Per-song cost, revision policy, break-even streams. Upload stems for pro mix.
Table of Contents
- 1. What a Mixing Engineer Actually Does (Workflow)
- 2. Human Engineer vs. AI Mastering Bot: Quick Comparison
- 3. Rate Card: Per-Song, Album, Monthly Plans
- 4. Hidden Extras You Should Never Pay For
- 5. Red Flags That Scream “Avoid”
- 6. When You Need a Human vs. When AI Is Enough
- 7. How We Work as Hybrid Engineers (Analog + Digital + Atmos)
- 8. FAQ: Revisions, Credits, Files, Tax
- 9. Ready? Upload Stems for Human Mix & Master
1. What a Mixing Engineer Actually Does (Workflow)
- Gain-staging & phase alignment (drums, multi-mic guitars)
- EQ cuts before boosts (room node removal)
- Compression in series (1176 → LA-2A for vocals)
- 3-D space (short plate + long hall, side-chained)
- Automation rides every phrase (clip-gain, not volume fader only)
- De-ess & tuning (Melodyne manual, not auto)
- Print at -9 LUFS integrated, -1 dBTP, 8 dB DR
- Apple Digital Masters + Dolby Atmos when ordered
Hear 30 before/after human mixes here.
2. Human Engineer vs. AI Mastering Bot: Quick Comparison
| Metric | Human Engineer | AI Bot |
|---|---|---|
| Per-song cost | $100–$300 | $10–$50 |
| Revisions | 3 free | 0–1 |
| Phase alignment | Yes | No |
| Playlist skip-rate drop | -16 % | -3 % |
| Break-even streams | 30k–90k | 300k+ |
| Apple Digital Masters | Included | $50 up-charge |
3. Rate Card: Per-Song, Album, Monthly Plans
| Service Tier | USD | What’s Included | Break-even Streams* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mix + Master (standard) | $150 | Mix, master, ADM, 3 revisions | 45.5k |
| Mix + Master + Atmos | $299 | Adds Dolby Atmos | 90.6k |
| Album 8 songs | $999 | Same ×8, -17 % vs. singles | 37.8k / song |
| Monthly 5 songs | $599 | -20 % vs. singles | 36.3k / song |
| Rush 24 h | +$50 | Same day delivery | Add 15.2k |
*Break-even = price ÷ $0.0033/stream at +16 % stream lift (2024 client avg.).
4. Hidden Extras You Should Never Pay For
| Extra | Industry Up-charge | Our Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Digital Masters | $50–$75 | Included free |
| 3 revisions | $50+ each | Free |
| 48-hour delivery | +50 % | Standard |
| Phase alignment | $40+ | Included |
| Manual Melodyne | $60+ | Included |
5. Red Flags That Scream “Avoid”
- No public before/after portfolio
- Unlimited revisions (no finish line)
- No gain-staging discussion
- Quote only via DM (no transparent rate card)
- Asks for master ownership (you keep 100%)
6. When You Need a Human vs. When AI Is Enough
Hire human if:
- Skip-rate > 25 %
- Multiple vocal layers
- Live drums + programmed 808
- Sync pitches for film, TV, or ads
AI okay if:
- Quick demo for TikTok
- Budget < $100
- Re-recording later in studio
7. How We Work as Hybrid Engineers (Analog + Digital + Atmos)
- Upload stems (−12 dBFS peaks, dry, labelled)
- Analog chain: Neve 1073 → 1176 → LA-2A
- Digital polish: FabFilter, Soothe, LX480
- Automation rides: clip-gain every phrase
- Print: −9 LUFS, −1 dBTP, 8 dB DR
- Optional Atmos: 7.1.4 render, Apple-certified
- Deliver: WAV + ADM + instrumentals + stems
Upload here and approve a 30-second preview before payment.
8. FAQ: Revisions, Credits, Files, Tax
Q1. How many revisions?, 3 free; most clients approve v1.
Q2. Who keeps master rights?. You keep 100 %, waived in writing.
Q3. What files to send?, 24-bit WAV, −12 dBFS peaks, dry, labelled.
Q4. Dolby Atmos later?. Yes, $60 up-charge from stereo mix.
Q5. Is tax included?. USD only; international clients pay local VAT/GST.
9. Ready? Upload Stems for Human Mix & Master
- Export dry stems, no plug-ins on stereo bus
- Label: “Lead Vox”, “Kick”, “808”, “Guitar DI”, etc.
- Upload here → choose Mixing + Mastering
- Approve 30-second human mix in 24 h
- Download final WAV (−9 LUFS, Apple Digital Masters)
One Decision, Whole Catalog
Choosing well matters beyond one song: the right audio mixing and mastering partner learns your sound and gets faster every release. Whether you book separate specialists or combined audio mixing and mastering services, consistency across your catalog is what mixing and mastering at a professional level actually buys.