Mixing & Mastering

‘Mixing’ & ‘Mastering’ are two separate concepts; they are two separate stages of the creation of a product.

‘Mixing’ is the process of taking many tracks of audio (individual instruments/recordings) and blending them into a cohesive whole, that is rendered as a single stereo WAV file.

‘Mastering’ is the last process during the creation of music, and the resulting files (‘masters’) are the ones that will be sent to distribution. The general goal of mastering is to ensure that loudness standards are met (so that your song doesn’t sound quiet next to another one on radio/streaming) and to ensure that your song translates across different listening systems (Headphones, Car, Radio etc).

It is quite normal for tracks to be mixed and mastered by different people, hence why I provide separate prices for this.

Please send your files as 24bit 44.1kHz WAV files. Normalisation should be OFF. If you have used effects creatively (e.g automated low-pass filters), I recommend that you leave these on, but it’s good practice to remove any ‘mix’ processing prior to sending.
PLEASE ensure that your files are named correctly (i.e ‘SNARE 01’ is better than ‘AUDIO_02’). I am happy to walk you through this process if needed.

I prefer files to be sent using wetransfer, but dropbox is acceptable as well.

Once you have made your enquiry and sent me the demo, I will create a quote. If you agree to the quote, you will then send me the files. I will perfrom the services that you have requested, and then I will send the finished product (as an MP3) to you for review. If you require changes, I will perform them. When you are happy with the finished product, I will then send an invoice requesting payment. Once payment has been received, I will then send you the finished WAV files.

Bank transfer is preferred. Details are provided within my invoice.

You will receive 3 free revisions on each mix for any changes that you feel need to be made. It is quite normal to require changes, especially as I get to know your tastes and stylistic preferences!

However, charges will be added if you receive a finished mix, and then decide that you want to change elements of the track on your end (e.g replace a vocal with a new one).

I do not use analogue outboard. While I have experience using it (and some synthesizers here in the studio!) I do not use it for client work. The main reasons are:

• Recallability - if clients ask for revisions it takes a significant amount of time to return analogue gear to the settings required.

• Cost - I would have to significantly raise my rates!

• Workflow - I have been mixing ‘in the box’ for over a decade and it is my favourite way of working.

The majority of the biggest tracks in the world these days are mixed in this way.

If you are certain that you want your music mixed on analogue gear, let me know, as I have access to a studio where I can do this; this incurs extra costs from studio hire and the extra time it takes to mix in that environment.

I guarantee that you will receive your mix back within 7 days unless otherwise stated.

Most of the time vocals are manually tuned and edited by the engineer who recorded them. However, I am more than happy to offer this as a service, but it can be quite time intensive, hence why I price separately for this.