Hootie & The Blowfish | Cracked Rear View

At Sterling Sound, Ryan Smith has built a name for himself in vinyl mastering and lacquer cutting. He takes pride in preserving the full richness of the original recording while adapting it to the physical limits of vinyl. His masterings are prized for their balance: the energy of a live concert combined with the precision and warmth of home listening.

QRP reflects the vision of founder Chad Kassem, a true vinyl and hi‑fi enthusiast. Believing that sound quality should always come first, he rebuilt and optimized the plant’s machines to achieve unmatched precision. His philosophy is simple: every record must be the best it can possibly be, even if it takes more time and effort. This obsession with quality has made QRP a global reference for audiophile pressings.

Since 1968, Sterling Sound has been one of the world’s most respected mastering studios. It has helped shape the sound of legends like Led Zeppelin. Sterling’s reputation is built on one core value: respect the artist’s vision while pushing the vinyl format to its limits. Engineers like Ryan Smith take great care with every project, from lacquer cutting to full vinyl mastering, so listeners can experience the music exactly as the artist imagined.

A record spinning at 45 revolutions per minute allows for wider grooves and more sonic information. The result: less distortion and greater clarity.