FAQs
Quick answers on online mixing and mastering, file prep, turnaround, revisions, and optional add-ons.
Mixing and Mastering Basics
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Mixing is the stage after recording and production where an engineer takes all the individual multitracks (separate audio tracks) and balances them into one great-sounding mix.
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Mastering is the final stage after mixing and before release. An engineer takes the finished mix and applies the final polish so it sounds great across different playback systems (phones, earbuds, cars, and speakers).
File Preparation
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Export clean WAV or AIFF files that all start from the same point, remove any processing that isn’t essential to the sound, and include a rough mix as a guide. If you’re unsure whether an effect should stay on, send both wet and dry versions.
You can find my full mix preparation guide here.
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Export a clean, unclipped WAV or AIFF file at the same sample rate as your project, with normalisation switched off. There’s no need to hit a specific headroom target, and if a limiter is only there for loudness, bypass it before export.
You can find my full mastering preparation guide here.
Ordering and Delivery
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After placing your order, you’ll receive a confirmation email containing an upload link for your files.
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Please message me via the contact page with the full details of your project and I’ll send through a customised order invoice.
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Yes. Please message me via the contact page with details of your project and I’ll get back to you with a custom discount code.
Add-ons and Extras
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Yes. Pitch correction is available for an additional fee at checkout.
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Yes. Backing vocal time alignment is available for an additional fee. Please message me via the contact page for more details.
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Yes. Drum sample layering is available for an additional fee. Please message me via the contact page for more details.
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Yes. Virtual revision sessions over Zoom with lossless audio streaming can be arranged. Please contact me for more information.
Turnaround and Revisions
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Turnaround varies from project to project, but a general estimate is 5 days for mastering and 14 days for mixing. Express delivery options are available at checkout for a faster turnaround.
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Absolutely. All orders include 3 revisions free of charge.
Policies and Technical Approach
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All orders include 3 revisions free of charge, and any issues with the mix or master can usually be resolved during that process. In the unlikely event that the issues cannot be fixed and you’re still not entirely satisfied, you may request a 50% partial refund within 30 days of the initial order.
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Analogue gear is an enjoyable luxury, but it’s slower than digital and far more expensive to buy, run, and maintain, and those costs get passed on to the client. Meanwhile, digital (“in the box”) mixing has improved massively over the last couple of decades, and it’s widely debated whether analogue still offers a clear sonic advantage. With this in mind, all orders are mixed and/or mastered digitally to keep fees as low as possible.
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