So you’ve finished recording your song and you’re ready to hand it off to a mix engineer. Nice one! But before you bounce those stems and hit send, there are a few things you can do to make sure your session is ready to go — and that your mix engineer can focus on what matters: making your song sound incredible.
I’ve received hundreds of sessions over the years, and trust me, a well-prepared session makes a huge difference. It means fewer delays, fewer back-and-forth emails, and ultimately a better mix for you.
Here’s my complete checklist for preparing your tracks for mixing.
1. Consolidate and Export Your Stems from the Start of the Song
This is the most important step. Each track (vocals, guitar, drums, bass, synths, etc.) should be exported as a separate audio file, all starting from the exact same point — bar 1, beat 1.
This way, when your mix engineer imports everything into their session, all the tracks line up perfectly without any guesswork.
How to do it:
- Select the entire length of your song (from bar 1 to the very end)
- Solo each track and bounce/export it individually
- Make sure every file starts from the same point and is the same length
- Export as WAV files at 24-bit (or whatever bit depth you recorded at — don’t convert to 16-bit)
- Keep the original sample rate (44.1kHz, 48kHz, etc.) — don’t resample
2. Label Your Files Clearly
Imagine receiving a folder with files named Audio_01.wav, Audio_02.wav, Track_14_final_v2_FINAL.wav. Not ideal.
Rename your files so they describe what they are:
Lead_Vocal.wavBacking_Vocal_High.wavElectric_Guitar_Rhythm.wavKick_Drum.wavBass_DI.wav
Your mix engineer will thank you. Clear labelling means they can get straight into mixing instead of spending the first hour figuring out what’s what.
3. Remove Unused Tracks and Muted Clips
If you’ve got 15 takes of a guitar solo and only one made the cut, just send the one that made the cut. Remove or delete any muted tracks, unused takes, or experimental ideas that didn’t work out.
Less clutter = a cleaner session = a better mix.
4. Remove All Effects and Processing (Unless They’re Creative)
This one trips people up. Generally, you should remove any EQ, compression, reverb, and delay from your tracks before exporting. Your mix engineer will apply their own processing to get the best result.
The exception: if an effect is part of the creative sound (like a specific guitar pedal tone, a vocal delay that’s integral to the vibe, or a synth with built-in effects), keep it. Better yet, send two versions — one dry and one with the effect — so your engineer has options.
5. Tune and Edit Vocals Before Sending
If you’ve done any pitch correction or timing edits on your vocals, make sure those are committed (bounced in place) before exporting. If you haven’t done any tuning and you’d like your mix engineer to handle it, just let them know — most of us offer this as part of the process.
The key thing is communication: tell your engineer what’s been done and what you’d like them to do.
6. Include a Reference Track
This is something a lot of artists forget, but it’s genuinely one of the most helpful things you can provide. A reference track is a professionally released song that captures the vibe, tone, or energy you’re going for with your mix.
It doesn’t have to be an exact match — it’s more about giving your mix engineer a north star. Something like: “I love the way the drums sit in this track” or “I want my vocals to feel this upfront.”
7. Write a Brief with Your Notes
A short document or email covering:
- The vibe you’re going for
- Any specific requests (e.g., “I want the guitars louder than the keys”)
- The tempo (BPM) of the song
- The key of the song
- Whether you need the mix optimised for streaming, vinyl, or a specific platform
- Reference tracks (see above)
The more context your engineer has, the closer the first mix will be to what you’re imagining.
8. Organise Everything in One Folder
Put all your stems in a single folder, named clearly (e.g., SongName_Stems_YourName). Include your reference track(s) and your brief/notes. Zip it up and share it via Google Drive, Dropbox, or WeTransfer.
Quick Checklist
Before you send your files, run through this:
- ☐ All stems start from bar 1 and are the same length
- ☐ Exported as WAV, 24-bit, original sample rate
- ☐ Files are clearly labelled
- ☐ Unused tracks and muted clips removed
- ☐ Effects removed (unless creative/intentional)
- ☐ Vocal tuning/edits committed or noted
- ☐ Reference track included
- ☐ Brief with notes, BPM, key, and vibe
- ☐ Everything in one clearly-named folder
Ready to Get Your Song Mixed?
If you’ve ticked all the boxes above, you’re in great shape. A well-prepared session means your mix engineer can focus entirely on making your song sound its best — and that’s what we’re all here for.
If you’re looking for a mix engineer who genuinely cares about your music, I’d love to hear what you’re working on. I specialise in indie, rock, folk, and acoustic music, and I work with artists worldwide.