Preparing Your Song(s) for Professional Mixing or Mastering

[Mark Richards]

Generally recognized considerations when sending tracks or a final stereo mix for processing.
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CONSIDERATIONS COMMON TO BOTH MIXING AND MASTERING
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Discuss with your audio engineer:

• The sample rate, bit rate, dBFS level, and file format that the audio engineer requires to work with your song.
• Any other information the audio engineer requires to work with your song (or album) for final stereo mixdown or for mastering.
• Your song's music genre, the type of “sound” that you’re hoping to achieve, etc.
• Your target audience (audiophiles, casual listeners, etc.) and distribution method (CD; MP3; download/streaming service; indy label; etc.).

When you send your tracks or final stereo mix, also provide the audio engineer with a document file containing:

• Your contact info
• Song title and basic production information, e.g., track sheets, notes, etc.
• Tempo, key, timecode settings, etc.
• The song lyrics
• If making an album, the album's song order, desired cross-fades, transition time between songs, etc.
• Anything else you think it's important for the audio engineer to know, e.g., important metadata (artist, producer, etc.)

FOR TRACKS GOING TO AN AUDIO ENGINEER FOR MIXING​

• Record your tracks dry. Only exception: FX gear essential to the initial sound of your instrument(s)
• Fix your song's technical problems and issues prior to sending it out for mixdown.
• Use EQ, compression, and limiting very sparingly, if at all. Leave those decisions to the audio engineer doing your mix
• Consolidate your tracks by exporting them to Audio Depot (see last section of this post)
• Number and name your exported tracks, e.g., 01-Bass; 02-Lead Vox, etc.

FOR A FINAL STEREO MIX GOING TO AN AUDIO ENGINEER FOR MASTERING​

• Fix your mix's technical problems and issues prior to sending it out for mastering.
• Use track FX, EQ, compression, and limiting in moderation during the mixdown process
• Don't apply EQ, compression, limiting, normalization or dithering to the final 2-track stereo mix going to the mastering engineer (e.g., on a DP-24/32/SD, don’t use the Mastering tools)
• Ask the mastering engineer if you should provide individual tracks - e.g. the vocals; a specific instrument - for use by the audio engineer if needed during mastering

HOW TO EXPORT TRACKS ON A DP-24/32/SD​

ON YOUR DP-24/32/SD:

• Place your DP-24/32/SD in Multitrack Mode
• Press MENU, highlight AUDIO DEPOT
• Press the F4 button to open the DP-24/32/SD Audio Depot folder
• Press the F2 button to enter Export mode
• Use the F2 button and the Cursor Down Button to select tracks for export
• Press the F4 button, then the F2(YES) button to initiate the file export process
• When the export is completed, press the F1 button to return to the Audio Depot folder
• Confirm the Audio Depot Folder contains the exported files
• Press the Home button to return to multiteack mode
• Turn off your DP-24/32/SD

CONNECT YOUR DP-24/32/SD AND YOUR COMPUTER:

• With your DP-24/32/SD OFF, connect your DP24/32/SD to your computer using the supplied USB cable.
• Turn on your DP-24/32/SD
• Press Menu/USB/F4/F2(Yes) to connect the DP-24/32/SD and the computer

ON YOUR COMPUTER:

• OPEN the root folder of the removable DP-24/32/SD drive (if not already open)
• OPEN the Audio Depot Folder
• CREATE a folder on your computer using your ‘songname’ as the title
• OPEN the ‘songname’ folder on your computer
• COPY(or MOVE) the exported files from the DP-24/32/SD Audio Depot Folder to the ‘songname’ folder on your computer
• Follow your computer’s required procedure to disconnect it from your DP-24/32/SD

ON YOUR DP-24/32/SD:

• After disconnecting from the computer, Press the F2(YES) button to close the link between your DP-24/32/SD and your computer
• Turn off your DP-24/32/SD
• Disconnect the USB cable from your computer
• Disconnect the USB cable from your DP24/32/SD

ON YOUR COMPUTER:

• RENAME the individual exported audio files so your audio engineer can easily identify the content (e.g., 01-Bass; 02-Lead Vox; etc.)
• Provide the renamed audio files (and your documentation file) to your audio engineer in the manner required (e.g., via upload to a cloud account)

COPY A STEREO MASTER FILE FROM A DP-24/32/SD TO A COMPUTER

CONNECT YOUR DP-24/32/SD AND YOUR COMPUTER:

• With your DP-24/32/SD OFF connect your DP24/32/SD to your computer using the supplied USB cable
• Turn on your DP-24/32/SD
• Press Menu/USB/F4/F2(Yes) to connect the DP-24/32/SD and the computer.

ON YOUR COMPUTER:

• OPEN the root folder of the removable DP-24/32/SD drive (if not already open)
• OPEN the {SONGNAME} Folder on the DP-24/32/SD drive
• CREATE a folder on your computer using your {SONGNAME} as the title
• OPEN the {SONGNAME} folder on your computer
• COPY the {SONGNAME}.wav file from the DP-24/32/SD {SONGNAME} folder to the {SONGNAME} folder on your computer.
• Follow your computer’s required procedure to disconnect it from your DP-24/32/SD

ON YOUR DP-24/32/SD:

• After disconnecting from the computer, Press the F2(YES) button to close the link between your DP-24/32/SD and your computer
• Turn off your DP-24/32/SD
• Disconnect the USB cable from your computer
• Disconnect the USB cable from your DP24/32/SD.