ABOUT
The Engineer Behind the Music
My name is Trevor Nokes. I am a specialist Indie Rock mastering engineer based in Cambridgeshire, providing remote online mastering for bands, artists, producers, and mixing engineers in the UK and worldwide.
Mastering is all I do — and that focus is deliberate. Every decision I make is in service of the music, the mix, and the release it deserves.
THE JOURNEY
How it started
It began with a visit to Abbey Road Studios in the 1980s. A family friend who worked there thought a young DJ might appreciate seeing how records were actually made. She was right. Walking through Studio's 1, 2 & 3, along with the editing and mastering rooms, watching music being crafted at that level lit something that never really went out.
That visit set me in motion to attend night school for three years, while working a full-time day job, to gain an audio engineering qualification and an understanding of all the aspects of producing music —
I was driven by the belief that this was where I was supposed to be. I completed it. Life then pulled in other directions for a while, as it tends to do, but the passion stayed.
When the moment came to make a change, Trevor Nokes Music Ltd was the result. I started out offering mixing services, but over time it became clear that mastering was where my focus was and my monitoring setup, and ear were best placed. The decision to specialise entirely in mastering was one of the best I have made — it sharpened everything and gave more focus.
Walking through Abbey Road at seventeen and watching music being made at that level — that was it. That was the moment.
THE GENRE
Why Indie Rock
Indie Rock has been part of my life since my teenage years — it is the music I grew up with, the music that shaped how I listen, and the music I return to. That is not a marketing position. It is just true.
It also happens to be a genre that demands a particular kind of mastering. Indie Rock lives and dies by feel — the energy, the texture, the space between the notes. It does not respond well to heavy-handed processing or generic loudness chasing. It needs restraint, tonal honesty, and a genuine understanding of what makes the genre work at its best.
That is what I bring to every project. Not a preset. Not a formula. A genuine connection to the music and a mastering approach built around preserving what makes it compelling in the first place.
THE STUDIO
Setup & Equipment
A mastering engineer is only as good as their monitoring environment. Getting the signal chain right — from the mix file to my ears — is the foundation everything else is built on. I have invested carefully in acoustic treatment & select equipment that gives me an honest, accurate picture of what is actually happening in a recording.
Monitoring
NEARFIELD MONITORS
PDP MUM 6 BE — exceptional clarity, tight imaging, perfect phantom centre and accurate frequency & transient response.
HEADPHONES
Focal Clear MG Pro — high-end reference headphones for detailed critical listening and cross-referencing.
Tools & Processing
DAW
Steinberg WaveLab 13 Pro — the industry standard for professional mastering, chosen for its precision and mastering-specific workflow.
PLUGINS
A curated selection of high-end mastering plugins, chosen for accuracy and musical response.
OUTBOARD (Ongoing)
SSL Bus+ — used selectively when a project benefits from analogue character and warmth, at the client's direction.
The hybrid approach — combining the precision of a dedicated mastering DAW and high-end plugins with the option of analogue processing through the SSL Bus+ — means the right tool is always available for the right project. Nothing is applied by default. Everything is a considered decision.
HOW I WORK
What You Can Expect
| Honest Communication
Clear, direct feedback at every stage. If something in the mix needs attention before mastering, I will say so — specifically and constructively.
| Music First
Every mastering decision is made in service of the song. No imposed sound, no generic processing, no chasing loudness for its own sake.
| Respect for the Mix
Mastering and mixing do different jobs. My role is to support the work already done — not to second-guess it or stamp a different identity on it.
| Reliable Process
Transparent timelines, consistent delivery, and a revision process that is focused and efficient — because your release date matters.
Ready to work together?
If your mixes are ready and you want mastering that is focused, musical, and built around your release — get in touch.