Mix Requirements

To Bring to your mastering session:

1. Audio files (.wav or .aif) supplied on CD(datadisc), DVD, flash drive, Hard Drive etc. Alternatively you can send using this link.
2. Optional: albums you are referencing

Mix Format:

Supply mixes in original recorded sampling and bit rates (no re-sampling, bit truncation or dithering on mix down!) .wav, .aif, stereo-interleaved or multi-mono - for others please enquire (.wav stereo-interleaved ideal but not essential) Make sure you have clean master outputs (no eq'ing or compressing the overall mix prior to mastering!) Output peak level should be well clear of the red (0dbfs) (peaking at -6dbfs max) Our mastering chain operates at 88.2khz or 96khz/24bit (for analogue mixing why not use these sampling rates upon conversion?)

Mastering from "stems":

Generally mastering from stereo mixes is the way to go. However if you feel your mixes are lacking in some area there is another way which yeilds exceptional results.

Mastering from stems:

Stems are bus outputs, for example your drum mix or your vocal group mix, printed to file. Using group mixes increases flexability in mastering 10 fold! Just by splitting the drums from the rest of the mix and supplying two stereo .wav's that have the exact same start point, we have the mix as intended plus more room to move in mastering.

Above: for example, drum group + everything-else-minus-drums group comes to mastering - similarly if your weak point is vocals, the vocal track can be presented seperately.

We highly recommend working with stems.

Check your mixes:

We also highly recommend, especially if you happen to be working from home, that you check your mixes with us before mastering. We will give you general feedback and suggest where changes could be applied. Your finished product can only benefit from a quick check over from a mastering perspective and will make the whole proceedure run smoothly.

This service is provided free of charge.  Upload your mixes here, anytime, or come in and sit down for a tea and a listen.

Tips (for budding mix geniuses):

• While mixing think about frequency balance, not just level balance.

• And don't be shy to make good use of the stereo field.