Nicolas de Porcel
Owner and Chief Mastering Engineer, Million Dollar Snare
Nicolas de Porcel is a first generation-American, Grammy Award-Winning Mastering Engineer from the San Francisco Bay Area. His early life was shaped by an environment of music production, audio engineering, and technology. After years of producing and collaborating with local acts, he launched Million Dollar Snare in 2016. Million Dollar Snare has since been at the epicenter of some of the biggest, most critically acclaimed records and albums of our time.
Across 2024 and 2025, Nicolas’s work swept every Rap category at the Grammys (Killer Mike’s “Michael”, Doechii’s “Alligator Bites Never Heal”, and Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us”). “Not Like Us” also went on to win Song and Record of the Year, tying the record for the most- awarded track in Grammy history. Beyond his own craft, Nicolas has recruited a team of trailblazing engineers pushing the boundaries of modern audio.
Some of Nicolas’s notable works include:
“The Box” [2020] by Roddy Ricch (RIAA Diamond, 3x-Grammy Nominated)
“Family Ties” [2021] by Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar (Grammy Winner, Best Rap Performance)
“Hrs & Hrs” [2022] by Muni Long (Grammy Winner, Best R&B Performance)
“Michael” [2023] by Killer Mike (3x-Grammy Winner, Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song, Best Rap Performance)
“Alligator Bites Never Heal” [2024] by Doechii (Grammy Winner, Best Rap Album)
“Not Like Us” [2024] by Kendrick Lamar (5x-Grammy Winner, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Song, Best Rap Performance, Best Music Video)
Nicolas has achieved over 100 RIAA Multi-Platinum and Gold certifications in the 2020s decade.
His clients have won at the American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, Apple Music Awards, Soul Train Awards, and many more. His mastering philosophy centers on maximum repeatability and replay value—delivering a lasting competitive edge for his clients.
Even at the height of his musical achievements, Nicolas remains committed to the principles that have shaped his journey: honesty, open-mindedness, and creative action. Nicolas currently resides in Northern California with his wife Erika and their two children. He remains active in his community and finds purpose in giving back and helping others.