After spending over a year traveling the country and auditioning nearly every major studio monitor brand, I chose the Ex Machina Quasar MKIIs — and I’ve never looked back. They are the most revealing and detailed monitors I’ve ever heard, with a soundstage unlike anything else on the market. On top of the incredible performance, Ex Machina’s customer service is hands-down the best I’ve experienced — genuinely kind, responsive, and helpful. As a mastering engineer, the Quasars have made my work faster, easier, and far more confident. I honestly can’t imagine ever switching to another brand.
About
John Lemak
John Lemak, who goes by Jay Berd in the booth and on release credits, has spent his career in Austin moving between the mastering chain, the DJ booth, and the business of live sound. Since 2018 he has run Lemak Records, a vinyl-only label built around techno, house, electro, IDM and breaks that gives space to artists he personally admires, and his mastering touch shows up across a string of Liquid Earth and Alex DL releases from 2023 through 2025. He also founded Vital Audio Rentals, supplying and operating sound for festivals, clubs and parties in the region. On the decks he has shared bills with respected names like Ben UFO, a natural extension of a musical upbringing that started with Grateful Dead and Jimi Hendrix in the car with his father and grew into a style that pulls from jazz, rock, bluegrass and electronica alike.
Selected Credits
A Tune For Rabbits
Liquid Earth
Bang It (Just Bang It) / Sea Wolf
Liquid Earth