Federico Mattioli
Tonemester - Sound Engineer

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My name is Federico, and I am a record producer and sound engineer specialized in acoustic music. I come from Bologna, Italy.

My personal journey in music and sound began in childhood when I listened to my father’s extensive record collection, which included thousands of classical, jazz, and rock albums. The idea of capturing a musical performance in a way that felt almost photographic deeply fascinated me. I could "see" the sounds and feel the harmonic changes within me, creating a profound connection to music.

When I was 12 years old, I began guitar lessons and started experimenting with recording and creating my first compositions in a self-taught manner. Using a cheap headset microphone and the basic recording tool in Windows XP, I recorded harmonic and melodic guitar parts layered on top of each other.

From that moment on, I never stopped pursuing my musical dreams.

After high school, I enrolled in the jazz guitar program at the Conservatory of Music in Ferrara, Italy. My goal was to combine this education with sound engineering training to acquire the skills necessary to become a music producer. During this period, I continued composing and recording my own music while performing live concerts with friends in Bologna's metropolitan area.

Upon earning my first Bachelor's degree with highest honors at the conservatory, I realized the importance of gaining more hands-on experience in a professional recording studio environment.

This led me to enroll in an internship at Fame Recording Studios (in Alabama, USA) a historic landmark where artists such as Etta James and Aretha Franklin recorded many of their iconic hits. There, I worked closely with studio manager John Gifford III, who became a mentor and taught me invaluable lessons about collaborating within a recording studio team.

A few months later, I began a highly sought-after internship at Galaxy Studios in Mol, Belgium, where I gained expertise in immersive sound recording techniques and working with symphonic orchestras on professional film score productions.

During my time in Belgium, I also learned about the role of the Tonmeister—a professional who combines advanced training in music, sound recording, and production. This concept, which does not exist in Italy, perfectly encapsulated the skills I aspired to develop as a music producer.

Following my experience in Belgium, I decided to enroll in the prestigious one-year sound engineering diploma program at the APM music school in Saluzzo, Italy. This program led me to a third and final internship at Emil Berliner Studios (formerly Deutsche Grammophon Studios) in Berlin, where I had my first real-world experience in classical music recording and production.

My time in Berlin in 2018 was a pivotal chapter in my career. Through dedicated effort, perseverance, and a series of fortunate coincidences, I was able to acquire a personal orchestral recording setup, which enabled me to begin my journey as a freelance record producer.

This experience also ignited my determination to apply for the Tonmeister program in Copenhagen, setting me firmly on the path toward achieving my aspirations.

In 2019, I successfully passed the entrance examination and began my studies at the Royal Danish Academy of Music, completing my second Bachelor’s degree in 2022.

In July 2024, I graduated with a Master’s degree in Tonmeister studies, specializing in acoustic music and immersive sound recording.