What we mean by a stem
A stem is one logical bounce: kick, snare top, bass DI, rhythm guitar L, lead vocal comp, and so on. We do not want a full session with a hundred unmuted tracks unless that is agreed for in-studio mixing (€79 per hour incl. VAT). Remote mixes are usually €195 per track incl. VAT — a clear stem list avoids surprises.
Name files as you hear them: 01_Kick.wav, not Audio 47.wav. Put BPM and key in a text file or in your contact email.
Technical baseline
Deliver uncompressed PCM: WAV or AIFF, preferably 24-bit. We accept 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz — pick one rate for the whole project. Do not send MP3 or AAC as source; those codecs are for distribution, not mixing.
All stems must share the same start point (bar 1, sample 0). Export from the same timeline with tails on reverbs and delays so we can fade cleanly. Check mono compatibility on bass and kick if you used wide stereo processing.
Headroom and processing
Peaks around −6 dBFS to −3 dBFS give room for EQ and dynamics. Leave heavy limiting, maximizers or mix-bus glue off the export; otherwise we fight your choices instead of the song. Exception: you deliberately want a rough-mix tone — say so.
Send effects as separate assets when possible: dry vocal plus reverb return, not only a wet bounce unless the sound is final. For loudness later, read LUFS and mastering budget before you flatten everything.
Folders, naming and notes
Per song:
Artist_Title_MixDate/Drums/Artist_Title_MixDate/Bass/Artist_Title_MixDate/Vocals/Artist_Title_MixDate/Instruments/Artist_Title_MixDate/References/(optional, up to two short refs)
Add README.txt with BPM, key, stem list and known issues (clicks, hum). Multiple songs: one zip per track, not one giant archive without folders.
Sessions recorded with us
If you tracked at our Amsterdam rooms, we often still have multitracks for 24 months. Ask via contact whether we can mix from the session project — it skips export mistakes. Live floor takes (46 m²) and booth vocals are grouped as agreed at the end of the day.
Band dates link to band load-in and setup: who played which part helps us label stems.
References and revisions
Send up to two reference tracks (streaming links or short WAV clips) with a note on what to borrow: bass level, vocal forwardness, drum punch. We do not clone a major-label master, but it sets direction.
2 revision rounds are included within agreed scope; big arrangement changes or new recordings sit outside the mix fee. Quotes answered within 2 business days.
Delivery and privacy
Upload via the link we send after intake, or bring an SSD to Helmersstraat 73. Say if stems contain personal data or unreleased lyrics — we handle them under our privacy policy and data processing agreement when you work for a label.
Final mix is 24-bit WAV plus an MP3 preview. B2B invoices: 14-day terms where applicable; see terms and conditions.
Quick check before send
| Check | Done |
|---|---|
| One sample rate, 24-bit WAV/AIFF | |
| No clipped peaks | |
| Aligned starts, effect tails | |
| Readable file names | |
| BPM/key/readme included |
Ready to send? Use contact with track count and deadline. Then mastering with Noor van Dijk can follow with headroom as in our mastering guide.
