FAQ (Preparing your files)

INSTRUCTIONS

Once you have made payment please upload your session files to http://www.streaky.com/ (only 2gb may be uploaded at a time, so please upload each songs' audio folder separately. If a songs project is larger than 2gb, then please split the folder, labeling each part ie 'track 1 part 1', then 'track 2 part 2' etc.)

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU SEND YOUR AUDIO FOLDERS AS .ZIP OR .RAR FILES

Preparing your files for MIXING:
Please make sure you send us the MONO STEMS of your sessions - a Cubase or Logic session file is of no use to us, we need JUST the audio from your session (please ensure they all have the same start point so that they line up when imported into our DAW)

Audio must be in WAV or AIFF format, and at least 16bit/44.1khz, although 24bit/48khz is preferable.

If your DAW supports OMF export of your session then we are happy for you to send us an OMF file (although please make sure you compress to a .ZIP or .RAR before sending.)

Preparing your files for MASTERING:

Once you have made payment please upload your stereo WAV or AIFF mixes to http://www.sendspace.com or http://www.streaky.com/

To help us, it is preferable to compress your WAV or AIFF file to a .ZIP or .RAR folder. This will save on upload and download times (for both you and us!)

Audio must be in stereo WAV or AIFF format, and at least 16bit/44.1khz, although 24bit/48khz is preferable. 88.2khz and 96khz are accepted.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU REMOVE ANY LIMITING OFF YOUR MASTER BUS BEFORE SENDING US YOUR MIX.

UNLESS YOU WANT TO INCUR EXTRA CHARGES, DO NOT DO THE FOLLOWING:

1) Leave your tracks unnamed. Please clearly label your tracks, or an extra £5 fee will be incurred.

2) Give us stereo stems. All stems should be mono, as they are in your DAW. If you have any stereo tracks (ie a stereo output from a keyboard you recorded) then that's fine, but please don't send us bounced stereo stems of files that were recorded in mono (ie vocals.) Failure to do so will result in a £5 charge. In other words, unless there is an effect that is integral to the arrangment of your song, please remove it.

3) Leave FX eg reverb, delay etc on your tracks. If you have any specific needs FX wise (eg delay on vocals) let us know and we'll add that for you. We cannot offer you the best results if you have masses of reverb printed to your tracks, we need to be able to control those levels. The only exception is if you have a very specific FX (eg electric guitar like 'The Edge' from U2) that can't be replicated by us - otherwise you will be charged £5 extra. The same goes for any EQ, compression or other processing - please remove them.

4) Send us 'hot' tracks. You should NOT be recording or bouncing your tracks as loud as possible. For mixing to work optimally we need HEADROOM - please ensure your tracks are hitting somewhere around -15 to -10 decibels (dBFS) on your metering in your DAW, before sending them to us, otherwise you will be charged £5 extra.

Any questions or trouble with uploading? Please email [email protected]

Extra charges are at our discretion and we will contact you if there are problems with your files. If we feel you have not complied with the above, then we reserve the right to invoice you for the amounts stated to cover the extra time we will have to spend on your project.

PLEASE NOTE: We do allow you to post a data DVD of your audio files to us - if that is your preference then please email us for our postage address. Be sure to double check your DVD before posting, and please bear in mind your order may take up to an extra 5 working days!