Get the answers for some of the most common questions about the music, sound, and recording industry. If there is something not covered, feel free to reach out and ask!
What is 2-Track Mixing?
A 2-Track mixing project is a stereo mix (contains 2 speakers, a left and a right) that contains an already bounced instrumental and stemmed out vocals (stemmed out = multiple files).
The engineer will have less control over each individual element within the beat/instrumental as it is bounced into one file – however, the engineer will have complete control over the vocals.
2-track mixing project will give the engineer control over the sonic quality of only the vocals and with limited control of the music instrumental.
What is Full Stem Mixing?
A Full Stem mixing project is also a stereo mix (contains 2 speakers, a left and a right) – this is the most common mix you see/hear.
The engineer has complete control over each individual element as both the instrumental and vocal files are sent stemmed out.
A full-stem mixing project will give the engineer more control over the quality of all files being mixed.
What is Mastering?
A Mastering project is the next step after the mixing process.
It’s the process of preparing and optimizing recorded audio for distribution.
The goal of mastering is to ensure that the audio sounds consistent across different playback systems and to make it as loud and impactful as possible without introducing distortion or other audio artifacts.
For mastering, the engineer will only need the mixed-down, final version of the project in a high-resolution format such as WAV or AIFF.
Mastering project will mainly allow the engineer to have control over the volume of the track across different playback systems.
What is Dolby Atmos Mixing?
A Dolby Atmos mixing project contains a 7.1 speaker setup (7 positioned speakers and 1 sub) which allows the engineer the ability to place and move sounds in a 3D environment with more precision, allowing for even more creative possibilities.
The Dolby Atmos mix is useful when the song is already mixed in stereo, allowing the engineer to take the sound to the next level by repositioning the sounds to particular speakers, such as left, right, center, side, rear, or overhead speakers.
What are Stems?
Stems are the exported audio files that come out of the DAW (Digital Audio Workspace) used by the recording engineer, or producer.
‍Full-Mixing: all individual instruments on separate tracks, giving more control over the mix
Will be individual tracks, exported from a DAW, for each element of the song. All vocal elements (lead, backgrounds, adlibs etc) and all instruments that make up the instrumental will be solo’d and bounced out as a .wav audio file.
Each sound is on its own track. Effects (FX) can also have their own track.
If you booked a Full-Mixing Package:Â
you upload multiple instrumental files along with your vocal stems (lead vocals, your adlibs, backgrounds, and any effects)
‍2-Track: an instrumental (beat) that has all instruments on one bounced out exported track, with vocal stems.
All vocal elements of the song (lead, backgrounds, adlibs etc) will be individual tracks with all beat / instrument elements being bounced out as a .wav audio file.
All vocal elements and all instruments that make up the instrumental will be solo’d. Each sound is on it’s own track.
Effects (FX) can also have their own track.
If you booked a 2-Track Mixing Package:Â
you upload one instrumental (beat) file along with your vocal stems (lead vocals, your adlibs and backgrounds, and any effects)
What is a Reference Track?
A reference track is your rough mix – it’s usually the export of the song you got from your tracking engineer, or that you export from your DAW.
A reference track lets the engineer hear what the full song sounds like with all the parts put together.
Mix reference: This is a song that is already mastered and released. You use a mix reference as a guidance track for your engineer or producer to hear the tones, eq, dynamics, FX, vocals, etc, that you like and want your song to emulate or match elements from.
What are ALT Mixes?
“Alternative” Mixes are different versions of the main mix.
A standard minimal mix delivery would consist of the following versions: Master, Vocal Up, No Lead Vocal, and Instrumental.
Additional Alts include: Acapella, Clean
DEFINITIONS
Mix Master — A mono, stereo or multichannel surround mix created during the mixing process containing all of the final desired elements of the multitrack production.
The Master Mix is considered to be the final Mix Master approved by the artist, producer and engineer intended for commercial release.Â
Mix Version — Any mono, stereo or multichannel surround mix created during the mixing process containing all of the final desired elements of the multitrack production but with a changed perspective of any one or more of the mix’s elements. For example, a “Lead Vocal Up” of the Mix Master would be considered a Mix Version.
Mix Stem — Any mono, stereo or multichannel surround version created during the mixing process that does not contain all the elements of the Mix Master.
Mix Stems contain all relevant audio, processing, volume, panning and effects associated with that Stem’s featured elements relevant to the Mix Master. For example, a “Drum Stem” would be only the drums contained in the Master Mix with all the processing and effects.
Instrumental Track — A complete replica of the Mix Master containing no vocals.Â
No Lead Vocal (Performance Mix) — A replica of the Mix Master that includes backing vocals but contains no lead vocal and/or no artist vocals.
In the past, this has been referred to as “TV Track”. It’s important to note that the “No Lead Vocal” mix and “Instrumental” mix are considered stems.
However, since they are currently also considered part of a standard minimal mix delivery, for the purposes of this documentation, they are listed in the version category.
MIX STEM AND VERSION NAMING CONVENTIONS
With so many digital audio files involved in each audio project, it is important that Mix Version and Stem files contain all relevant information within their file names and are also easy to understand at a glance. For example:Â
AI_SongTitle_MI01_Master_96k24.wav
The above audio file name example contains the following information, each separated by an underscore:
Artist Initials (AI):
The artist initials are usually two letters taken from the first and last name of the artist.
Song Title:
Listed as the song title, or useful abbreviation thereof. Capitalize each word or word fragment. Title contains no spaces, punctuation or diacritical markings (accents), so names are universally file compatible. Song title names should be less than 15 characters if possible. Lengthy titles may be routinely abbreviated by other programs when imported.
Mixer Initials (MI) and Mix Revision Number (01):
After the song title, list the mix or stem identifier.
Mix Version or Stem Name (Master):
This describes what the audio file is. “Master” is the example shown above. This may also be “Snare_Rim” or any descriptive identifier for the audio file. Capitalize each word or word fragment so the title contains no spaces.
Sample Rate and Bit Depth:
The sample rate at which the audio file was created is listed followed by the bit depth. The single letter “k” is sufficient to abbreviate “kilohertz.” The bit depth at which the session was created follows the sample rate. For example, a song recorded at a sample rate of 96 kHz and a bit depth of 24 bits is abbreviated, “96k24.”
**File Extension:
Generally generated during file creation. If you have the option to show or hide the file extension, it should always be shown. Only one period should be used in the title and should only be placed before the file extension.
HELPFUL HINT: KEYING THE 2-BUS COMPRESSOR TO PRINT STEMS
Because the full stereo mix will drive the mix 2-bus compressor harder than the individual stem mixes, one of the biggest challenges when printing stems with a stereo 2-bus compressor is to have the mixed sum of the stems match the stereo mix.
The solution to this problem is to use a 2-bus compressor that has a sidechain input and key the sidechain input with an uncompressed printed version of the stereo mix. This will ensure the 2-bus compressor reacts consistently when printing the stem mixes. Chart B (below) shows how to configure this for both an Analog Console Mix and a DAW Mix.Â
DAW SETUP FOR KEYING THE 2-BUS COMPRESSOR TO PRINT STEMS
1. Disable all plug-ins on the stereo bus of your DAW mixer.
2. Print back to the DAW multitrack (or bounce to disk) the final mix with the master plugins disabled. This printed version will be the Key Mix.
3. Re-enable all plug-ins on the stereo bus of your DAW and set the compressor sidechain input to read the Key Mix you printed. Do not assign the Key Mix to the stereo output. It should only feed the sidechain input of the compressor. If the DAW compressor plug-in you choose to use has a mono sidechain input, then summing the left and right channels of the Key Mix into the mono sidechain input should render the desired result for printing stems.
4. Mute all the tracks in the mix except for the track or stem group you are printing along with its associated effects returns. Repeat this process for each stem mix.Â
What is a Producer?
The producer is the primary person(s) contracted by and accountable to the content owner for the task of delivering the recording as a finished product. The producer directs, and has overall creative and technical oversight during the recording project, including the individual recording sessions that are a part of the project.
Duties of the producer(s) can include:
- Oversees the recording sessions of a project to realize the goals of both the artist and content owner
- Makes creative, technical and aesthetic decisions in the creation of the musical content for a project
that realize the goals of both the artist and the content owner. - Oversees performances and chooses the final takes or versions used in the final product.
- Participates in song selection.
- Works with and oversees the selection of musicians, engineers, singers, arrangers, studios etc.
- In collaboration with the artist, assigns credits to performers and technical personnel, and is responsible
for supplying accurate crediting information to the record label, media company or
content owner as official documentation. - Oversees other staffing needs, keeps budgets and schedules, adheres to deadlines, supervises mixing,
mastering and overall quality control.
Note: The producer of a recording is responsible for working together with the artist to assign credits.
The producer is also responsible for supplying accurate credit information to the content owner for the purpose
of compiling printed or metadata album credits.
The producer should also review finished liner notes to ensure
that the information remains correct through that point.
What is a Co-Producer?
This person generally shares some or all of the above responsibilities with a producer or another co-producer,
and is assigned a co-producer credit by the artist and/or content owner.
A co-producer makes significant and
consequential contributions to the outcome of the production to realize the goals of both the artist and content
owner.
What is A Vocal Producer?
This person has overall creative and technical control of the vocal recording on a project and the individual
recording sessions that are a part of that project.
He or she is present in the recording studio or at the location
recording and works directly with the vocalist(s) and engineer.
The vocal producer makes creative and
aesthetic decisions that realize the goals of both the artist and the label in the creation of the vocals.
What is an Immersive Audio Producer?
Same as producer, but for an immersive audio recording.
What is an Executive Producer?
Often a label representative or a person who secures funding for a project. May be responsible for the overall
concept.
He or she may monitor the project from time to time to ensure that the producer and artist are on track.
What is an Assistant Producer, Associate Producer, Additional Production?
This person is delegated some area of responsibility on a project, but reports to the producer or coproducer(s).
What is an Engineer, Recording Engineer, Tracking Engineer?
The engineer is the primary person or persons actively responsible for the creative process of recording
and/or mixing a project as well as technical issues and decisions.
This person operates (or oversees
the operation of) the equipment during the recording process, making creative, technical and aesthetic choices in collaboration with the artist and producer in order to realize the sounds and concepts envisioned for the project.
What is a Mixer or Mix Engineer?
This person works directly with the artist, producer and/or content owner, making creative decisions to achieve the creative goals of the mix, taking previously recorded tracks and creating a mix-down that can then be mastered and distributed.
What is a Mastering Engineer?
This person is an engineer who is the last creative bridge between the mix process and the distribution process.
He or she generally works with a final mix of a project and makes final adjustments to the sound before distribution while maintaining the vision of the artist, producer and label.
What is an Immersive Audio Engineer?
Same as Engineer, but for a recording created in an immersive audio format; or, in the case of a new immersive audio mix of previously recorded material, the engineer who creates the new immersive audio mix(es).
What is an Pro Tools Engineer (or Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) Engineer) / Pro Tools Operator?
This person is responsible for operation of a Pro Tools or other Digital Audio Workstation during recording and mix sessions, including the archiving and maintenance of the recorded material (data files).
This person is not generally called upon to make major aesthetic judgments.
What is an Assistant Engineer, Second Engineer, and Assistant Mix Engineer?
This person is responsible for assisting the engineer(s). They often keep all logs of sessions and materials and operate equipment.
They should also have enough engineering skills that they can step
in for an engineer in case of an absence.