1. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Be fully prepared before you walk into the studio. Lyrics should be memorized, and all instrumental parts should be rehearsed. The more confident you are, the smoother and more productive the session will be.

2. HAVE SOLID ARRANGEMENTS

Work out your song arrangements ahead of time and make sure everyone performing is comfortable with them. If I’m producing your project, I can join a rehearsal to help tighten things up and catch any problem areas early. Recording it right the first time always beats fixing it later.

3. HAVE A CONSISTENT TEMPO (BPM)

Determine and practice your song’s tempo with a metronome so it feels natural before recording. A solid tempo foundation makes everything easier — from tracking to editing to mixing.

4. COME WITH LYRICS PRINTED OR SAVED DIGITALLY

Have your lyrics printed (or on a tablet) and ready for both lead and backup vocalists. Even if you’ve memorized them, it’s good to have a quick reference.

5. BRING YOUR BEST-SOUNDING INSTRUMENTS

Fresh strings or drum heads make a huge difference. Replace strings the day before your session, and bring extras. Get a professional setup so your instrument plays and stays in tune — check out Ring Music in Toronto if you need a recommendation.

6. BRING ROUGH DEMOS IF POSSIBLE

A quick phone recording of your rehearsal can be incredibly helpful as a reference in the studio.

7. BRING SOUND REFERENCES

Have a few YouTube or Spotify links ready with songs you like. It helps me understand the vibe and sound you’re going for.

8. ORGANIZE YOUR MIDI FILES

If your session uses MIDI, name and organize tracks clearly. Make sure they sound the way you want and bring your keyboard manual if using your own gear.

9. BACK UP YOUR FILES

Always have a backup of your project on an external drive or cloud storage before you come in. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

10. PLAN YOUR SESSION GOALS

Have a checklist of what you want to accomplish during each session. If something isn’t working, pivot to another goal and revisit it later.

THE PROCESS

I mix in Logic Pro on Mac at my Hamilton studio (though Pro Tools sessions can also be accommodated). I’ll start your mix independently, then we can make tweaks together in person or via Zoom.

THE FILES

1. Consolidate all tracks so they start at the same time (0:00). Provide unprocessed audio unless an effect is essential to the sound.
2. Include a MIDI file if possible — it gives flexibility for sound replacement or layering.
3. Keep stereo and mono tracks labeled correctly.
4. Clean your edits: add crossfades, trim silence, and remove unwanted noise.
5. Combine redundant tracks (e.g., stacked harmonies) into submixes for clarity.
6. Label files clearly: Drums-Kick, Guitar-Lead, Vocals-BGV, etc.
7. Provide tempo (BPM) and key info.
8. Preferred format: WAV or AIFF, 24-bit, 44.1 or 48 kHz.

FILE TRANSFER

Files can be sent via WeTransfer or Google Drive. Make sure your folder is organized and labeled clearly.

MORE TIPS

For more advice on how to record your project so your mix engineer stays happy, check out my blog post: Making Your Mix Engineer Happy .

1. Reading from a tablet is preferred (I can provide one if needed). If using paper, print single-sided, double-spaced text in a clear 12–14 pt font.
2. Confirm the pronunciation of acronyms or unusual terms beforehand.
3. Wear comfortable, quiet clothing — avoid synthetic fabrics that make “swishy” sounds.
4. Skip lip balms or glosses that create mouth noise.
5. Don’t record on an empty stomach (or overly full). Bring water and a light snack to avoid growls.