Tips for artists · 4 min read

How to send your files for mixing

What to export, how to name it and the mistakes that cost you time.

If you want your song mixed, the files you send decide how good the result can be. A messy export can’t be fixed. Here’s what we want to receive.

The best option: the whole session

If you use Pro Tools or Logic Pro, send the full session with all the audio files and any software instruments included. That way we can see exactly what you did.

The next best: individual WAV files

If you can’t send a session, export every track as its own WAV file. The key rule is that every file must start at the very beginning of the song, even if the first sound doesn’t come in until later. That way they all line up automatically when we drop them in. If a vocal comes in 30 seconds into the song, the file should still contain 30 seconds of silence first.

Leave some room

Don’t push everything to the maximum. Aim for peaks around -6 dB on each file. And take any limiter or loudness plug-in off the master channel before you export. We need to see the dynamics, and mastering comes later.

Don’t bake in the processing you can’t undo

Export your vocals without heavy effects you can’t turn off, unless that effect is the sound of the song. Rough reverb or delay is fine to leave out, and we’ll add what the song needs.

Use sensible names

"Lead vocal", "Double 1", "Ad-libs", "Beat" is much better than "Audio 14 final v2". Add the tempo and key to the folder name.

If you’re using a beat

If you bought one, send the trackout stems. If you only have a stereo file of the beat, that’s fine, but tell us and send it without any limiter on it.

Add a note

Tell us what the song is about, what you want it to feel like, and send a link to two songs you want it to sit next to. A reference track saves a lot of guessing.

Send it as one download

Zip it and send a single download link. Check it opens before you send it.

Send us clean files and a clear idea, and you’ll get a better mix, faster.