Kim Rosen (mastering engineer) explained

Kim Rosen
Birth Name:Kimberly A. Dumas
Origin:Ringwood, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation:Audio mastering engineer

Kimberly A. Rosen (née Dumas; born) is an American Grammy-nominated audio mastering engineer. Since 2009, she owns and runs a mastering studio in Ringwood, New Jersey.

Career

Rosen grew up in the western Massachusetts town of Northampton. With an interest in pursuing a career in the music industry, she began an internship at West West Side Music in Tenafly, New Jersey. There, she assisted chief mastering engineer Alan Douches from 2002 through 2009. While assisting at West West Side Music, Rosen began taking on her own mastering projects and was promoted to staff mastering engineer in 2004.[1] As a mastering engineer at West West Side Music, Rosen mastered a wide range of projects for artists such as Franz Ferdinand, Dashboard Confessional, Jeremy Enigk, and La Dispute.[2]

In 2009, Rosen started her audio mastering studio, Knack Mastering, in Ringwood, New Jersey. Acoustician Chris Pelonis designed her mastering room.

Rosen participated in speeches on mastering and audio industry-related panels at the AES Convention,[3] Summer NAMM,[4] the PotLuck Audio Conference (Tucson, Arizona), and the Welcome to 1979 Recording Summit (Nashville, Tennessee).

In October 2017, Rosen and her husband Dave launched Whitestone Audio Instruments, a company that designs and produces professional analog processing equipment for audio engineers. Their first product, the P331 Tube Loading Amplifier, was unveiled at the 2018 NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA.[5]

Rosen is an active member and was elected as a Governor of the New York Chapter of the Recording Academy (Grammys) in 2018.[6]

Work

Kimberly Rosen works both for independent artists and labels and major label record companies and producers. Her most notable releases include works of Bonnie Raitt, Wynonna Judd, Joe Henry, Superdrag, Jeff Bridges, Amy Helm, and Title Fight.

In 2014, she worked on the remake of the Johnny Cash album Bitter Tears, published by Sony Masterworks, with the participation of Emmylou Harris, Steve Earl, Gillian Welch, The Milk Carton Kids and Kris Kristofferson.[7] In 2015, she mastered the rearrangement of "Forever Young", theme of the television series Parenthood, performed by Rhiannon Giddens and Iron & Wine for its series finale.[8]

Rosen was nominated for Best Engineered album (non-classical) for Bonnie Raitt's Dig In Deep (2016) and Milk Carton Kids' All the Things That I Did and All the Things That I Didn't Do (2018).

Several albums mastered by Kimberly Rosen have received Grammy Award nominations as well as wins. The Bonnie Raitt album "Just Like That" received four nominations and three wins, including the Grammy Award for Song of the Year (2023). Aimee Mann's Mental Illness (2017) won the Best Folk Album Grammy; as did the Rhiannon Giddens album "They're Calling Me Home" (2022).

Grammy nominations and awards

YearAlbum artistsWork Category Result
2017Bettye LavetteWorthyBest Blues Album
2018Bonnie RaittDig In DeepBest Engineered Album, Non-Classical
2019Aimee MannMental IllnessBest Folk Album
2020Victor WainwrightVictor Wainwright and The TrainBest Contemporary Blues Album
2020Teresa James And The Rhythm TrampsHere In BabylonBest Contemporary Blues Album
2020The Milk Carton KidsAll The Things That I Did And All The Things That I Didn't DoBest Engineered Album Non-Classical
2021Rhiannon GiddensI'm On My WayBest American Roots Performance
2022Nnenna FreelonTime TravellerBest Jazz Vocal Album
2022Rhiannon GiddensThey're Calling Me HomeBest Folk Album
2022Rhiannon GiddensAvalonBest American Roots Song
2022Allison RussellOutside ChildBest Americana Album
2022Allison RussellNightflyerBest American Roots Performance
2022Allison RussellNightflyerBest American Roots Song
2023Bonnie RaittJust Like ThatSong of the Year[9]
2023Bonnie RaittJust Like ThatBest Americana Album
2023Bonnie RaittMade Up MindBest Americana Performance
2023Bonnie RaittJust Like ThatBest American Roots Song
2023Cheryl B. EngelhardtThe PassengerBest New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album

Selected discography

Partial discography[10] [11] !Year!Artist!Album!Credited
True Love¡Pas Net!Mastering
Darius KoskiWhat Was Once Is by and GoneMastering
JankVersace SummerMastering
Uke-HuntUke-HuntMastering
Shirk CircusThis Band Will Destroy Your LifeMastering
The RiverwindsThe RiverwindsMastering
Crystal YatesThe Other SideMastering
Colin LakeThe Ones I LoveMastering
The DeadmenThe DeadmenMastering
Julia RainerSpiritsMastering
SerynShadow ShowsMastering
Dorian AllenRunning Back to YouMastering
Ben SheaRed SunshineMastering
ALSOMusic Belongs In The BackgroundMastering
TurnoverMagnoliaMastering
Loretta HagenLucky StarsMastering
SeldanIn TransitMastering
Muncie GirlsFrom Caplan to BelsizeMastering
Southern CrossDown BelowMastering
KojiCrooked in My MindMastering
DanlCrooked MileMastering
Choir VandalsCollectionMastering
Lewis & ClarkeBlasts of Holy BirthMastering
Birds of NightBirds of NightMastering
2003The Escape EngineCelebrity Role ModelAssistant Engineer
2004The WarriorsWar Is HellMastering Assistant
2005IsadoraThey'll Never Take Us AliveMastering Assistant
2005Calico SystemThey LiveMastering Assistant
2005The Burning SeasonThe Haze of InfatuationMastering
2005Dirty FacesSuperamericanMastering
2005Tim RealeStoryMastering
2005Paint It BlackParadiseMastering
2005The Fire Still BurnsKeeping Hope AliveMastering
2005CollapsarCollapsarMastering
2006McGill Manring StevensWhat We DoMastering
2006AnagramThe Lights Went UpMastering
2006TortureStorm AlertEditing
2006LifetimeSomewhere in the Swamps of JerseyAssistant Mastering Engineer
2006Bad WizardSky HighAssistant Mastering Engineer
2006Wuthering HeightsShadow CabinetMastering
2006Flying DonutsRenewd AttackMastering Assistant
2006IncantationPrimordial DominationMastering Assistant
2006Radio 4Packing Things Up On the Scene [Edit]Mastering
2006River City HighNot Enough Saturday NightsMastering
2006To Live and Shave in L.A.Noon and EternityMastering
2006Music for GirlsMusic for GirlsMastering
2006Dirty FacesGet Right with GodMastering
2006Josef KEntomologyMastering
2006Android LustDevour, Rise and Take FlightMastering Assistant
2006DK LimbDefy Define DefinitionAssistant
2006Genghis TronDead Mountain MouthSequencing
2006BarricadeBe HeardMastering
2006Antilove6/6/2006Assistant Engineer
2007Pain PrincipleWaiting for the FliesMastering Assistant
2007Nakatomi PlazaUnsettledAssistant, Mastering
2007AmandineSolace in Sore HandsMastering
2007Uke of Spaces Corners CountySo Far on the WayMastering
2007Alina SimonePlacelessnessMastering
2007Nurse & SoldierMarginaliaMastering
2007Kill the CameraKill the CameraMastering
2007The TeethYou're My Lover NowMastering
2007Jason DoveWe Should Be TogetherMastering
2007John BustineWaltzes & PleasMastering
2007The RecessionTime, Arithmetic and Other Elementary Subjects Not Well LearnedMastering
2007Sean Madigan HoenThe Liquor WitchMastering
2007The Eclectic CollectiveThe FluxMastering
2007One False MoveSome Kind of HealingMastering
2007Weird OwlNuclear PsychologyMastering
2007Telenovela StarLove Lust Sci-Fi & MonstersMastering
2007AvecLinesMastering
2007Saints Never SurrenderHope for the Best, Prepare for the WorstMastering
2007CapitalHomefrontMastering
2007The High StrungGet the GuestsMastering
2007Bring Back the GunsDry FuturesMastering
2007D. JayBuggy BalooMastering
2007Mustache!Babes Say the Hottest ThingsMastering
2008Jami SieberUnspokenMastering
2008Final DriveUnder the Overpass of AmericaMastering
2008I Am The HeatThe Future Doesn't Need UsMastering
2008The Muckrakers/ MuckrakersThe Concorde FallacyMastering
2008La DisputeSomewhere at the Bottom of The River Between Vega & AltairMastering
2008Franz NicolayMajor GeneralMastering
2008LydiaIlluminateMastering
2008Destroy EverythingFreedom of Speech Means Talk is CheapMastering
2008Osaka PopstarRock'em O-Sock'em Live!Mastering Assistant
2008Doug PaisleyDoug PaisleyMastering
2008Saints Never SurrenderBrutusMastering
2008CenturyBlack OceanMastering
2009CopernicusdisappearanceMastering
2009Spheric Universe ExperienceUnrealMastering
2009Kava KonTiki for the Atomic AgeMastering
2009Higher GiantThe First FiveMastering
2009AcheronThe Final Conflict: Last Days Of GodMastering
2009ParasitesSolitaryMastering
2009Kelly CarmichaelQueen FareenaMastering
2009Knot FeederLight FlaresMastering
2009The PeekersLife in the AirMastering
2009Various ArtistsJust Like Heaven: A Tribute to the CureMastering
2009United StatesInstant Everything, Constant NothingMastering
2009Scale the SummitCarving Desert CanyonsMastering
2009Big NedBig NedMastering
2010Smoke or FireThe SpeakeasyMastering
2010Elk CityHouse of TonguesMastering
2011Pianos Become the TeethThe Lack Long AfterMastering
2011Me First and the Gimme GimmesSing in JapaneseMastering
2011Title FightShedMastering
2011Zachary CaleNoise of WelcomeMastering
2011Mother of MercyIV: Symptoms of ExistenceMastering
2011Star Fucking HipstersFrom the Dumpster to the GraveMastering
2011Cobra SkullsAgitationsMastering
2012Various ArtistsVans Warped Tour '12: 2012 Tour CompilationMastering
2013Anthony GreenYoung LegsMastering
2013Various ArtistsVans Warped Tour 2013 CompilationMastering
2013FoxingThe AlbatrossMastering
2013Anthony GreenYoung LegsMastering
2014FoxingThe AlbatrossMastering
2014Get DeadBad NewsMastering
2014Various ArtistsWarped Tour 2014 CompilationMastering
2014BraidNo CoastMastering
2014Various ArtistsLook Again to the Wind: Johnny Cash's Bitter Tears RevisitedMastering
2014Jeff Bridges / Jeff Bridges & the AbidersLiveMastering
2014Sarah JaffeDon't DisconnectMastering
2014Tigers JawCharmerMastering
2014WallflowerSummer DazeMastering
2015Bettye LaVetteWorthyMastering
2015Various ArtistsWarped Tour 2015 CompilationMastering
2015Nai HarvestHairballMastering
2015Tom McBrideColumbiaMastering
2016Wynonna Judd / Wynonna & the Big NoiseWynonna & the Big NoiseMastering
2016RelickTwin HouseMastering
2016Glen PhillipsSwallowed By The NewMastering
2016Billy Bragg / Joe HenryShine a Light: Field Recordings from the Great American RailroadMastering
2016Real MidnightBirds of ChicagoMastering
2016Anthony GreenPixie QueenMastering
2016Chely WrightI Am the RainMastering
2016Various ArtistsWarped Tour 2016 CompilationMastering
2016Get DeadHonesty Lives ElsewhereMastering
2016Bonnie RaittDig in DeepMastering
2016Jenny GillespieCure for DreamingMastering
2016Sprowt2003Mastering
2017Dead HeavensWhatever Witch You AreMastering
2017The Barr BrothersQueens of the BreakersMastering
2017Rozwell KidPrecious ArtMastering
2017Sarah JaffeBad BabyMastering
2017Direct Hit! / PearsHuman MovementMastering
2017Various ArtistsWarped Tour 2017 CompilationMastering
2018Amy HelmThis Too Shall LightMastering
2018The Gaslight AnthemThe '59 Sound SessionsMastering
2018Steep Canyon RangersOut in the OpenMastering
2018Victor WainwrightVictor Wainwright and the TrainMastering
2018Brady Rymer / Brady Rymer & the Little Band That CouldRevvin' Up the ReindeerMastering
2018Cicada RhythmEverywhere I GoMastering
2018Birds Of ChicagoLove In WartimeMastering
2018Birds Of ChicagoAmerican FlowersMastering
2018Former MemberOld YouthMastering
2018Joe HenryThrumMastering
2018Eric LindellRevolution In Your HeartMastering
2018BellyDoveMastering
2018Sam PhillipsWorld On SticksMastering
2018Christine RosanderBeen a Long TimeMastering
2018Two MedicineAstropsychosisMastering
2018The Milk Carton KidsAll the Things That I Did and All the Things That I Didn't DoMastering
2019Foy VanceTo MemphisMastering
2019E.B. The YoungerTo Each His OwnMastering
2019Rhiannon GiddensThere Is No OtherMastering
2019Carla Olson / Todd WolfeThe Hidden Hills SessionsMastering
2019Danny Lynn WilsonPeace Of MindMastering
2019Over the RhineLove & RevelationMastering
2019Matt AndersenHalfway Home by MorningMastering
2019Foy VanceFrom Muscle ShoalsMastering
2019Doug SeegersA Story I Got to TellMastering

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kim Rosen: of Knack Mastering. Alvin. Craig. Crane. Larry. July–August 2015. Tape Op. 2020-05-14.
  2. Web site: Knack Mastering Bio. Knackmastering.com.
  3. Web site: 143rd Aes Convention Presenters: Kim Rosen. Audio Engineering Society. 2020-05-14.
  4. Web site: Women in Audio Sound Off. 2017-05-04. NAMM. 2020-05-14.
  5. News: Jeffery. Muller. January 24, 2018. NAMM Show News. Insideaudio.net.
  6. News: New York Board. en. Grammy.com. 2018-11-20.
  7. News: Spencer. Neil. 2014-09-27. Look Again to the Wind review – homage to Johnny Cash's radical 60s album. en-GB. The Observer. 2020-05-14. 0029-7712.
  8. Web site: Rhiannon Giddens and Iron & Wine perform Bob Dylan's "Forever Young" on NBC's "Parenthood" series finale. January 29, 2015. Nonesuch Records. en. 2020-05-14.
  9. https://www.grammy.com/news/2023-grammy-nominations-complete-winners-nominees-list
  10. Web site: AllMusic Credits. AllMusic.
  11. Web site: AllMusic - Kimberly Dumas (Maiden Name). AllMusic.