Stereo mixing
Your recordings are done at home or in our live room; now every element needs a place without killing the groove. We mix in Amsterdam-West to a stereo file ready for mastering.
Stereo mixing at Fractaltrail suits artists, producers and bands who want a considered balance — not a one-size preset, but decisions that fit your genre and tempo. Mix engineer Sophie Bakker runs the process from our control room at Overtoom 376A; you do not have to be on site, but you can book a listening session if you prefer to hear changes together.
We work from clearly named WAV stems (24-bit where possible) plus a reference if you have one. Scope, deadline and budget are agreed upfront; our guide estimate your mix budget helps you plan stems and revision time before you upload.
Process
Intake
Send a short brief, tempo, key and stems via our contact page. Within 2 business days you get confirmation or questions about missing tracks.
Technical check
We check phase, clipping and silence at head and tail. Small edits and fades on instrument tracks are part of the base fee; large structural changes are quoted separately.
Mix pass
First balance, EQ, dynamics and space; vocals and drums get priority so the track translates on headphones and speakers. You receive a download link for review.
Revision and export
After your notes we run up to 2 revision rounds within the agreed window. Final stereo mix as WAV; optional stem export on request at extra cost.
Who it is for
Singer-songwriters with a home DAW, hip-hop producers with dense layers, indie bands that tracked live in our 45 m² room — they all arrive here when performances are set but balance is not. Mixing makes sense once arrangement and takes are fixed; major arrangement edits belong before the mix stage.
Mixing is not mastering. Streaming loudness, album sequencing and vinyl prep sit under Mastering — a separate service with its own rate. Many clients master here right after; we can quote both in one go.
What to deliver
Per song, one folder with:
- All instrument and vocal tracks as WAV, starting at the same timecode (bar 1 or downbeat)
- MIDI or tempo export if you use tempo maps
- A rough mix or reference (MP3/WAV) that does not clip
- Notes: what should lead, what can sit back, known problem spots
Recorded at our studio? We often hold a session backup; ask about archive status — projects stay 24 months after delivery unless you extend storage.
Unsure about exporting from Logic, Ableton or FL Studio? See our guides; vocals tracked here flow cleanly from Vocal recording into mixing.
How we mix
Sophie works hybrid: in-the-box with outboard on inserts where colour helps. Drums get bus compression and space that fits the genre; bass and kick are aligned with phase in mind. Vocals stay natural unless you explicitly want heavy tuning.
We mix on near-fields in a treated room; your file is meant to be checked at home on earbuds and monitors. Book an on-site listen (get in touch) if you want; live tweaks during that session bill as studio time at the hourly revision rate when they go beyond quick notes.
Revisions and feedback
The per-track fee includes 2 revision rounds from one consolidated email or call — not endless one-line messages per instrument. Be specific: “refs down in the bridge”, “more crack on snare”, rather than only “make it hit harder”.
Extra rounds or an open-ended feedback loop bill at €88 per hour (incl. 21% VAT). That rate also applies when you deliver new stems mid-project that were not in the original scope.
Delivery and formats
By default you receive:
- Stereo mix WAV 24-bit / 48 kHz (other sample rates on request if stems already use them)
- MP3 320 kbps for quick sharing
- Short note with peak and integrated loudness as a guide — not mastering loudness
Download via secure link; copy to your drive on site if you prefer. Stem exports (dry/wet per bus) are available for a supplement. For release formats see delivery formats for streaming.
Rates and payment
Listed amounts are consumer prices incl. 21% VAT. Business clients receive ex-VAT invoices with 14-day payment terms.
| Item | Price incl. VAT |
|---|---|
| Full stereo mix per track | €295 |
| Extra revision or listening time | €88 |
Bookings require a 30% deposit; cancel free up to 7 days before the agreed start. Full terms: terms and conditions.
Turnaround
Typical turnaround is five to ten business days after complete delivery, depending on queue and complexity (stem count, length). Rush is sometimes possible for a surcharge — ask ahead via email or phone.
If stems are missing or exported wrong, we pause the clock until your update arrives. That avoids revisions on a half-finished balance.
Not included
The track fee excludes mastering, tuning/repair of poor recordings, producing missing instruments and sample clearance — for sample-based work see rights and release.
Podcast editing, video voice-over or tracking extra parts live are outside Stereo mixing; see other services or Podcast recording for spoken-word recording.
Included
- Technical stem check and basic edits
- Full stereo mix pass by mix engineer
- 2 revision rounds on one feedback batch
- WAV + MP3 export via download link
- Project backup for 24 months
- Short loudness note for reference
- Guidance on mastering as next step
FAQ
How many stems can I send?
There is no hard cap, but more than thirty active tracks extends mix time. Bounce groups (e.g. all guitars) to stay on budget; see estimate your mix budget.
Can I attend the mix?
Yes, by appointment during Tue–Sat 10:00–22:00. Attending does not add a track fee, but heavy re-mixing on the spot bills as revision time at €88.
Do you mix instrumentals for sync?
Yes, provided you hold rights to the source material. Send cue length or edit notes; stem-only and M&E versions are quoted separately.
What if I am still unhappy after revisions?
After 2 rounds you can buy extra hours or discuss whether another engineer is a better fit — we look for a practical path under the terms, not vague promises.
Do you master at the same time?
That is Mastering. We can deliver a mix with headroom (around -6 dBFS peak) so your mastering engineer has room to work.
Project in Amsterdam?
Plan your session at Fractaltrail
Tell us briefly what you want to record or have mixed. Within 2 working days you receive a slot proposal and a written quote.