Mix requirements:

Please supply the following prior to your mastering session: 

1. Audio files (.wav or .aif) uploaded using this link or on physical media, drive etc. 
 - If possible please label your files with track number and official track name (eg. 01 Track Name.wav, 02 Track Name.wav etc)

2. Release details - correct spelling of the following: 
  - Full name of the artist
  - Full name of the release
  - Full track names and track order
  - ISRC codes if you have them
  - EAN/MCN if you have one

3. Any special instructions concerning the mastering of your mixes, cross-fading between tracks, gaps between songs, hidden tracks etc
4. Optional: links to or details about any albums you are referencing or wish to reference in mastering

mix format

• Supply mixes in original recorded sampling and bit rates
  (no re-sampling, bit truncation or dithering on mix down!)
• If you haven't recorded yet, 44.1khz/24bit or multiples of 44.1khz (eg 88.2khz) is best for final re-sampling after mastering, as 44.1khz is standard audio rate world wide and 48khz is film/video standard.

• .wav, .aif, stereo-interleaved

• 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 ideal for 24 bit mixes)
• RMS should be around -20db LUFS.  (don't over-compress your mixes unless that's what you're going for)
• Leave a gap of at least 200ms, ideally 1 second silence before the start of each track.  The silence can be trimmed in mastering.
• Check your mix files prior to sending them for mastering.  Check there are no cut beginnings or endings etc. and that they sound right and as intended.. (there are extra costs associated with presenting a new mix after mastering has taken place)

• Our mastering chain operates from 44.1khz/24bit through to 96khz/24bit
  (for analogue mixing why not use higher sampling rates upon AD 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 yields 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 flexibility 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 separately  Also supplied must be a complete stereo mix for our reference.

We highly recommend working with stems if you are at all doubtful of some aspect of your mix.


Check your mixes with us prior to mastering:

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 procedure run smoothly.

This service is provided free of charge. Upload your mixes here, any time, 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.
• Use 44.1khz/24bit or 88.2khz/24bit if you must (avoid 48khz or 96khz for music)