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Computer music blog » How to prepare your mixing session
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Hi everyone!

As I’ve had this question recently, I thought it would be a good idea to start the first article of the blog with the subject that’s on everyone’s mind: preparing for a mixing session.

How do you prepare your composition for audio mixing?

This morning I received a message asking me:

If I send you my Ableton live or Pro-Tools session, could you mix it?

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term audio mixing, I invite you to click on this Wikipedia link.

Why prepare a track for mixing session? It would be easier to send me your session, which I could then work on with Ableton Live or Pro-Tools.

However, this would require you to check the plug-ins you are using and the version of the software you are using, which would mean wasting time on compatibility issues when sharing a file for mixing.

Because in the MAO world we all work on different software such as Cubase, Protools, FL Studio including GarageBand so I can’t invest in all the DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) or if you prefer, the mixing and mastering sequencers on the market.

I’m not even mentioning the sound card, a high-end audio interface, an analogue preamp, a compressor, a mixing desk, virtual instruments like those from Native Instruments or physical synthesizers.

So preparing a track for mixing requires us to share tracks universally and the only way to do that is to export tracks.

So the aim is to export your tracks recorded separately, all in an uncompressed and synchronised audio format, in Wav or Aiff.

Very often people send me MP3 files of studio recordings, live recordings or compositions based on software instruments via the recording studio’s e-mail address. Recently, I set up an inbox via “Bridge Audio” for anyone who wants to send me tracks to listen and help you prepare your mixing session.

Send Wav or MP3 audio files...

To get an idea of your composition I agree, but don’t send MP3 files for mixing as this will affect the quality of the audio mix. The MP3 format reduces data through its audio compression algorithm. Admittedly, this results in a significant reduction in the size of the audio data stream, depending on the compression setting chosen, which w      ill influence the quality of the audio file.

Here are the 8 steps to follow to prepare your track for mixing:

1- Your audio edition

Check your cuts and fades.

  • Use your software’s zoom to check the end of each file in each audio region.
  • A well-made cut means you won’t hear any digital clicks, so you won’t edit the audio when you mix.

2- Finish your work

Check that you haven’t forgotten anything.

  • Midi and audio editing.
  • Activate Vst plug-ins and delete those that do not perform any processing (plug-ins in bypass mode).
  • Concerning the arrangement of your composition, its structure, because during the mixing you won’t be able to ask me to make any changes.
  • Activation of automation on certain cut-off and resonance effects or synths.

3- Naming correctly

Be sure to name each audio file.

  • If we need to discuss a track during mixing, you won’t have to explain that “It’s the guitar track Audio_1_24/03 with the saturation that…”!!!!

4- Before exporting

This is an important step which often saves you having to go back and forth during the mixing process.

  • Check that your tracks do not saturate and that there are no clips on the audio file, especially if you are using compressors.
  • Keep an eye on your clip indicator in the mixing console (the red LED above the meter).
  • Think about the tracks where there is distortion – it’s better if they’re not in the red.
  • Check that you have the correct waveform, i.e. a sound level where the volume is neither too low nor too high.
  • Ideally, you want to have enough room to do the mixing.
  • Control your stereo output and the panning of each track.
  • Reducing the audio signal with a limiter must be done gently.
  • Avoid spatialization and surround tools, as they will interfere with the audio mix.
  • If you are planning a multi-channel mixing session, contact me.

5- Synchronise your audio tracks

One of the most important steps !!!

  • If your song begins with an eight-bar introduction and a guitar enters at the ninth bar, the guitar audio file must contain eight bars of empty space.
  • This applies to all other tracks in the same song

Why check the synchro when all the software on the market does it?

  • In the mixing software, I set the tempo and signature (e.g. 120 BPM and 4/4).
  • Then I import your audio tracks into the software to mix them.
  • I check track placement at the first bar of the mixing session.
  • The important thing is to know how far to start and how far to stop.
  • Leave a margin of two measurements before and two measurements after to ensure that everything is exported correctly.
  • If you do this manually, I recommend that you always start your exports in the same place.
  • If your piece contains tempo changes or curves. In this case, the easiest thing to do is to contact me.
  • It is possible to export Tempo tracks to certain Stans.

6- When exporting mixing session

Concerning the audio export format :

  • I recommend the Wave format, in 44.1 Khz, 24 bits. If your stan can export in BWF (Broadcast wave file) format, that’s even better.
  • Make a stereo export (Bounce) of your own mix as you hear it. This is called a rough mix: it’s your version of the track before mixing.
  • This allows the sound engineer to get a feel for how you hear your music as an artist.
  • This serves as a reference and enables comparisons to be made with the final mix.

7- Note

It is important to include a text or PDF file in the folder containing your audio tracks.

In this document, note the following elements:

  • Tempo (BPM).
  • The key of the song.
  • Your indications about the mix or what you expect in terms of work or effects, your instructions, references to streaming platforms.

All this will help me better understand your instructions

8- Formatting the export session

All the files must be put together in a folder containing :

  • All exported audio files.
    • Set up sub-folders for each title if you are producing an EP or an album.
  • The text or PDF information file.
  • Examples of commercial titles from CDs or MP3 files

This folder must be compressed in zip format, so that the audio files can be sent over the Internet.

The Zip file is useful when you need it, as it acts as a backup.

Questions and answers

Here’s a series of questions I’m frequently asked about exporting a mixing session:

"How do I do this with the drum track?"

Should I export my drum track as separate elements or create a stereo drum file?

Whether it’s :

  • For drums, beat (in hip-hop), rhythm section (in Epic style) or percussion.
  • Guitars recorded with several microphones
  • Layering synth sounds.

If you combine your tracks into a stereo file, it’s because you’re used to making your own artistic selections, and that’s your choice.

On the other hand, you leave me less freedom to mix your track.

I can assure you that I will work from your sound material.

In today’s music, whether acoustic or electronic, I prefer to have the elements as separate as possible, specifically for the drums concerning the bass drum and the snare drum, and the same goes for the guitars and the vocals.

Example 1 : I recently received a file of Lead vocals to mix. The client sent it to me with the backing vocals in it. Result: impossible to process the lead vocal without affecting the backing vocals.

Exemple 2 : which is 100% the composer's responsibility. When you send me a recorded sample from a vinyl or live recording that you want to remix. For me it's not embarrassing, it's part of the sound material of your composition.

"How do you deal with the effects?

Should I leave or remove my effects such as equalisation, compression etc. before exporting my tracks?

It’s true that with all the possibilities we have in terms of effects and sound processing, it would be a shame to deprive ourselves of these tools during the composition stage.

Add to that the fact that we want our piece of music to sound good before the mixing stage, simply so that we can enjoy it and have people around us listen to it.

From my point of view, I consider that effects and plug-ins, whether digital or analogue, are part of the arrangement or composition stage of your music.

So the simplest thing to do is to leave them in, with one small caveat:
If, for example, you put a reverb on your voice, it’s because you like the way it sounds. You like the way the reverb makes the audio sound and perhaps you’d like to keep it in the final version. The same goes for chorus, EQ, compression…

In this case, the simplest thing is to do two exports: the first without the effect, the second with it.

Doing this beforehand gives me the flexibility to manage your reverb and its frequencies.

Don’t forget to specify this on the track and in the notes file that you’ll be attaching to your export!

Because there’s nothing worse during the music creation process than having duplicate tracks that aren’t named correctly.

My reverbs and delays are on auxiliaries. Should I export them?

Yes, making sure that the plug-in has the Wet setting at 100% and specifying this in the audio file (e.g. Lead_voice_Reverb_WET) and in the notes file.

When I was making my music production, I put in a bus master plug-in. Should I remove my bus master plug-in before exporting?

If you’ve installed a bus master plug-in or several plug-ins to create a bus master, that means you know what you’re doing.

However, you’ll need to make sure that your export doesn’t overload digitally.

Preferably, leave some margin for decibels, remembering that there will be mixing and then mastering.

Conclusion of the "How to prepare a track for mixing session? " article

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned musician working in your home studio, this article isn’t intended to be a computer-aided design course. I just wanted to give you a good basis for adopting good practice in your audio production.

Now that you know how to prepare your demo for audio mixing session, you can choose between the online mixing services below…

Preparing your session for mixing session online allows you to focus on processing the sound, both element by element and as a whole.

My job is to take your audio recording to the next level at every stage of music production, whether using mao software or hardware.

Mixing session
I've been mixing on the Logic Pro sequencer for 30 years.

Don’t forget that after the mixing session stage there’s mastering, which I invite you to discover with this article.

Have a good day, and don’t hesitate to leave a comment below.

Best regard, Francis.

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