Rinus Hooning is a recording engineer, mastering engineer, cutting engineer and direct to disc engineer. He combines a unique feeling for music with creativity and technology. These are the basics applied to all the products he delivers
The early years
During the first years of his career, he studied analog and digital techniques at the NOS, writing and reading music, and instrumental knowledge at the music academy in Beverwijk. He also followed numerous seminars at the AES.
In October 1973 he started working as a recording engineer in the Intertone studios of EMI Holland. He recorded famous local artists like The Cats, BZN, Pussycat, Lucifer, Kayak and many more. Hans Vermeulen, Klaas Leyen, Paul Natte, Gerard Stellaard and Pim Koopman are some of the producers he has worked with throughout those years.
Highlight of that part of his career was the one week demo with Focus for the “Focus con Proby” project.
As a mastering engineer/cutting engineer he was responsible for European releases of Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Queen, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Kate Bush, Tina Turner and many more.
The move to another factory
May 1981 he decided to move to CBS Holland (later SONY Music). His focus here moved more towards mastering of audio for CD, MC, Vinyl for international artist like Bruce Springsteen, Julio Iglesias, Bob Dylan, George Michael, Wham, Toto, Santana, Mariah Carey and as main highlight the European lacquer cutting for Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
The fall and the rise of vinyl
June 1998 the Sony Music Holland vinyl factory was acquired by Record Industry Haarlem. Rinus started general manager to support setting up the vinyl pressing plant. Next to his role as general manager he took up vinyl mastering/cutting for international labels like Warner Brothers, Universal, EMI, SONY Music, Sony Classical and many more.
He also managed the releases of “Music On Vinyl” for re-released albums like Eddie Vedder (Into the wild) and Alan Parsons (Eye in the Sky).
He has also worked with several dance labels like Blackhole recordings (DJ Tiesto) and Armada Music (Armin van Buuren).
In 2019 Record Industry Haarlem built de Artone studio in collaboration with Rinus. Here he specialised himself in the direct to disc process. This is the process of recording a live studio performance directly into the master groove
He did several live recordings with artists like Krezip, Racoon, Danny Vera, Tim Knol, Barry Hay, Rinus Gerritsen, Herman van Veen, Seu Jorge en Roge, Boudewijn de Groot, Etuk Ebong, Charlie Stacey, Dewolf, Djabe and many others.
On his own with his passion
As of March 2024, Rinus started his own mastering studio RHM (Rinus Hooning Mastering). This is where he combines his never ending passion and 50 years of experience into mastering audio for vinyl, CD and all other digital purposes.