Mark Gittins on Immersive Mixing and Immersive Master Pro
Mark Gittins in his studio
Mark Gittins is a highly respected mixing engineer and producer, known for his meticulous approach and passion for audio innovation. As the founder of Sensound Audio, Mark has worked extensively across genres, building a reputation for quality and creativity. Russ Hughes sat down with Mark to discuss his journey into immersive mixing, workflow challenges, and how Immersive Master Pro has transformed his production process.
Russ Hughes: Why did you get into immersive mixing?
Mark Gittins: I was building a new mix room, and it coincided with Apple Music starting to stream Atmos and spatial audio. When I heard it done well, it was a genuinely compelling listening experience. Given my experience working on immersive workflows for TV, I felt immersive audio could heighten the emotional connection in music, so it was a calculated risk worth taking.
Russ Hughes: Did you already have immersive mixing work lined up, or was this an investment to generate demand?
Mark Gittins: It was definitely a calculated risk. At the time, I was busy with stereo mixing, but there wasn't immediate immersive demand. I thought immersive was where the industry was heading, so it felt like a risk worth taking.
Russ Hughes: Did the investment pay off quickly?
Mark Gittins: Not quickly—it's only recently we've begun building a solid reputation for immersive mixes. Initially, it was and still remains a competitive market, so it required a constant hustle. Luckily, early on, we built relationships with some independent labels interested in Atmos, getting us onto dance records, which, though not my usual genre, opened doors and helped establish us.
Russ Hughes: Is your immersive work mostly new material, or are you reworking existing stereo mixes?
Mark Gittins: It's entirely new releases. We're not re-versioning old stereo albums; everything we're doing is a fresh spatial or Atmos release.
Russ Hughes: Many engineers talk about Atmos offering more control over placement. What's your experience?
Mark Gittins: You definitely have more control over placement, but you have to be cautious. What sounds fantastic on speaker mixes might not translate perfectly in binaural or spatial versions. I spend a lot of time referencing between speakers, headphones, and various spatial audio playback methods to ensure consistency.
Sensound Mix Room
Russ Hughes: You've integrated Immersive Master Pro into your workflow—what were your first impressions?
Mark Gittins: I thought it was absolutely brilliant from the start. The time-saving features, especially edit mode for gapless albums, immediately stood out. Previously, projects like the Dream Theater album "Parasonmia," which was gapless, required duplicating enormous Pro Tools sessions to handle fades and transitions—168 tracks or more. Immersive Master Pro's edit feature could have saved days of work.
Russ Hughes: How has Immersive Master Pro streamlined your workflow?
Mark Gittins: Immersive Master Pro is now essential. It saves significant time on the non-creative, procedural side—like checking levels, blank objects, and trim and downmix metadata, which can cause QC issues. Before using Immersive Master Pro, these tasks were manual and time consuming. Now, it simplifies the entire QC process and helps me batch process binaural files effortlessly.
Russ Hughes: Does that procedural work translate into additional charges for clients?
Mark Gittins: No, it's just part of the gig—typically, immersive projects are fixed-fee, not hourly. Previously, that procedural work was time I had to write off. Immersive Master Pro reduces those lost hours, improving profitability. At $300, it pays for itself on the first mix.
Russ Hughes: What would you say to someone considering using Immersive Master Pro?
Mark Gittins: If you're delivering immersive mixes professionally, it's absolutely essential.
Russ Hughes: What would your reaction be if Immersive Master Pro suddenly wasn't available?
Mark Gittins: I'd block you immediately [laughs]. Honestly, it’s that critical to my workflow—it saves massive amounts of time and, in turn, money. Given the tight deadlines and increasingly squeezed budgets we face, Immersive Master Pro isn't just a luxury, it's become a necessity.
