Bob Ludwig
Robert C. Ludwig is an American mastering engineer. He has 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, Queen, Jimi Hendrix, Bryan Ferry, Paul McCartney, Nirvana, Bruce Springsteen and Daft Punk
resulting in over 3,000 credits. He is the recipient of numerous Grammy and TEC Awards.
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, 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. Together, they did sessions on projects with The Band, Peter, Paul & Mary, Neil Diamond and Frank Sinatra.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 1993, Ludwig left Masterdisk to start his own record mastering facility in Portland, Maine, named Gateway Mastering Studios, Inc. He, along with Adam Ayan are the two mastering engineers who work at Gateway Mastering.
Work
Ludwig's mastering credits include albums for many major classic artists, such as the Kronos Quartet, and rock acts, including Jimi Hendrix, Phish, Motley Crüe, Megadeth, Metallica, Gloria Estefan, Nirvana, The Strokes, Queen, U2, Sting, The Police, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Beck, Guns N' Roses, Richie Sambora, Tool, Simple Minds, Bryan Ferry, Tori Amos, Bonnie Raitt, Mark Knopfler, Leonard Cohen, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, the Bee Gees, Madonna, Supertramp, Will Ackerman, Pet Shop Boys, Radiohead, Elton John, Daft Punk and Alabama Shakes.He has occasionally undertaken longer projects, such as remastering the entire back catalogues of Rush, Dire Straits, Creedence Clearwater Revival and the Rolling Stones.
Ludwig cites his most musically satisfying projects as: the CD reissue of Music From Big Pink, There's a Riot Goin' On, Led Zeppelin II, Painted from Memory, Spirit, Loreena McKennitt, and Ancient Voices of Children.
Ludwig remains an active influence in the music industry. As a judge for the 8th and 10th-14th annual Independent Music Awards, his 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.
Awards and recognition
TEC Awards
Ludwig has won many Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards.| Year | Award | Work |
| 1986 | Outstanding Creative Achievement - Mastering Engineer | |
| 1987 | Outstanding Creative Achievement - Mastering Engineer | |
| 1989 | Outstanding Creative Achievement - Mastering Engineer | |
| 1990 | Outstanding Creative Achievement - Mastering Engineer | |
| 1991 | Les Paul Award honoring individuals or institutions that have set the highest standards of excellence in the creative application of recording technology. | |
| 1994 | Outstanding Creative Achievement - Mastering Engineer | |
| 1994 | Outstanding Institutional Achievement - Mastering Facility | |
| 1995 | Outstanding Creative Achievement - Mastering Engineer | |
| 1995 | Outstanding Institutional Achievement - Mastering Facility | |
| 1996 | Outstanding Creative Achievement - Mastering Engineer | |
| 1996 | Outstanding Institutional Achievement - Mastering Facility | |
| 1998 | Outstanding Creative Achievement - Mastering Engineer | |
| 1998 | Outstanding Institutional Achievement - Mastering Facility | |
| 1999 | Outstanding Institutional Achievement - Mastering Facility | |
| 2000 | Outstanding Creative Achievement - Mastering Engineer | |
| 2001 | Outstanding Creative Achievement - Record Production/Album | Riding With the King, B.B. King & Eric Clapton |
| 2002 | Outstanding Creative Achievement - Record Production/Single or Track | The Space Between, Everyday, Dave Matthews Band |
| 2004 | Outstanding Creative Achievement - Record Production/Album | Hail to the Thief, Radiohead |
| 2006 | Outstanding Creative Achievement - Surround Sound Recording | Brothers in Arms-20th Anniversary Edition, Dire Straits |
| 2009 | Outstanding Creative Achievement - Record Production/Single or Track | "Viva La Vida", Coldplay |
| 2009 | Outstanding Creative Achievement - Record Production/Album | Viva La Vida, Coldplay |
| 2014 | Outstanding Creative Achievement - Record Production/Album | Random Access Memories, Daft Punk |
Grammy Awards
Latin Grammy Awards
2004: Album of the Year - No Es Lo Mismo, Alejandro Sanz2013: Album of the Year - Vida, Draco Rosa