Mixing Music Online

This option is ideal for individuals that have a home studio and some difficulties getting quality mixes from their current recording rigs. After all, mixing is a an art that takes many years to master. However, because it's impossible to work with every recording program made out there, you need to try rendering the audio tracks as Broadcast Wav files (a.k.a. BWF) so that every track/part or file starts exactly at 0:0:0:00 time code. You need to keep the silence or digital black information from the beginning (even if the voice or instrument part only happens for one second in the song).

The span of all tracks should match in time and it should be reflected in memory size as well. This prevents synchronization issues and gives a time stamp. Some people like to trim the tail end of each of these tracks/parts to save up on memory size and make it faster to store or send via internet. That's fine so long as the top is rendered as we mentioned above.

Once you have all the parts, make a folder called the name of your song and compress the whole thing with a zip compression program like Winzip. You can try the RAR compression format if you like, download the file compressor program to send your package project via the Internet (as one file) with WINRAR. This makes the upload time even shorter and files are also checked for possible transfer errors.

But, if this is something you'd rather skip, the easiest way to directly upload and send heavy files that we recommend is with www.filemail.com.  Our second choice, www.sendfile.com, don't use it without checking out the former. These services are available free of charge.

Next, make a log of all the files including the name of each track with  a description of the part along with comments or feedback. Leave comments or feedback blank if you are leaving it up to the discretion of our engineer to make critical decisions such as the tone or color and amount of reverb and delay for the part.

How to deliver the audio files for mixing

1. Bypass any plugins inserted on each track output  .
Remove all plugins that you might have in the channel inserts (especially any reverb and delays). Only if it's too late to do so (effect was captured within the signal) or you feel that the effect you created is unique and critical to your production.

2. Bypass any automation on each track:
Remove any automation, that you might have on each track. Please allow our mix engineer to use his own ability to choose the best automation for your tracks, according his own art of mixing.

3. Check the output level of each track:
It is important to avoid clipping (when the red meter indicator is lit), e.g. the output does not exceed 0dBFS of each track. This is very important to prevent the dry signal from any sort of bending. If this is too late because you have already captured your tracks that way, we will try to do our best to work with them.

4. Bypass any plugins on the master output:
Bypass any plugins on the master output, i.e.  equalizer, compressor or limiter on the stereo mix. This is basically the same thing we advised you to do with each track individually.

5. File format
The preferred format is a 24 bit WAV for each track without dithering, so remember to turn off dithering in your sequencer before bouncing/exporting. The preferred sample rate is 44.1kHz (44.100 Hz) for each track but higher sample rates are accepted too.

 6. Bounce or Export your tracks!

Bounce (export) each individual audio track so that every file starts from the beginning (same bar or time code position). Most digital audio softwares allow you to "Save As"  broadcast waves or 'BWF'.

 In ProTools it is called 'Consolidation' and it's as easy as selecting all the tracks from start to end with your mouse and saving as "BWF", the file target (as shown on the picture).

Let us know if you can do this.

Special! Online mixing of up to 32 tracks for only $350 and includes mastering! Take advantage of this new low price today. Mixing fees are usually in a case by case basis and between $400 to $650 per song (Mastering included). Discounts maybe available for large mixing projects or mixes with low track count.

If you are interested, please email the following:

How many songs for mixing do you have?
How many tracks or parts to each song do you have?

Any questiions? Call 1-917-668-3761 to speak with an audio engineer.

If you need more information, go to our message board to post questions or create a new discussion.