Every producer and engineer can mix your music in stereo but only a handful can mix your music in the exceptional format of Dolby Atmos. What this means is that instead of mixing in just stereo left and right. At Audio Animals we mix in a fully immersive 3d space. We can move your music up, down, front, back and left, right. The key benefits of this is that we can now achieve a mix that is quite simply beyond the realms that are possible in stereo. This mix will then be folded down to stereo, at which point we can master the stereo file but with the added benefit of adding more space, width, depth and clarity than you could have previously achieved in stereo. The Dolby Atmos ADM file can then be printed ready for you to distribute to such online stores as Apple Music, Tidal and Amazon Music. Listeners can then choose to listen to your music in either stereo or Dolby Atmos.

Technically nothing. The two formats are the same. Spatial Audio is just what Apple call it on Apple Music. The same ADM file is delivered to Apple Music as is delivered to any other streaming platform. The main difference is the codec that is used to deliver the ADM back to the listener in Dolby Atmos.

Mixing is the stage in which the separate elements / stems of a track are carefully summed together, with the sounds shaped and positioned in the audio field to give maximum impact and clarity. This is done through a series of specialised techniques and high end audio equipment.

A Dolby Atmos ADM is the delivery format for all Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio masters. This file retains all the panning and object information needed to correctly deliver a fully immersive 3d sound to your listeners via online platforms such as Apple Music, Tidal and Amazon Music. This file runs alongside your stereo master and delivers your listener the option to listen to the standard stereo master or the high quality full immersive Dolby Atmos ADM. The difference is quite something and your listeners will appreciate it.

Stereo mastering is when we take a stereo mix and perform processing across the entire mix. By doing so your mix obtains a tighter more controlled sound, with more clarity and depth. Stereo mastering ensures playback of your song is correct for all devices and ensures your listeners get the best experience no matter what they listen to your song on.

Stereo streaming mastering is much like our standard stereo mastering but with the added benefit of the master being optimised for streaming purposes. Streaming planforms require specific guidelines for release and the streaming master ensure you get that. With more headroom and less overall limiting. A more dynamic master is created that plays back better when streamed from streaming platforms.

All distributors have the ability to upload your stereo master as well as your Dolby Atmos ADM master. The 2 files play parallel with each other and depending on if the listener has Dolby Atmos enabled will depend on which version they hear. Upload both versions and embrace the future of audio. Hear for yourself the exceptional difference it makes.

A stem is quite simple an audio file. Often referred to as a multitrack audio file. We refer to this as a stem as it is a lot easier for everyone to understand. A stem is a single audio file either in mono or stereo format. A song s broken down into multiple stems / audio files that when summed together play back the completed song. A stem can be a single audio file or a stereo bus.

Dolby Atmos re-renders are a selection of audio files that contain multiple different formats. The re-renders folder will include binaural, 5.1, 7.1 and 7.1.2 files as standard. Additional formats can be supplied at your choice. If you require any of the above formats you can requests these files when placing your order.

We aim to return your first mix back to you within around 5 working days. Depending on if any revisions are required to be made, mixing can take longer. On average mixes are signed off as complete within 5-8 working days. If you require your song back by a certain date, please let us know when sending your files. We will make sure your song is returned to you mixed before your deadline. Mixing is not something that should be rushed. Leave plenty of time for any changes or revisions.

All mix packages include 3 revisions. Mix revisions give you the peace of mind that the end result is going to be exactly as you want it.

Yes mastering is included with all mixing packages. Each package includes the stereo master, stereo streaming master and Dolby Atmos master.

Payment and orders must be made before work on your song begins. This ensures our engineers, take the necessary time and care required to return you the very best mix.

Yes mixed stems can be added to your order for all mixing packages. Mixed stems are important to keep on file in case you ever need to make changes to the song or create a remix.

100% yes, this is essential when working with an online mix engineer. The rough mix will be used to establish that the stems you have sent playback correctly as well as include all automation and necessary processing. The rough mix is also used to correctly establish the balance you intend for each stem in the mix. By listening to the rough mix we can establish at what volume you intend a certain sound to be and where you intend it to be positioned in the mix.

A good mix engineer will be able to work with all genres of music not just one. At Audio Animals pride ourselves on the fact that we work with all genres of music. Being an online mixing and mastering studio working worldwide there is not a genre of music we have not worked with.

Get in contact with us via email and we can simply replace the files. Please be sure to get in contact with us ASAP to ensure we have the correct files to mix before work commences. If work has already started on your mix and the entire mix requires new stems, charges will apply.

Stereo Mixes
Stereo Master
Streaming Master
Dolby Atmos Master (optional extra)
Mixed Stems (optional extra)
Alt Mixes (optional extra)

Your stems can be uploaded safely and securely via our upload form here. Bypass any compression / limiting you may have on your master bus. All sound design processing should be left active on each stem, any processing that is 100% part of your song and sound design must be left active. Do not normalize stems or change their volume. Playback of your stems should be exactly as your rough mix plays back.

File Type : Wav / Aiff
Bitrate : 16–24–32 bit / 44,100 khz - 96khz
Headroom : -3db / -6db

As standard the mix engineer will print the full mix. Alternate versions can be printed such as instrumental, acapella, radio edit or extended DJ edit etc. Charges will apply due to length of time it takes to record each version.

No, any processing that is part of your sound design must be applied to the stems. Anything you have applied in your mix that is intended to stay in the mix must be applied to the stems. All plugin automation must be applied to the stems. When playing back your summed stems, we should hear almost identical playback of your rough mix / reference mix. If you are unsure what stems to send. You can by all means print a folder of processed stems and a folder of RAW stems. For the best mixing results, print your stems with all plugins active in your session. We can then take your rough mix and build from this.

If you have set your panning how you intend it to be, then by all means print the panning to your stems. Alternatively leave your panning off and send us panning mix notes. We will need as much details as possible. Including stem name and pan position. Such as "Lead Guitar Hard Left" and "Rhythm Guitar 30% Right."

100% yes, automation should always be active. Automation is part of your production and sound design. To bypass automation would be to send a half finished song for mixing. All automation including volume, modulation, EQ, reverb or delay automation should be kept active.

Reverb can be left active if you 100% want the reverb you have added in your song. We will always add reverb where we see fit. Any specific reverb you want 100% exactly the same as you have it in your mix, must be printed to the stems. Any creative reverb that is specific to a particular stem should be left active. Any reverb that is part of your sound design or essential to your sound must be left active.

Yes. Delay is something that can have a million different outcomes. You add delay specific to your taste and how you want delay to sound. To remove this delay would be to remove an essential part of your sound. We always recommend leaving delay active if you want it in your track. We will not add delay as standard as this is a creative effect that is specific to the production and not the mix. If delay is required from a mix perspective we will by all means add it how we see fit to get the best results.

No. Vocals should be organised ready to be mix. Unwanted clicks, pops and breathes should be removed. All vocals should be tuned and ready to be mixed. You should never send a raw unedited vocal for mixing.

We can add Autotune to vocals to ensure they are kept in tune. This is included in the price. Detailed tuning of vocals using Melodyne is not included in the price and can be ordered and discussed as an additional service.