Preparing the tracks for mixing

Recording, Mixing and Producing The Producer's Chair
#1

Hello people!

I wrote a short article on my blog on how to prepare the tracks that are to be sent to a mixing engineer. I was wondering if you could give me some feedback. Am I missing something? Am I wrong?

Thanks in advanced!

/Lukas

#2

Hey Lukas, can you put the link in for your blog?

#3

Oh, sorry. I forgot :slight_smile:

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#4

Looks good. You could also add:

  • render any software instruments/sounds down to audio
  • some information about reference songs and rough mixes
  • give the tempo of the song (a midi tempo track if the song changes tempos)
  • give the key of the song
  • Info about the sample rate and bit depth the song was recorded at
  • a copy of the lyrics is often handy
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#5

Nice, thanks!

I’ll add that to the post.

Thank you again,

Lukas

#6

You could add:

I would automate clip levels to even each one out and avoid spikes.

Output each track out to a sensible level. If some tracks are recorded at 0db and others at -20db the mix is more difficult.

#7

Good point. I’ll put this as a nice to have. There are people that only know how to record. What is a must is that there shall be no clipping.

Thanks!

/Lukas

#8

Just a question, Should you state a reletive level for the tracks being sent to you (or any ME)? Kind of the vein of what AJ was saying, but there are some that mix into a limiter and add loudness in the master fader. This may be covered in your section of “turning all effects off”.

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#9

Looks like it’s coming along nicely! When it is ready to go, I could also post this on our articles page if you like. Let me know!

#10

Of course! Read it and if you think that it is ok, we can use it. Many would benefit from it.

I wrote also one for preparing for mastering and preparing for recording session. Maybe we can post those also. I’ll create a topic for each of them.

/Lukas

#11

In the “Edit your tracks” paragraph, you misspelled bass guitar.

#12

Fixed. Thanks!

1 Like