Usually I communicate with most of my clients through email and sometimes a few calls when needed. Below is a basic how-to, to get us rolling.
1. Email an mp3 rough mix of your first song that needs a mix.
Sending a rough mix is the first best thing you can do for your mix engineer. What i’ll get out of it is what you’re looking to do no matter the quality of your rough mix. This really helps me interpret your vision and goal for the song.
2. I quote you a mix and mastering rate.
After I hear your song, know the amount of tracks and understand the scope of work, I’ll know enough to quote you a rate that fits the song.
3. You link me to a few similar popular songs for an additional reference point.
This helps me know a bit more about how you expect to sound. All artists have records they aspire and compare to. Just make sure the example songs you link me to are similar in tempo and track density like the instrumentation and vocal production. It may take a song or two to help you communicate those things to me but whatever works for you is great. Point being, the best way to communicate about music is through music.
4. If needed and if possible, touch up a few tracks before mixing.
Sometimes i’ll suggest a fix or an additional overdub or two that would greatly improve your final master if you have the means to do so in your home studio. If not, no worries. I’ll let you know.
5. Sign up for a free DropBox, upload your tracks, invite me to download.
Sometimes my clients have huge session file and slow internet upload speeds so they’ll simply mail a USB flash-drive with the session audio files. After that initial delivery, we’ll then do the rest of our file exchanges through DropBox and my Apple/Google servers.
6. I mix and master your song.
Average length is a little more than 10 hours of mix time before the first presentation of the mix to you.
7. You receive a full quality CD resolution mastered audio file for mix 1 review.
This is a real-world master first version. You can certainly live with the mix for as much time you need to review it plus you’ll likely have some adjustments and suggestions so just let me know.
8. If you do have adjustments, I make the mix adjustments, send it to you for review again.
9. Usually it takes 2 to 3 mix versions. Rarely a 4th.
It’s usually little tweeks for last version. All mixed versions you receive will be “masters in consideration”
10. Deliver Final Master. Your song is now ready for broadcast and world domination!
