Mixing

To get a Professional Sound, Mixing your song is the next step after you've finished recording and arranging your song.  The Mixing Process treats each individual sound in your song to make each instrument and vocal track sound great.  Then we treat the overall sound of your song, so all the instruments and vocals sound great together.

Mastering

After the Mix of your Song is finished, the Mastering Process is the final step in having a Professional Sound.  Mastering makes sure the overall sound of your song matches up to the Professional Sound in the world of music today.  This means your song will be as loud as other songs, all the frequencies of your song are balanced and present, all the instruments and vocals are more easily heard, and the overall sound of your song is warmer and even more pleasing to the ear.

Stems (used for mastering)

If you have a Mix of your song already and want it Mastered, you may want to send the Mastering Engineer your Mix in Stems.  Stems are your Mix separated into Sections.  For example, you can group all your drum sounds and send them as a separate Stereo file from the other instruments in your song, as a Drum Stem.  You can send as many Stems of your song as you'd like.  For example, you can send your Vocals as their own Stem, Bass, Chorus, backups, Lead Instrument, etc.

Why do this?

Sending your Mix in Stems gives the Mastering Engineer more control in level changes of instruments and vocals which may happen in the Mastering Process.  It also gives the option of adding treatment to individual Stems.  For example, making your Drums punch more is easier when you supply a Stem of your Drums, and then what we do to give your Drums more punch doesn't effect the other instruments of your song.  We can instead treat each individual Stem as needed.  In a way, it's a little bit more on the Mix if needed, and in many ways, it can save a bad Mix.  The more Stems supplied, the more control over your final sound we have.  You can send your Mix in as many Stems as you'd like.  Any questions, just ask.