How much does it cost? £400 (plus VAT) per single mix. Payment must be received prior to mix. We offer preferential rates for album projects, please contact us for a quote.
How long will it take? The turnaround time from when you finish uploading your files until you receive your finished mix is usually 5 days or less but it could take up to 10 days if all of our engineers are very busy. Please ensure that you have prepared and labelled your multitrack files properly as any mistakes will slow the process down and also make sure that you have taken care of any timing or tuning problems before you send us the track as any major editing work is not included as part of the mix service. Our engineers may carry out a number of minor necessary fixes free of charge at their discretion. If you have a deadline to meet, please contact us to confirm this is achievable otherwise you may need to book a specific engineer for the job (which will incur extra charges).
What do I need to provide? As you won't be in direct contact with our engineers it is important for you to include as much information as possible about your track along with any ideas you have relating to the final sound of your mix. If you already have a rough/ monitor mix then please include it detailing anything you do or don't like about it. Let us know if there are any commercially released tracks by other artists which you think would be useful as a reference point.
Multitrack limitations? Your multitrack must contain no more than 48 mono audio files. Stereo files will be counted as 2 mono files and individual files must contain one sound only i.e. you can't have a guitar and a piano on the one track. The overall track duration must not be more than 6 minutes.
If you have too many files then backing vocals or harmonies, for instance, could be bounced down as stereo files. Make sure you reduce your fader levels to avoid clipping when doing this and take care with the balance and panning as these will remain fixed in the final mix. Only stereo mixes are included as part of this service but we are more than happy to quote you for a 5.1 mix if required.
What do I upload? We accept WAV or AIFF audio files at sample rates of 44.1, 48, 88.2 and 96kHz. The bit depth should be 16, 24 or 32bit (float). Each track must be bounced from the start point of the song (bar 1 beat 1) or the same start position. All files must be of the same sample rate and bit depth and each audio file should be named clearly according to the sound it contains and all MIDI and virtual instrument tracks must be recorded as audio.
Your sessions will be run from one of our Pro Tools HD systems so if you are also using Pro Tools as your DAW then feel free to upload the session. Please ensure that only the relevant audio files are shown in the edit window by clearing all of the unused regions and saving a session copy.
How do I upload my files? Once your payment has been processed you will receive an email link to our upload box. If you have a specific file delivery service you want to use that's not a problem, but please send a download link for your files to us so we can find them.
Single files such as session notes or reference mixes can be uploaded as they are, although your master audio files folder or Pro Tools session folder must be compressed into a single zip file before upload. If your audio files folder is larger than 2Gb you will need to split it into two zip files as most browsers do not allow you to upload any files larger than this.
What's a zip archive? A zip archive is a file that contains multiple files or folders in a compressed format. This reduces the overall file size which means faster uploads for you and once the files are uncompressed they will be identical to your original versions and will not be corrupted during the transfer.
To create a zip archive firstly place all of the relevant files and folders in a new single folder and on a Mac using the finder, highlight the folder and select either compress or create archive (depending on your operating system) under the File drop down menu. If you are running Windows right click on the folder containing your files and then select Send to-›Compressed (zipped) file.
What aboout my FX and Plug-ins? Please make sure you remove/inactivate any plugins you are using prior to bouncing down your audio files. If you have used any effects or plug-ins on individual elements that you feel are an important part of the sound then please send two versions of that particular track - one with and one without the effect and labeled as such. If we can improve on your sound then we'll use your untreated/dry file. These duplicate files will not be counted towards your 48 track limit.
Are mix revisions included in the price? Yes (if you feel necessary) one set of mix revisions is included. This must be received within 24 hours of the mix being delivered. Any major changes in direction will not be counted as a revision and will be subject to additional charges, therefore it is vital that your initial notes are specific.
What will I receive? A limited master file (44.1Khz/16bit.wav) which you can use to burn directly on to a CD or convert to make mp3's. This will not be a 'mastered' file but the volume will be in line with other commercial releases. If you do want your mix professionally mastered let us know and we'll arrange it for you. You will also receive an unlimited master mix at the original sample rate and bit depth of your files (normally 24bit). This is the file that you would normally send for mastering if required.
If you would like instrumental, backing (TV/PA), acapella versions and/or mix stems, please let us know prior to booking so we can advise you of any additional charges.
