Okay...I think I'm finally ready to post my faves in this thread now. I've put a ton of thought into this...and my criteria (which I'll explain as I go) seem quite a bit different than many of those who've posted their respective faves in this thread. I've got four faves I'll mention, in no particular order:
1) Bob Ludwig
I've heard a small handful of before/after comparisons of his work over the past few years...entirely aware of what pressures and outside influences there are governing final product in some circumstances. It's been an overwhelming eye-opening experience: that regardless of one's talent/name/top-billing/etc., we're still here to deliver something that exceeds the clients expectations...and in some cases, as an opinionated ME, you have to put aside your creative differences to pull this off. The key is in making the best possible compromise b/w preserving the original engineers and artists' ideals for the project, applying your own ideals for the project, and delivering to the client (the one who'll actually for all real intents and purposes "own" the end result) their ideal for the project...however misinformed or contradictory that last one might be. I can say with utmost certainty that he's as expert as expert gets in the department of remaining faithful to all of these ideals as faithfully as is functionally possible.
2) ChrisJ (not sure of your full name)
I only know ChrisJ through his posts on various forums and a few mp3's I've heard via an online collaboration project. We all at times find ourselves trying odd/new/off-the-wall/"different" techniques at times to get the desired result out of our, albeit expensive or fancy, limited equipment...sometimes with and sometimes without success. I dig ChrisJ's work because he doesn't let that get in the way...breaking right through that wall of limitation by writing up his own processors...sometimes just to see if the resulting processor might have some fruitful use down the road. This willingness to experiment and push the boundaries of ability I find very admirable.
3 and 4) Brad Blackwood and Bob Olhsson
No, I'm not trying to kiss butt here...
Both Brad and Bob impress me immensely for their presence in this and other forums. Their work is as top-notch as anyone's in my book, but it's this online presence that is what places them in my list of favorites. Both Brad and Bob freely give of their time and knowledge to such an extent that it goes so far as not only educating, but also creating online environments that promote fruitful collaboration, discussion, and education. To me this comes across as a dedication to this craft that goes well beyond the norm, and will with any luck lead to the continued preservation of this craft despite/in spite of the immense forces that purvey in this industry on the homefront: namely the promotional forces behind a myriad of new products making hugely innacurate claims to the throngs of new generations creating recorded music that threaten so many of our businesses on a constant basis. For this, I not only put them on my list, but also thank them: Thank you.
Cheers,
Chris