A little preparation helps your mastering engineer focus on the music instead of fixing avoidable export problems. Before sending a mix, check that the arrangement and mix are final, export a clean full-resolution file, and leave room for processing. Include clear notes about your goals and any details the engineer should know. These steps make the handoff smoother and help preserve the sound and intent of your production.
Finalize and Check Your Mix
Listen to the full song from start to finish before exporting. Check transitions, fades, edits, vocal levels, and any clicks or unwanted noise. Confirm that the correct version of every track is active, and remove unused takes or temporary effects that could accidentally affect the stereo mix.
If you hear a problem that calls for a change to an individual instrument or vocal, fix it in the mix rather than expecting mastering to rebalance the whole production. Save a separate final session version so you can make revisions later without losing the approved mix.
Leave Enough Headroom
Avoid pushing the mix bus into clipping. Turn off any limiter or loudness maximizer on the stereo output unless its sound is an intentional part of the mix. If you like the effect, export one version with it and another without it, and label both clearly.
There is no single peak level that every mix must hit. The important point is to provide a clean file with no digital clipping and enough room for mastering adjustments. Don’t turn down the master fader to hide clipping that already occurs on the mix bus; correct the gain or processing where the clipping happens.
Choose the Right Export
Export an uncompressed PCM WAV or AIFF file at the session’s native sample rate and bit depth when possible. Use the requested delivery settings if your mastering engineer has provided them. Avoid MP3 or other lossy formats for the main mix because they discard audio information.
Export the complete song, including the intended beginning, ending, and natural reverb or delay tails. Keep the file in stereo unless you have agreed on another format. Use a clear filename that identifies the song, mix version, and date or revision number so nobody has to guess which file is current.
Send Useful Mix Notes
Keep your notes brief and specific. Describe the intended mood, reference tracks, and what you want listeners to notice. If a reference is useful, name the track and explain what you mean—for example, its vocal presence or low-end balance—rather than asking for your mix to sound exactly the same.
Flag details that could affect decisions, such as a deliberately quiet intro, a sudden dynamic change, or a sound that may seem unusual but is intentional. Include any delivery requirements and tell the engineer which version is approved. River City Mastering can confirm file delivery details before you send your final export.
A reliable mastering handoff starts with a final, unclipped mix, a full-resolution export, and concise notes about your goals. Check the file before sending and label it clearly. If you have questions about preparing or delivering your mix, contact River City Mastering to discuss the next steps.