Mixing takes your multi track recording and uses a combination of software and/or hardware processors, efx, automation and crucially skill, taste & experience to craft a cohesive piece of music, paying close attention to the artist’s creative intentions and ensuring the correct vibe is achieved. Mastering then is a process that ensures the maximum translation to all playback mediums (making sure the song holds up on laptop, car stereo right through to the most expensively assembled ‘audiophile’ set up) and ensures the correct file formats are delivered for the artist’s intended use (eg, for CD pressing or streaming). In the case of an EP or album, special attention is also paid to how the release ‘flows’ and ensures a measure of consistency across the tracks that makes them feel like 1 piece of work.

A multi track is every individual element from a recording session. For example, it will have all the individual drum tracks, guitar tracks and vocal tracks. You can think of stems as ‘groups’. So you may have all the drum tracks ‘bounced down’ as a single stereo file; that would be a ‘drum stem’. These can be useful for things like remixes or if the song is being used in placements in advertising for example.

After a conversation to understand your intention with the track in question, all that is required is the multi tracks from your recording session. It is important to note that you should export the tracks from your DAW at the sample rate you recorded at. While a higher sample rate is good, there is no point exporting the tracks at 48kHz if you recorded at 44.1kHz. Just send the 44.1kHz file if that’s what your worked at. You should export at at least a bit depth of 24 bit, though if your DAW allows you to export them at 32 bit floating point, that would be preferrable.

Yes revisions are included in the price for the mix. We want you to be happy with the final product you receive. We do however have a 3 revision limit for mixing and mastering. Normally only 1 or 2 is required for small tweaks. Occasionally, a third may be required for one very, very minor change. After the third we do unfortunately have to charge those at our hourly rate. As we use analogue equipment during mixing, recalls must be performed to match the settings that were used for your track and this simply takes time to do. As good as software is, we firmly believe that analogue gear still rightly has a place in achieving the best possible sound for our artists.

All that is required for mastering is the stereo mix. Just like with mixing, bounce your mix at the native sample rate of your session with a bit depth of 24 bits or 32 bit floating point. You should also let us know how you plan to release your music so we can provide you with the appropriate files for distribution.

You will be provided with digital files. A high quality .wav intended for use in streaming and an mp3 for quick sharing with publications etc. We can also provide you with a version intended for burning onto a CD should you require one. Although less and less common these days, if you intend to have CD’s printed we will provide you with the necessary .ddp image file for CD reproduction.

We do not keep your files for any specific amount of time. While we do try to buy new hard drives as old ones fill up instead of wiping them clean, we are unfortunately at the mercy of them remaining functional. If you wish to have a copy of your session so you can safeguard it for the future, we are happy to fulfil that request.

Upon request you can indeed have the mixing session provided to you. Please note however, even if you have the same DAW as we do, it is extremely unlikely you will be able to play the session back as it was in our studio. This is for a multitude of reasons but it is unlikely you will have all the same hardware and third party software we use. Having your session though will ensure at the very least that you have the RAW tracks and some kind of idea about what was used should you wish to have it remixed at a later date.

You are also able to request each of these separately or both. Each will be charged at our hourly rate. Please be aware however that because of the way each of these ‘sum’, simply having these files and importing them into another session will unfortunately not allow the mix to be played back as it was given to you. It’s just the nature of how a lot of modern mixing is. If you do want stems and/or multi tracks that play back almost 100% the same as the mix, please request this before mixing begins and we will strive to do our best accommodate you.

Unfortunately there aren’t many opportunities or vacancies at the studio. If we can accommodate someone, we will try to do so but this is very situation dependant and we can’t guarantee anything.

We can provide you our price list upon request. While we do have set prices for specific services we hate the thought of not being able to work together. We will always strive to work with you to be able to get some version of your musical vision recorded and released to the world. The most cost effective way of producing music for release is a ‘project’. We can arrive at a ‘project price’ together we are both happy with, with firm boundaries on what is included in that project and work towards completing it together with those guidelines in place. Each project is unique and thus, so are our prices for them. For single day bookings we take payment up front but as the project size increases we can break up the payments, eg. 50% up front and 50% when the files are ready to be delivered to you. For really big projects we can break the fee up into smaller payments to make it manageable for you.

Absolutely. We have worked with many artists like this, often just receiving a demo recording of an acoustic guitar and vocal performance and being provided with the lyrics and arrangement. From this, with your guidance, we can record everything remotely for you. Acousitc guitar, piano, bass, electric guitar, drums, percussion etc. We have access to a network of some of the finest musicians in Northern Ireland so if you want a string section or if you’ve always wanted trumpet in your song, we can hire the musicians for you to make this a reality.