require a trust fund. Our flagship mastering service starts at a price that doesn’t make artists choose between rent and release. No hidden tiers. No “pro” upsells. Just masters that feel great.

Atmos is no different. We’ve invested in a fully in Dolby Atmos. But we’re not hoarding that toolkit behind a velvet rope. Our Atmos service launches with:

– Transparent, indie-friendly pricing (think: the cost of a decent plug-in, not a down payment on a car)
– Unlimited revisions — because your vision doesn’t expire and we are confident is our offering.

Why This Matters Now

Streaming theft is real. The math is brutal. When the ecosystem already shortchanges creators, tacking a payday on Atmos bills is predatory. We refuse to participate.

Instead, we’re betting trust. The more artists who experience Atmos without breaking the bank, the faster spatial audio becomes standard—not a flex. That’s how we normalise fairness: by making the ethical choice the obvious choice.

No “Atmos tax.” No surprise invoices. Just your music, elevated.

About Des Grey:

With over two decades in the music industry, Des Grey is a seasoned mastering engineer specialising in precision audio enhancement for artists, labels, and producers. Known for a meticulous ear and a passion for sonic excellence, Des offers multi genre mastering—from hip-hop and electronic to rock and jazz.

 Credits: Worked with independent artists & major-label projects. View Credits
 Specialties: Dynamic range optimisation, loudness balancing, and streaming-ready formats.
 Philosophy: “Music Should Feel Good—enhancing the tone, respecting the artist intent.”

Based in South Africa, Des Grey Mastering is committed to helping artists achieve professional, competitive sound for digital platforms, vinyl, and beyond.

Recent Clients: Massh, Keinemusik, Black Motion, Mi Casa, Thando Zide, FiNE Music, Busiswa, Money Badoo, Solo, Charles Webster

 Contact details below.