Peter Doell


Peter Doell is an American recording and mastering engineer known for his work with Miles Davis, Toto, Céline Dion and The Beach Boys. Doell has been a staff engineer at Capitol Studios, Sunset Sound Recorders and Universal Mastering Studios West. His film and TV work includes Road To Perdition, Black Hawk Down and Monsters, Inc., American Idol, The Voice and Empire.
Doell is a member of the executive committee of the Audio Engineering Society Los Angeles Section, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Producers and Engineers Wing and past member of the AES Mastering Panel.

Early life and Education

Doell grew up in Rochester, New York. His interest in music was sparked by the summer concert series "The Arrangers Holiday" at the Eastman School of Music, where Phil Ramone was the recording engineer. During high school, Doell played the electric bass on bands he put together.
Doell started college enrolled in a biology program to later pursue a career in medicine. He changed from biology to music after seeing the multi-track tape recorders at his college's music department. Doell graduated from University at Albany with a B.A. in Electronic Music Composition.

Career

Recording engineer

Doell began his career as a recording engineer at Dimension Sound in Boston in 1974. In 1980, he relocated to Los Angeles as a recording engineer at Wally Heider Studios. He was assistant engineer on Eddie Money's album “No Control” produced by Tom Dowd
After a year at Wally Heider, Doell moved to Sunset Sound Factory, where he was a technician for 18 months. In 1983 Doell moved to Capitol Studios, where he worked for 15 years. Peter Doell was the recording engineer for the albums “While the City Sleeps...” by George Benson and “Tutu” by Miles Davis, produced by Tommy LiPuma. He was recommended to LiPuma by James Newton Howard. Davis won the Grammy Award for "Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Soloist" for his performance on "Tutu".
Throughout the late 80s and 90s, Doell was recording engineer on albums including “Festival” by Lee Ritenour, “” by Wynton Marsalis, “The Sun Don't Lie” by Marcus Miller, “Duets” and “Duets II” by Frank Sinatra, “Falling into You” by Céline Dion and the original motion picture soundtrack for “Tarzan” by Phil Collins and Mark Mancina.

Mastering engineer

In the early 2000s, Doell took on a role as mastering engineer. He worked as senior mastering engineer at Universal Mastering Studios West's Studio A. This room was known for its unusually large dimensions for a mastering studio. Doell mastered records from labels affiliated to Capitol Music Group, owned by Universal Music Group, as well as from independent clients. At Universal, Doell mastered the album "Toto XIV", which won a TEC Award in 2016 in the "Record Production/Album" category.
In February 2016, Doell joined AfterMaster Audio Labs as senior mastering engineer as the company expanded its mastering services.

Audio Lunch

Doell organizes a weekly lunchtime gathering in Burbank, California. Producers and engineers meet on the outdoor patio of a Mexican restaurant. Attendance has reached 150.

Accolades

Doell is credited as engineer in the following RIAA certified records:
YearAlbumArtistRole
1970AsanteMcCoy TynerRemixing
1972The Last SessionLee MorganRemixing
1975TeaserTommy BolinMastering
1977Street SurvivorsLynyrd SkynyrdRemixing
1986While the City Sleeps...George BensonEngineer
1986TutuMiles DavisEngineer
1986Rock TherapyStray CatsEngineer
1986Abstract EmotionsRandy CrawfordMixing
1988RecentlyJoan BaezEngineer
1988Born 2 B BlueSteve MillerEngineer
1989Repeat OffenderRichard MarxEngineer
1990Wynton MarsalisEngineer
1990If There Was a WayDwight YoakamEngineer
1991Back from RioRoger McGuinnEngineer
1992La Croix d’AmourDwight YoakamEngineer
1993This TimeDwight YoakamEngineer
1993The Sun Don't LieMarcus MillerEngineer
1994Healing Hands of TimeWillie NelsonEngineer
1995Absolutely!Clayton-Hamilton Jazz OrchestraEngineer
1996What the Hell Happened to Me?Adam SandlerEngineer
1996Static PrevailsJimmy Eat WorldEngineer
1996Stars and Stripes, Vol. 1The Beach BoysEngineer
1999Tarzan Phil Collins, Mark MancinaEngineer
1999At First Sight Mark IshamMixing
2000The Road to El Dorado Elton JohnEngineer
2000Complete Blue Note Elvin Jones SessionsElvin JonesRemixing
2002An American Journey: Winter Olympics 2002John WilliamsScoring Crew
2002A New Day Has ComeCéline DionEngineer
2002200 km/h in the Wrong Langet.A.T.u.Mastering
2004TriosWynton MarsalisEngineer
2004Genius Loves CompanyRay CharlesMastering
2006To Go: Stick It in Your EarThe Jackson 5Mastering
2006To Go: Stick It in Your EarCommodoresMastering
2006To Go: Stick It in Your EarJames BrownMastering
2007Hits and RaritiesSheryl CrowMastering
2009You Never Can Tell: The Complete Chess Recordings 1960-1966Chuck BerryRemixing
2009The High End of LowMarilyn MansonMastering
2009Let's Talk About Love/A New Day Has ComeCéline DionEngineer
2010Rarities Edition: Street SurvivorsLynyrd SkynyrdRemixing
2010Have Mercy: His Complete Chess Recordings Chuck BerryMixing
2011Puddle of MuddMastering
2011Beg for MercyAdam LambertMastering
2013TransitionSteve LukatherMastering
2013Made in CaliforniaThe Beach BoysEngineer
2013IconTom JonesMastering
2013IconThe Beach BoysMastering
2015Toto XIVTotoMastering
2016Dr. UmPeter ErskineMastering
2017Second OpinionPeter ErskineMastering