How to Prepare a Session for Mixing
By Written by Peter McVeigh
Good preparation saves your mixer time and saves you money. What to send and how to organise it.
When you hire a mixer, you want them spending time on the music, not on working out which track is "Audio 14 dup 3". A tidy, well-labelled session means a faster start, fewer questions and a better use of what you're paying for. It takes a little effort, and it's much easier to do as you go.
Ask first
Every mixer has their own preferences, so ask before exporting anything. They may want:
Consolidated audio files or a whole session.
A particular sample rate and bit depth.
Effects printed or not.
A rough mix as a reference.
Particular naming or folders.
Their instructions come ahead of anything in a general guide such as this one.
Finish the decisions
Mixing isn't the place to choose between 11 vocal takes. Before you send:
Choose the takes and comp them.
Finish editing and any tuning you want.
Remove parts you know aren't being used.
Label anything you're unsure about as optional, and say why.
The more decisions are left open, the more time and money go on them. Keep a safe copy of the original takes in case you need them.
Export the audio properly
If you're sending audio files:
Start every file at the same point, usually bar 1 or the session start, so that everything lines up.
Keep the session's sample rate and bit depth, rather than changing them.
Export mono parts as mono and stereo parts as stereo.
Avoid limiting and heavy processing you can't undo, unless it's part of the sound.
Consider sending both a clean and a processed version of anything that's important, such as a vocal with an effect that's part of the song.
Make sure there are no clips, clicks or cut-off notes.
Check your work by importing everything into a new session and pressing play.
Name things clearly
Short, descriptive names work best: Kick In, Kick Out, Snare Top, Bass DI, Gtr Rhythm L, Lead Vox, BV High. Use the same order for each song in a project. Our Studio File Naming and Folder Guide on the Documents page has a simple pattern you can copy.
Send a rough mix
A rough mix tells the mixer more than a page of notes. It shows the balance, the effects you got attached to and how the song is meant to feel. Be sure to say what you do and don't like about it. Sometimes a rough mix contains magic that should be kept. Sometimes it only shows what you were hearing at 2am.
Add a short note
Include:
The song's tempo and key.
Two or three reference tracks, and what you like about them.
Any parts that must be heard, and moments that really matter.
Who gives feedback and who approves the mix.
Your deadline.
How many revisions you've agreed.
Anything odd, such as a deliberately distorted guitar.
Check before you send
Does each track play from the right place?
Are any tracks missing?
Have you included the MIDI or tempo map, if useful?
Are the song and artist names spelled correctly?
Do you have your own back-up?
Zip it, upload it and check the download link works. Our Delivery Checklist lists these steps, so that you can tick them off.
What to do next
Take one song you've recorded and pretend you're sending it today. Would a stranger understand your session? If not, tidy the names and keep your new layout as a template for next time. Use a Session Recall Sheet to note how you recorded it, too.
Disclaimer
General information, not professional advice. Every session and client is different, so adapt this to your own situation.