Preparing Your Tracks For Mixing

Exporting Your Tracks

I simply ask that you export separate WAV  files for each audio channel (stem).

Each instrument and vocal should have its own track. If your project has 15 channels, you will export 15 WAV files. See below picture for an example.

Please name each track appropriately (kick, snare up, snare dow, lead vox, guitar L, guitar R, etc.).

For all guitars feel free to include both amped and DI signals.

Drums can also be sent as recorded audio, exported VST audio (from Superior Drummer, Kontakt etc) as midi, or any combination of.

All audio channels you prepare for exporting need to have your mix plugins (EQ, reverb, compression etc) removed. Other creative effects such as delays, filters etc can be kept. Time is best spent in the mix and there’s no need to recreate effects you already like the sound of.

Before exporting the audio files, please make sure there’s no processing (EQs, compressors or limiters) on the master bus. These would affect the dynamics, which I can take care of in the mixdown and mastering stage.

All exported audio files need to begin at the same start time. Even if you have a sound on one channel at the very end of your song, bounce the whole file, from the beginning of your song. This is essential to line up your song when importing the audio into the workspace. The end of the files can all be different. When the sound ends for the song, the audio file can end there. Alternatively, you can bounce all the audio files to the end of your song.

Audio Levels

Please export your audio at the level you have it in your rough mixdown as this will provide a good starting point. Please also ensure that no audio channels are peaking any higher than -1db before exporting. If you record the audio too loud, it will affect the final audio quality and a clipping signal is unusable.

File Format

The file format should be as follows; 24bit 44100hz WAV or above. Other file types can be accommodated but please check first. Please DO NOT send mp3s.

Rough Mix and Reference Tracks

When sending your files for audio mixing, you can include your rough mix. It also helps to send some reference songs. These would be songs that you envisage your song sounding like. This helps me understand the sound and style you’re going for.

Sending The Files To Me

By far the easiest and most secure way is via either Dropbox or Google Drive. Both offer a free and easy to use file transfer system. Create a zip file of all the audio and midi tracks, reference tracks and any notes you want to share as a text file. You can then email me a link to the file to my email address. Alternatively if you are located near enough files can be imported from a removable hard drive.