Mixing or mastering?
Mixing takes your separate tracks (vocals, beat, instruments) and balances, shapes and blends them into one finished song. Mastering takes a finished stereo mix and gets it ready to release: consistent loudness, tone and translation across streaming, downloads and video. If your song is still in separate tracks, start with mixing. If you have a mix you're happy with, mastering is the last step.
How to prepare a mix session
- Export every track as its own WAV file (stems or multitracks), all starting at the same point so they line up.
- Keep the session's sample rate and use 24-bit if you can.
- Leave off any effects you're not sure about. Effects that are part of the sound, like a vocal's tuning, should stay on.
- Include the beat as a stereo file too, and label everything clearly.
- Add one or two reference tracks that sound the way you want yours to.
How to prepare a song for mastering
- Send the final stereo mix as a WAV at the session's sample rate.
- Take any limiter off the mix bus and leave some headroom, so the loudest peaks don't hit the top.
- Tell us where it's going (streaming, video, a full project) and include a reference if you have one.
How it works
- Start a project. Tell us the track count or number of songs, your references and your target date.
- Get a quote. Scope, number of revisions, turnaround and price are confirmed in writing before you pay.
- Upload privately. You get a private project room for your files and messages.
- Revisions and delivery. Revisions are included as stated in your quote. Final files go to your account once the project is paid. You keep ownership of your recordings and songs.
Mastering only? Start a mastering project.