In This Article: How to Prepare Your Track for Mixing and Mastering

Open your DAW once, follow this checklist, and never get the “please re-export” email again. This guide walks you through headroom, naming, mono checks, export settings, and upload.

Table of Contents

• 1. The 60-Second Checklist (Screenshot This)
• 2. Step 1 – Mix-Down Levels: Leave Headroom, No Master Bus FX
• 3. Step 2 – Stem Naming: The “Folder_First” Rule
• 4. Step 3 – High-Pass & Phase Check (Mono-Safe Test)
• 5. Step 4 – Export Settings: Sample Rate, Bit Depth, Dither
• 6. Step 5 – Reference Track & Mix Notes (Text File Template)
• 7. Step 6 – Zip & Upload (One-Click Walk-Through)
• 8. Common Export Mistakes (and the 30-Second Fix)
• 9. Ready? Upload and Hear the Pro Difference
• 10. Quick Recap

1. The 60-Second Checklist (Screenshot This)

• Peak ≤ -12 dBFS on every stem
• No plug-ins on the master bus
• 48 kHz / 24-bit WAV
• Name = Folder_First_Instrument.wav
• High-pass ≥ 40 Hz on non-bass stems
• Mono-safe check passed
• One reference track included
• Text file with BPM & mix notes

2. Step 1 – Mix-Down Levels: Leave Headroom, No Master Bus FX

• Set master fader to 0 dB (unity gain)
• Aim for peaks ≤ -12 dBFS (gives headroom for analog chain)
• Remove limiter, maximizer, glue comp → master bus = empty
• Keep fades / automation on individual tracks—do not bounce stems through the master bus

3. Step 2 – Stem Naming: The “Folder_First” Rule

Example project “Lexi_Indie” folder structure:

Lexi_Indie/
├── 01_Lead_Vox.wav
├── 02_Backing_Vox.wav
├── 03_Guitar_DI.wav
├── 04_Guitar_AMP.wav
├── 05_Bass_DI.wav
├── 06_Kick.wav
├── 07_Snare.wav
├── 08_Hi_Hat.wav
├── 09_Synth_Pad.wav
├── 10_Reference_Track.wav
├── 11_Mix_Notes.txt

Rule: Number + Underscore + Instrument → engineer sorts alphabetically.

4. Step 3 – High-Pass & Phase Check (Mono-Safe Test)

• High-pass ≥ 40 Hz on everything except kick and bass
• Solo each stem → hit mono button → listen for level drop or cancel
• If sound disappears → check mic phase or flip polarity

5. Step 4 – Export Settings: Sample Rate, Bit Depth, Dither

• Sample rate: 48 kHz (streaming default)
• Bit depth: 24-bit (headroom for analog chain)
• Dither: OFF (24-bit → 24-bit)
• Start / End: Leave 1 bar head + tail (no fade-out on stems)
• File type: WAV, not MP3, not FLAC

6. Step 5 – Reference Track & Mix Notes (Text File Template)

Create a plain-text file named “Mix_Notes.txt” and paste:

BPM: 92
Key: A major
Reference: Olivia Rodrigo - “vampire” (loudness, vocal up-front)
Likes: Warm low-end, bright top, snare crack
Dislikes: Harsh highs, boomy bass
Special: Keep breaths, no tuning on doubles

Drop the reference WAV in the same folder (label it 10_Reference_Track.wav).

7. Step 6 – Zip & Upload (One-Click Walk-Through)

1. Select all WAVs + txt + ref → right-click → Send to Compressed Folder (Win) or Compress (Mac)
2. Name the zip: Artist_Title_Stems.zip
3. Upload here → choose “Mixing + Mastering”
4. Receive 30-second preview in 24 h → approve or request tweaks

8. Common Export Mistakes (and the 30-Second Fix)

9. Ready? Upload and Hear the Pro Difference

1. Follow the checklist above (takes 10 min).
2. Upload zip here → “Mixing + Mastering”.
3. Approve 30-second human mix within 24 h.
4. Download final pack → radio-ready WAV + Apple Digital Masters + instrumentals.

Upload and Hear the Pro Difference

Quick Recap

• Peak ≤ -12 dBFS, no master FX, 48 kHz / 24-bit WAV
• Name = Number_Underscore_Instrument.wav
• High-pass ≥ 40 Hz, mono-safe check, include reference + notes
• Zip everything, upload once, never re-export again.

If the checklist feels like over-kill, upload anyway—our engineers will catch anything you miss and send you a 30-second preview before you pay a cent.

Preparation Pays Twice

Clean preparation — sensible audio levels, consistent exporting stems practices, clear notes — speeds up any professional audio mixing mastering service and usually improves the result, because the engineer's first hour goes to your sound instead of your file admin.