Sending messy, unlabeled stems to your mixing engineer is the fastest way to waste money and add extra revision rounds. A properly prepared session communicates professionalism, saves the engineer time, and gets you a better mix on the first pass.

Here's the complete checklist used by artists who get great mixes on the first try.

Step 1: Consolidate and Export Stems

Every DAW handles this differently, but the goal is the same: export each track as an individual audio file starting from the same point (usually bar 1, beat 1).

Export Settings

Format: WAV or AIFF (never MP3 for stems)

Bit Depth: 24-bit (or match your session—32-bit float is also fine)

Sample Rate: Match your session (44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, or 96 kHz). Don't resample.

Start point: All files must start from the same point so the engineer can line them up instantly.

What to Export

Export every individual track as its own stem.

If you have bus processing you love (like a drum bus compressor), export both the individual tracks AND the bused version. Label the bus clearly.

Remove any processing on the master bus unless the engineer specifically asks for it.

Step 2: Label Everything Clearly

Bad labeling wastes 30–60 minutes of the engineer's time just figuring out what each track is. That's time they could spend making your song sound amazing.

Good Naming Convention

01_Kick.wav 02_Snare.wav 03_HiHat.wav 04_808.wav 05_Bass_DI.wav 06_Lead_Vocal.wav 07_Vocal_Dub_L.wav 08_Vocal_Dub_R.wav 09_AdLibs.wav 10_Synth_Pad.wav 11_Piano.wav 12_FX_Riser.wav

Bad Naming

Audio_01.wav bounce 4 final FINAL.wav asdkjhg.wav

Number your tracks in the order they appear in your session. Group related tracks together (all vocals, all drums, etc.).

Step 3: Provide Reference Tracks

A reference track is a commercially released song that sounds like what you want YOUR song to sound like. This is the single most useful thing you can send your engineer.

How to Choose References

Pick 1–3 songs in the same genre and tempo range.

Focus on the overall VIBE, not one specific element.

If you want your vocal to sound like Drake but your drums to sound like Metro Boomin, say that explicitly.

How to Send References

Spotify or Apple Music links work for listening reference.

If the engineer needs to analyze loudness or frequency balance, send WAV files.

On Mix Showcase, you can upload reference tracks directly to your project. The engineer can A/B compare your mix against your reference in real-time.

Step 4: Write Detailed Notes

The best notes are specific, prioritized, and honest. Here's a template:

Song: [Title]

Genre/Vibe: [e.g., Dark trap, heavy 808s, spacey vocal]

References: [Song 1 by Artist 1, Song 2 by Artist 2]

Priorities:

Vocal needs to be upfront and clear but not harsh

808 should hit hard but not overpower the vocal

Want wide stereo image on the chorus

Ad-libs should be quieter and wider than lead vocal

Things to avoid:

Don't want too much reverb on the vocal

Don't compress the drums too much—I like the dynamic feel

Step 5: Organize and Send

Folder Structure

Song_Title_Stems/ ├── Drums/ │ ├── 01_Kick.wav │ ├── 02_Snare.wav │ └── 03_HiHat.wav ├── Bass/ │ └── 04_808.wav ├── Vocals/ │ ├── 05_Lead_Vocal.wav │ ├── 06_Vocal_Dub_L.wav │ └── 07_AdLibs.wav ├── Instruments/ │ ├── 08_Synth_Pad.wav │ └── 09_Piano.wav ├── References/ │ └── Reference_Song.wav └── Notes.txt

Delivery Method

Zip the folder and upload it. Most engineers accept Google Drive, Dropbox, or WeTransfer links.

On Mix Showcase, you can upload stems directly to a project and the engineer receives them instantly with the waveform viewer and commenting system built in.

Quick Checklist

[ ] All stems exported as WAV/AIFF, 24-bit, same sample rate

[ ] All stems start from the same point (bar 1, beat 1)

[ ] All stems labeled clearly with numbers and descriptive names

[ ] No master bus processing (or exported separately)

[ ] 1–3 reference tracks included

[ ] Written notes with priorities and preferences

[ ] Files organized in labeled folders

[ ] Everything zipped into one file

Save Time and Money

A well-prepared session saves you 1–2 revision rounds, which translates to faster delivery and lower cost. Engineers love working with organized artists because it lets them focus on the creative work instead of file management.

Ready to send your tracks? Create a project on Mix Showcase and start collaborating with your engineer today.

How to Prepare Your Tracks for a Mixing Engineer (2026 Checklist)