MIXING & PRE-MASTERING
Every element in service of the song.
Mixing at SoundSmith is about clarity, balance, and emotional impact. The goal is not a technically correct mix — it is a mix that serves the music and translates everywhere it is heard.
THE APPROACH
Mixing as a creative act.
A mix is not a technical exercise. It is a series of decisions about what matters — what the listener should hear, what should stay out of the way, and where the emotional center of the record lives.
The mixing process at SoundSmith begins with listening. Before any processing is applied, the tracks are heard in context — as a record, not as a collection of individual elements. The decisions that follow come from that listening.
The tools are analog and digital. The approach is whatever serves the music. There is no house sound, no template, no default chain. Every mix starts from the material.
THE PROCESS
How a mix comes together.
Mixes at SoundSmith are built from the ground up — from the rhythm section outward, from the emotional center outward. The process is iterative: rough balance, then detail, then the decisions that make a mix a record.
Revision is part of the process. The first mix is a conversation. The goal is a mix that the artist recognizes as their record — not a mix that imposes a sound on the material.
Stems and alternate mixes are available on request. Instrumental versions, a cappella versions, TV mixes, and other deliverables can be prepared as part of the mixing engagement.
PRE-MASTERING
Preparing the mix for the mastering engineer.
Pre-mastering is the final stage of the mixing process — the preparation of the mix for delivery to a mastering engineer. It is not mastering. It is the work that ensures the mastering engineer receives a mix that is ready to be mastered.
Pre-mastering at SoundSmith includes headroom management, low-end translation checks across multiple monitoring systems, and a final review of the mix in the context of the full project. The goal is a mix that arrives at the mastering session in the best possible condition.
SoundSmith does not offer mastering. The pre-mastering service is designed to work with any mastering engineer the artist chooses. Recommendations are available on request.
REMOTE PROJECTS
Mixing projects recorded elsewhere.
SoundSmith accepts mixing projects recorded at other studios, at home, or in the field. The mixing process is the same regardless of where the tracks were recorded.
Remote projects are handled through file transfer. Stems, session files, and reference mixes are accepted in all standard formats. A brief conversation about the project — the music, the goals, the references — is part of every remote engagement.
Revisions are handled remotely. Mix notes are reviewed, changes are made, and revised mixes are delivered. The process continues until the mix is right.
DELIVERABLES
What you receive.
Stereo mix
Full-resolution WAV at the session sample rate and bit depth, with appropriate headroom for mastering.
Stems
Grouped stem exports on request — drums, bass, instruments, vocals, effects — at full resolution.
Alternate mixes
Instrumental, a cappella, TV mix, and other alternates prepared as needed.
Revision rounds
A defined number of revision rounds is included in every mixing engagement. Additional revisions are available.
Reference checks
The mix is checked on multiple monitoring systems — near-fields, headphones, and consumer playback — before delivery.
Pre-mastering review
A final pre-mastering review is included with every mix — headroom, low-end translation, and overall balance.
Ready to talk about your mix?
Send a note about your project — the music, the timeline, and what you are trying to achieve. In-studio and remote projects are both welcome.