In a present where tools abound but criteria is scarce, Andrés Mayo and Martín Muscatello elevate the conversation about professional sound. From their studio in Buenos Aires, with experience, vision, and precision, they share their work with Neumann monitors and reveal why listening remains the core of every good audio workflow.
“When you start working with a real reference, with real monitoring, everything changes,” says Andrés Mayo in the first minutes of this interview. And he is not alone. Beside him, Martín Muscatello nods with conviction: “You can’t master what you can’t hear. The first step toward good sound is being able to hear what is actually happening.”
Both are leading figures in audio engineering in Argentina, with careers that are different yet complementary: Andrés, globally recognized as a mastering engineer with more than 3,000 records to his name and a Latin Grammy; Martín, a technician, producer, system designer, and immersive audio expert with a detailed and deep understanding of acoustic phenomena.
They are united by a single passion: quality audio. And a single tool: Neumann’s monitoring system, a brand that has become an inseparable part of their work.
And as two professionals who share their day-to-day, each has a particular perspective on the current state of sound, the technical challenges of professional production, and the fundamental role of monitoring.
Listening is everything
Both agree that no technical process can replace listening. For them, a good monitoring system is not a luxury but the only way to make decisions with confidence.
“Today everyone produces, but few understand what they’re doing. There is an enormous educational gap, and that’s where we need to insist,” says Andrés.
Martín adds: “You can have the best plugin, the best interface, or the best software, but if you can’t hear properly, all of that becomes useless. Precision starts with the ear.”
In that sense, both highlight that working with Neumann monitors allowed them to achieve true sonic stability, both in stereo and immersive environments. “What you hear is what’s there. No surprises,” Andrés affirms.
Reference as a tool
Throughout the conversation, one word repeats like a mantra: reference.
Andrés insists that every audio technician should be clear on how a well-made mix or a properly calibrated master actually sounds. “The number of people who mix without truly understanding how a well-built reference sounds is extremely high. If you mix without having listened to a good master, you’ll hardly reach a good result,” he states candidly.
Martín adds a conceptual layer: “It’s important to understand that not everything is about technology. You have to take the time to learn to listen. Technique without artistic concept means nothing.”
That search for auditory criteria—rather than presets or formulas—is what makes the difference in professional work. And to achieve it, they agree, you need a reliable system.
Neumann, a choice that sets the path
Both Muscatello and Mayo use Neumann monitoring systems in their workspaces. Martín works with a 7.1.4 configuration based on KH 80 DSP for immersive audio projects, while Andrés has a 5.1.4 system with KH 120 monitors and a KH 750 subwoofer, fully calibrated with Neumann’s MA-1 software.
“Since incorporating Neumann into my studio, I’ve been able to adjust everything to a precise standard. It allows me to know that what I deliver sounds the way it should,” explains Andrés.
Martín agrees: “I work with many different systems and many artists. I need a clear, detailed listening that gives me confidence. With Neumann you don’t have to assume anything: what you hear is what’s there. And that, for me, is priceless.”
In addition to sound quality, both value Neumann’s automatic calibration process. “The MA-1 allowed me to adapt the system to my room without depending on others. The curve is transparent. It doesn’t color the sound. It’s like a tailor-made suit,” says Mayo.
Present, future, and education
Beyond technology, Andrés and Martín highlight the need to train new professionals with real sonic criteria. “The audio world is full of tools but empty of deep training,” Andrés says. “That’s why we work so much in education. We need to help the next generations understand what they’re doing, not just how to do it.”
In that sense, both lead workshops, seminars, and educational programs. And they always start from one premise: listening cannot be learned on YouTube.
A revealing listening experience
In this exploration of immersive sound, there is one certainty both Andrés and Martín share: the decisive role of Neumann monitors in their processes. They emphasize that it was the starting point for approaching spatial audio projects with a new level of precision—a complete system that results in a super-balanced listening environment, ideal for detailed analysis.
“Neumann provides a clear and controlled work environment. That’s where you can make creative decisions with absolute confidence,” summarizes Muscatello.
Without a doubt, for these professionals Neumann is not just another brand. It is a way of working. And for those who understand that the difference lies in the details, it is also a way of thinking and respecting sound.
