I prefer to receive stems of each element in the song treated as they have been treated throughout the production process, or as it is in the reference mix. These stems should very closely resemble the latest rough mix with all faders at 0.
Please include both wet and dry versions of vocals or anything you’re questioning. Optionally, you could create only dry stems, and include separate stems of reverbs and delays for reference.
Please send these stems as wav files that match your session sample/bit rate.
Not required, but It would be awesome if you could number the beginning of each file name (01, 02, 03, >) so they will import in the order listed below.
Also include the tempo, and/or a list of tempo changes with bar numbers.
Include the latest reference mix
If you do have to send a Pro Tools session, please follow these guidelines.
This session should very closely resemble the latest rough mix. If the rough mix was created on a console/outside of the pro tools session, please attempt to match rough balances within pro tools so I have a clear starting point.
Please commit any pitch correction, and/or any effects that you’re 100% attached to.
Leave FX sends/returns active just in case I need to clean up the audio sending to the effects.
Delete all muted clips/regions.
Please rename all buses to a name that describes what the bus is being used for. (For example: If Bus 35-36 is going to a reverb, name the bus “Reverb”)
Delete any unnecessary/unused busses and I/O assignments in the I/O setup
All aux returns and/or Masters should come after/to the right of the tracks that are sending to them.
Fx returns and main master at the bottom/far right of the session.
Please also have the latest rough as the last track in the session.
It would be amazing to get the tracks in the order and colored as listed below.
Track Order
Drums (Dark Blue):
Kick, snare, hat, toms, overheads, room, etc
Electronic Drums (Light blue)
Kick, snare, toms/fills
Electronic Drum Hats/Cymbals (Yellow/Gold)
Percussion (Light blue)
Bass (brown)
Synth Bass (Purple)
Acoustic Guitars (Light Green)
Guitars (Green)
When possible, please combine multiple mics/amps for each part.