Carlos Freitas Mastering Engineer & Founder — Classic Master USA
Carlos Freitas is one of the world’s leading mastering engineers and the founder of Classic Master USA, based in Miami, Florida. With a career spanning more than four decades, Carlos has established himself as a defining voice in the art of audio mastering, Dolby Atmos mixing, and immersive sound — not by chasing trends, but by remaining obsessively devoted to a single conviction: that mastering is the final act of storytelling in a record, and nothing should stand between the listener and the emotion the artist intended.
His journey began in 1983 at Estúdios Transamérica in São Paulo, where he worked as a recording and mixing engineer alongside artists including Roberto Carlos, Tom Jobim, and Toquinho. In 1988 he launched ARP Remote Recording Services, capturing live performances by some of the world’s greatest acts — among them Caetano Veloso, João Gilberto, Bon Jovi, George Michael, Elton John, Nirvana, and Guns N’ Roses. Through the 1990s he served as Front of House engineer for world-class orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Moscow Philharmonic, and Saint Petersburg Philharmonic, as well as the Israel Philharmonic conducted by Zubin Mehta in a historic live performance in Brazil. He also served as Front of House engineer at Brazil’s Free Jazz Festival, working with legendary artists including Charlie Haden, the Shirley Horn Trio, the Cotton Club Big Band, and Gonzalo Rubalcaba.
In 1994 Carlos co-founded Companhia de Áudio, where he mastered landmark albums including Afrociberdelia by Chico Science & Nação Zumbi. In 2000 he founded Classic Master, which became Brazil’s most recognized mastering studio — awarded Best Mastering Studio in Brazil in 2011, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021. Carlos himself was named Best Mastering Engineer in Brazil in 2002, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2023.
His discography speaks to the breadth of his artistry: Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Marisa Monte, João Gilberto, Djavan, Lenine, Ed Motta, Maria Rita, Mayra Andrade, Fatoumata Diawara, Giulia Be, Andrés Cepeda, Silvestre Dangond, Roberto Fonseca, and Omara Portuondo, among many others. He is an 8-time Latin Grammy nominee in the Best Engineering category, a nominee in the Album of the Year category, and the mastering engineer behind 35 Latin Grammy-winning albums — with more than 140+ Latin Grammy nominations across his discography. He also holds 2 US Grammy nominations, including works by Luciana Souza and Chico Pinheiro. In 2012 he became one of the first engineers in Latin America to receive Apple’s Mastered for iTunes certification.
Beyond music, Carlos mastered the official CD release of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the broadcast audio in stereo and 5.1 surround for the 2007 Pan American Games and the Closing Ceremony of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
In 2020 Carlos relocated to Weston, Florida, establishing Classic Master USA with a focus on stereo mastering and Dolby Atmos immersive mixing. The studio is Dolby-certified for Atmos music, and Carlos was personally selected by Dolby to join their team of engineers for the development of the Dolby Atmos Album Assembler program — one of a handful of engineers worldwide entrusted with shaping the future of immersive audio.
Classic Master USA is now actively working with artists and labels across the United States and Latin America, bringing four decades of expertise, an unmatched Latin music legacy, and cutting-edge immersive audio capabilities to every project.
Carlos Freitas Mastering Engineer & Founder — Classic Master USA
Carlos Freitas is one of the world’s leading mastering engineers and the founder of Classic Master USA, based in Weston, Florida. With a career spanning more than four decades, Carlos has established himself as a defining voice in the art of audio mastering, Dolby Atmos mixing, and immersive sound.
His journey began in 1983 at Estúdios Transamérica in São Paulo, where he worked as a recording and mixing engineer alongside artists including Roberto Carlos, Tom Jobim, and Toquinho. In 1988 he launched ARP Remote Recording Services, capturing live performances by some of the world’s greatest acts — among them Caetano Veloso, João Gilberto, Bon Jovi, George Michael, Elton John, Nirvana, and Guns N’ Roses. Through the 1990s he also served as Front of House engineer for world-class orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Moscow Philharmonic, and Saint Petersburg Philharmonic, as well as the Israel Philharmonic conducted by Zubin Mehta, in a historic live performance in Brazil. He also served as Front of House engineer at Brazil’s Free Jazz Festival, working with legendary artists including Charlie Haden, the Shirley Horn Trio, the Cotton Club Big Band, and Gonzalo Rubalcaba.
In 1994 Carlos co-founded Companhia de Áudio, where he mastered landmark albums including Afrociberdelia by Chico Science & Nação Zumbi. In 2000 he founded Classic Master, which went on to become Brazil’s most recognized mastering studio. Classic Master was awarded Best Mastering Studio in Brazil in 2011, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021. Carlos himself was awarded Best Mastering Engineer in Brazil in 2002, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2023. In 2012 he became one of the first engineers in Latin America to receive Apple’s Mastered for iTunes certification.
Carlos is an 8-time Latin Grammy nominee in the Best Engineering category and a 1-time Latin Grammy nominee in the Album of the Year category. He has been the mastering engineer on 35 Latin Grammy-winning albums, with more than 150 Latin Grammy nominations across his discography. His work spans artists such as Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Mayra Andrade, Fatoumata Diawara, Giulia Be, João Gilberto, Djavan, Lenine, Ed Motta, Andrés Cepeda, Silvestre Dangond, Marisa Monte, Maria Rita, Roberto Fonseca, and Omara Portuondo, among many others. He also holds 2 US Grammy nominations, including works by Luciana Souza and Chico Pinheiro.
Beyond music, Carlos mastered the official CD release of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He also mastered the broadcast audio in stereo and 5.1 surround for the 2007 Pan American Games and the Closing Ceremony of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games — both held in Rio de Janeiro.
In 2020 he established Classic Master USA in Weston, Florida, focusing on stereo mastering and Dolby Atmos immersive mixing. Classic Master USA is certified by Dolby for Atmos music mixing. Carlos was personally selected by Dolby to join their team of engineers for the development of the Dolby Atmos Album Assembler program. In 2023 he co-founded Spatial9, an AI-powered startup developing immersive audio solutions for VR, AR, and digital entertainment.
Classic Master Latino América
Natalia Bohórquez Herrera Mastering Assistant & Latin America Representative — Classic Master
Natalia Bohórquez Herrera graduated in music and phonographic production at Anhembi Morumbi University in São Paulo, Brazil, and as a DJ and Producer at DNA Music School in Bogotá, Colombia. She complemented her studies in mastering at the Berklee College of Music.
Throughout her career she has worked as an editing and mastering assistant on projects by national and international artists including Carlinhos Brown, Ivete Sangalo, Djavan, Paralamas do Sucesso, Barbatuques, Arnaldo Antunes, Jota-Quest, Lenine, Angela Cervantes, Inés Gaviria, and many others.
Currently based in Bogotá, Colombia, Natalia serves as mastering assistant at Classic Master USA and official representative for Classic Master across all Latin American countries.
Classic Master Latino América
Natalia Bohórquez Herrera Mastering Assistant & Latin America Representative — Classic Master
Natalia Bohórquez Herrera graduated in music and phonographic production at Anhembi Morumbi University in São Paulo, Brazil, and as a DJ and Producer at DNA Music School in Bogotá, Colombia. She complemented her studies in mastering at the Berklee College of Music.
Throughout her career she has worked as an editing and mastering assistant on projects by national and international artists including Carlinhos Brown, Ivete Sangalo, Djavan, Paralamas do Sucesso, Barbatuques, Arnaldo Antunes, Jota-Quest, Lenine, Angela Cervantes, Inés Gaviria, and many others.
Currently based in Bogotá, Colombia, Natalia serves as mastering assistant at Classic Master USA and official representative for Classic Master across all Latin American countries.