Michael Romanowski is a five-time GRAMMY Award winner, ten-time nominee, and one of the most respected mastering engineers working in music today. Based in Berkeley, California, he is the chief mastering engineer at Coast Mastering and a recognized pioneer in immersive audio mastering, with a career spanning more than three decades and over 4,000 albums.
Since designing his first surround studio in 2001 and adding height channels in 2015, Michael has been at the forefront of developing and refining immersive sound practices. His early work in Dolby Atmos, well before the official launch of Dolby Music, positioned him as a key figure in shaping how spatial audio is produced and experienced.
In addition to his mastering work, Michael is a sought-after consultant and advisor for major technology companies including Dolby, Sony, Fraunhofer, and Google, helping to build and refine the creative tools that define today’s immersive production environments. He has shared his knowledge at AES, NAMM, SXSW, Tape Op, Potluck Con, AES Mexico, and AES Europe, and contributed to publications such as Mix Magazine and Electronic Musician.
At Sonic Days 2025, Michael will join fellow immersive music experts in the sessions “Music Creation and Production for Cinematic Playback” and “Dolby Atmos Music Creation and Production.” He will also present a selection of his works, elaborate on specific techniques etc. in the session “Immersive Mastering in Action.” Drawing from his extensive experience as both an engineer and innovator, he will share perspectives on how mastering and production continue to evolve within immersive formats, and how these technologies expand the possibilities for artists, engineers, and listeners alike.