Our My Mix and Master team is excited to work with you! In order to get started, we need your files and your reference tracks. Below, we’ll walk you through the details of how to properly send these. Once we receive all of the necessary information from you, the 24-clock will begin. At the end of that time, you’ll get your song back, mixed and mastered by our award-winning engineers.
First let’s walk through how to send your files to us. If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at 305-705-2405, and ask for your project manager, Kayla Solano.
Step 1: Naming Your Files
We title our sessions in all caps, ARTIST NAME – SONG TITLE. Every exported version of your song in the bounce folder should have a matching session with the same title. Please label all of your files in this manner, so there isn’t any miscommunication about which version of your song we’re supposed to be working on.
In this case, the artist name is Prospect, and the song title is “With You.”
Step 2: Identifying Your DAW
The digital audio workstation (DAW) we use at Bay Eight is Protools. Non ProTools users (Logic, FL Studio, BandLab, Abelton etc.) will need to export stems or multi-tracks. Multi-tracks/track outs are all the tracks that have been recorded as independent, individual elements. Stems are combinations of multitracks that can be exported wet (with FX) or dry (raw, no FX). Stems are usually broken down in these 4 categories:
- Vocals
- FX
- Drums
- Instruments
If you use Protools like us, please also let us know what version you’re using when you send your files.
Step 3: Exporting Your Files
Once your files are properly named, and you’ve identified your DAW, it’s time to export. Ideally, files should be exported from your DAW at 24 bit / 48 depth. This will provide the best quality possible. If this isn’t an option please export files at no less than: 16 bit / 44.1 depth.
We have detailed instructions on how to export wet and dry stems here. The process is very similar for each DAW, but we have specific instructions for each DAW just to make things easier. First, identity the DAW you have, then scroll down on the above linked page for instructions for that specific DAW.
Step 4: Sending Your Sessions
Once your files are properly labeled and exported, it’s time to send them to us!
If you have sessions from other studios, we will have to check on plug-in compatibility. If we do not have the same plug-ins, then we will need you to send the stems or “Freeze Tracks.”
It is possible that your plugins and ours aren’t compatible. If this is the case, we will let you know. In this case, if there are any effects based plugins you would like to keep in your song (like Autotune) please use the Freeze Tracks feature to commit any effects based plugins to your ProTools audio files. Then, proceed with sending your session.
Sending References
References help us getting to know your style. They help us better understand the feeling and sound that you want to get out of your song. Please send us three to five songs that convey the sonic elements that matter to you the most.
Mix references are also used to make sure your mix sounds sonically competitive against many of today’s top hits. Trends in mainstream music evolve over the years so staying on top of the chart-toppers help ensure that your mix decisions sound current and commercially compatible. However, this is a matter of preference. If your references are older songs, that’s okay too. We want to ensure you get exactly the sound you’re going for.
Communications Software
There are three main softwares we will use to communicate with you during this process:
Mixup Audio is a collaboration tool for giving and receiving feedback on music. It is what you will use to give us feedback on your mixes. Please give feedback at specific points in the song. All versions of your mixes will be here so you can easily compare different versions.
Sessionwire is used when you want to remotely attend your mixing session. Sessionwire features video/voice chat and a completely independent, HQ Audio channel for live, pristine, studio quality monitoring over the internet. It’s basically Zoom with better audio quality.
WeTransfer – Here you can share files up to 2 GB at a time for free, which is more than the traditional email attachment size.
Zoom – We imagine you’ve heard of this one!
Summary
Please send at least two reference tracks, your properly labeled audio files, and let us know who your team members are. We will confirm when we’ve received everything we need, and in no time you’ll be releasing your new bangers!
