Professional Mixing by Stephen Sherrard

Stephen is probably the only producer/engineer on the planet qualified to run a nuclear reactor! After graduating from the University of Illinois with a degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering, Stephen spent five years in the Navy as a Nuclear Engineering Officer. From the money the Navy paid him (from your taxes) during college and the five years after, Stephen put together his ever expanding home studio and taught himself the art of recording.

However, this was not his first adventure into the world of recording. Stephen has always been involved in music and electronics since he was in grade school. He would often gather up all the stereo equipment from members of the family and wire it together to make "mix" tapes for him and his friends. He was also heavily involved in creating music -- playing trumpet, piano, keyboards, and eventually guitars in bands from early grade school up to the present day. On the electronics side, Stephen was heavily into arcade and computer games. He saved up money from his summer jobs in grade school to buy himself a computer, and then taught himself how to program arcade games and also to modify the computer's hardware.

His interest in computers and electronics is what lead him to study Electrical & Computer Engineering in college. Half-way through college, when money was tight, Stephen was heavily recruited to join the Navy's Nuclear Power Program (a highly selective program that draws strictly from the top college engineering students after they have completed their second year of college). He wasn't sure about the Navy, but he wasn't sure that he was really into what he was studying at college either. The Navy's offer turned out to be too good to turn down, and Stephen decided to go for it. He was accepted into the program after passing rigorous technical interviews in Washington D.C. with the top Navy Nuclear Officials. With the advance bonus and the monthly pay checks, Stephen bought some keyboard equipment and joined a college alternative rock band. As the Navy continued to pay him well, he started putting together a home recording studio and doing demos for his band, as well as composing and recording his own original music. It then finally all made sense! This is what he wanted to do for a living!! Unfortunately, he still owed the Navy five years of his life after college, but it worked out for the best. Stephen got to travel around the country (never having to go out to sea) and brought his ever expanding studio with him wherever he went. No matter where he landed, he was always able to find singer/songwriters or bands to work with and hone his producing and engineering skills out of his home studio. Some of his work even made it to the radio! Finally, Stephen landed in the shipyards in Bremerton, WA, and was exposed to the Seattle music scene which was just starting to make a name for itself. This is where he decided to make a go at the music business.

A short while after getting out of the Navy, Stephen landed a Staff Engineering position at one of the largest professional studio facilities in Seattle, Triad Studios, without having to go through the usual internship process. He worked on staff at Triad from 1994 through 1997. At the same time, he expanded his home studio into a full-blown business of its own, MusicTECH. Owning a home studio and working at one of the area's largest studios had its advantages. The two businesses complimented each other well. Stephen used MusicTECH for pre- and post-production work for bands, digital editing/mastering, multimedia, and singer/songwriter or small band demos.

In 2005, Stephen and his family moved into a much larger home in the greater Seattle area, with a large lower level ideal for setting up a more traditional two room studio (separate control room and tracking room).  Stephen hired an acoustic consultant and remodelled and acoustically treated the spaces to spec for the best sound possible. 

Stephen Sherrard is one of those rare, genuinely nice guys, who is able to get along with all types of people, and who loves to work with a wide variety of artists and musical styles.  His laid back, mellow attitude immediately puts the artist at ease.  His easy going personality, along with his combination of a strong musical background and outstanding technical abilities, allows his clients to relax and focus on delivering their best performance possible!

Mixing is Stephen's passion!  He loves mixing great music and helping the artist bring their vision to life!

If I decide to take on your project,  you send me your project files via FTP to my server, or by regular mail, along with any mixing notes, reference songs, demo mixes, or anything else that may be helpful.  I will then load your tracks into my system, and check everything out to make sure the files are not corrupted in any way, and for the overall quality of the recorded tracks.  We then discuss your project via e-mail or over the phone to make sure I understand the type of sound you are after, and to go over any questions I may have about what you sent. 

When I have completed my "first pass" of the mix, I'll upload a reference MP3 file for your review and notify you via e-mail.  You then review the mix and send me any change requests you may have.  We will go back and forth that way until you are completely satisfied with the mix.  I will then upload the final high resolution mix files for you to download.  If you also hired me to master the songs, I will upload both mastered and unmastered versions, and either mail you a master CD ready for replication, or upload an ISO or DDP image of the master CD.

NO.  I won't take on a project that I don't feel is right for me, or that I won't enjoy mixing. 

I'm not desperate for cash, and I'm not running a "mix factory" that needs to crank out several mixes a day to pay the bills.  I usually make a much better return on my time investment working on my own projects than any rate I could charge for my services.  However, I really love mixing, and am more than happy to offer my professional mixing services for artists and songs that I feel I would enjoy working with. 

My services aren't cheap, so I won't waste your money if I don't feel your project is ready for my level of professional mixing.  A great mix starts with a great song arrangment and great sounding recorded tracks.  If those elements aren't there, then I won't waste your money, or my time, trying to create a great mix from less than great material.  It's not my place to judge if your song is great or not, but I will let you know if I don't feel the tracks are recorded well enough for professional mixing, or if it's not the type of music I would enjoy mixing.

If you want to know if I think your song is ready for professional mixing, just send me an e-mail with an MP3 of your own rough mix of your song, along with as much detail about the recording of your song as you can.

The best way to figure that out is to contact me to check my current schedule is.  Unless I'm on vacation or in the middle of a big project for someone else, I can usually schedule a new mix projects within a few days, at most.  Depending on the complexity of the mix, it can take anywhere from 1 to 10 hours to mix a song, with most modern pop/rock songs taking 4 to 6 hours for the "first pass" of the mix.  Then it's just a matter of how many times we need to go back and forth with revisions until you are completely satisfied with the mix.

I can accept just about any format for mixing.  It is not necessary for me to have the same software that you used to record your project, since most of the time the easiest way to transfer a project for mixing is to render all the audio tracks and virtual instruments to individual audio files that all start at the same time.  Then, I just import all those files, line them up, and I'm ready to mix.

However, I own several of the most popular software DAWs, including Pro Tools, Cubase, Nuendo, Reaper, ACID, Reason, Fruity Loops, and more.  If you are using one of the programs that I also own, you can send me the project files and all associated audio files, and I can open your project directly.  I'm always adding more software, so contact me for a current list.

Even if I do own the same software that you do, we still will need to go over the file preparation and transfer process in more detail.  If you are using virtual instruments or other plug-ins to create a sound, those will need to be rendered to regular audio tracks first before you send the project files, even if I own the same plug-ins.

If you are recording "old school" to analog tape, or to other digital hardware recorders (such as ADAT or DA-88), please contact me first.  I own ADAT machines and can transfer those tapes myself, but for any other tape or hardware format, I'll need to rent the appropriate machines to make the transfers.

Render each track and virtual instrument to individual contiguous audio files that all start at the exact same time, so that I can simply import those audio files into my software, snap them all to time zero, and everything will play back exactly the way it should.  You should test this yourself in a new blank project to make sure it works before sending me the files.  Also, unless you are using pre-recorded drum loops, I need each drum sound as a separate file (e.g., kick drum, snare, hi-hat, toms, cymbals or overheads, etc.).  I can't change the sound or balance of individual drum kit elements if they are all pre-mixed to a single audio file.

DISABLE ALL EFFECTS AND PROCESSING (EQ, compression, reverb, delay, chorus, etc.) on all the tracks BEFORE you render and export them, unless that effect is an integral part of the sound.  I can't work my magic with my high end effects and processing if your tracks are already effected and/or processed in any way.  If you aren't sure if you should turn off an effect or not, render the effects return to a separate track and give me that in addition to a totally raw (dry) track.

CLEAN UP YOUR TRACKS!  Do NOT send me anything you don't want in the final mix.  Solo each track and listen to it from start to finish.  If there are any noise that are not supposed to be there, edit those out before you render the files you will send to me.  If I need to clean up your tracks for you, there will be an extra charge.

CLEARLY LABEL YOUR FILES!  If I can't figure out what each track is by looking at a meaningful name, it will waste a good bit of my time that could be better spent actually mixing, and may cost you extra money.

Render each track at the same bit depth and sample rate that you recorded the project at.  If you recorded at 16 bits, then you don't gain anything by sending me 24 bit files, and it will just make the files bigger and take longer to upload and download.  If you recorded at 24 bits, please keep the rendered tracks at 24 bits.  Also, there are no such thing as 32 bit converters, so if you somehow had your software set to 32 bit floating point format when you recorded, please render the tracks to 24 bit format to make the file size smaller.  Do not render the tracks to a different sample rate than you recorded at.  Doing sample rate conversions on every track will sound much worse than one high quality sample rate conversion in the mastering stage.

Stereo tracks should be rendered as interleaved stereo files (NOT split left and right mono files).  Mono tracks should be rendered as mono files.

DO NOT RENDER YOUR TRACKS AS MP3 FILES!  They should be rendered as uncompressed Wave or AIFF files.

DO NOT SEND FILES THAT ARE NOT USED IN THE PROJECT!  When you consolidate/render/export your tracks, do it to a new folder on your hard drive so you don't send files that aren't actually being used in the project.  Extra files will just cause confusion, wasting time, and possibly costing you extra.

If you use Pro Tools, Nuendo, Cubase, Vegas, Reason, or ACID, please contact me for specific details as I can open those project files directly.

I will set up a private FTP account for you on my own dedicated server.  You upload your files to me using FTP.  If you don't know how to do this, or don't have FTP client software, I strongly suggest using the free FileZilla FTP client software (runs on Mac or PC).  If you need detailed instructions on how to upload files via FTP, please contact me. 

If you are uploading just one song, you can upload all the files into the root directory of your FTP account.  To reduce file size and save upload time, you may also use lossless file compression to put all the files into one archive file.  I can open ZIP, RAR, and Stuffit archives.

If you are uploading files for multiple songs, put the files into folders by song, or create a separate archive file for each song.

If you prefer, you may also send me your files via regular mail on CD-R, DVD-R, BD-R, hard drive, or USB stick.

After my first pass at the mix, I will send you high quality MP3 files for your review.  As we work on revisions together, I will continue to send you high quality MP3 files until you are completely satisfied with the mix.

The final mix files will be delivered in Wave file format at 24 bits, and at the same sample rate that the project was recorded at.  These files will be ready to send to mastering.  I will usually also deliver a "quick mastered" version of the mixes so that you can get an idea of how the mixes will sound when mastered to current loudness levels.

If you also hire me to do the final mastering of your mixes, you will get the mastered files at 16 bit, 44.1Khz, which is the format needed for CD manufacturing.  If you have me master your entire CD, or an EP or single that is destined for CD manufacturing, I can also mail a Master CD ready to send to a manufacturing plant.  For faster delivery, I can also upload an ISO or DDP image of the Master CD that can be uploaded to any manufacturing plant that accepts those formats (or you can burn your own Master CD from the image).

Yes!  I usually include a "quick master" version of the mixes for reference since the "loudness wars" have conditioned everyone to expect songs to be compressed and peak limited to death in order to make them sound louder than everything else.  If you hear a raw mix, that has not had this type of loudness mastering performed, next to something that has been mastered loud, you will think the mix is too soft and might feel it does not sound very good.  Our ears are easily fooled into thinking louder is better.  So, when I send you mixes for reference, I usually send the raw mix along with a "quick master" version where I have done some fast limiting and compression so you can get an idea for what it will sound like if you choose to have it mastered loud.  Of course, the preferred method is to listed to the raw mix and just turn up the volume knob, which will make the mix loud, but will still preserve all the dynamics and nuance that we worked so hard at during the recording and mixing stage.  But, I also understand that people may still not understand this, and/or they simply feel that their mixes need to be just as loud as everything else to compete, so I provide the "quick master" versions for comparison while we try to finalize the mixes.

If, after the regular mixing is complete, you want me to spend the extra time to do some real mastering on the mixes, that can be done for an additional fee.  Although my studio is not a dedicated mastering studio, I have done mastering for a variety of artists, both independent and major label.  If you require even higher-end mastering services, I am located only a few blocks away from a very high-end, purpose built, dedicated mastering facility, and would be happy to personally take your project there for mastering and attend the session myself, or refer you directly to them.

Yes.  I will usually include an instrumental mix and vocals only mix at no additional charge.  If you need special radio edits, or other special mixes that require extra time to set up, there may be an additional fee.

Included in my fee is my initial mix, and up to two sets of revisions.  If we need additional revisions to get the mix where you want, there will be an additional fee (although if it's just one additional minor change, I will often do that for no additional charge).  You will get the final high resolution Wave file of your full mix, as well as any agreed upon alternate mixes (instrumentals, vocals only, etc.), delivered via FTP.  If you need a master CD mailed to you, there will be an extra charge for the shipping.  If any of your tracks need cleaning up, auto tuning, or editing of any kind to make them ready to mix, there may be an additional charge for that time.

I can accept all major credit cards, as well as electronic debits, and e-checks, through PayPal.  Please note that e-checks can take up to 5 business days to clear, so I reserve the right to wait for the funds to clear before doing any work.  For new clients, full payment is required before any work will begin.  For established clients, or those with incredible references, I will work with a 50% deposit up front, and the balance due before the delivery of the final files.

In addition to mixing and mastering, I offer a wide variety of studio services.  I have produced, composed, arranged, recorded, mixed, and mastered, music from a wide variety of artists, and am experienced in all aspects of music production and recording.  I also work with all the top professional musicians in the greater Seattle area, and can hire them to perform on your project as well.  Live drums, professional vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, strings, and just about anything else... I can do it all.  If you need help editing your tracks, tuning vocals, tightening up drum tracks, noise reduction, or any other type of digital audio work, I can do that as well.

For more information, check out my DBAR Productions web site, or contact me directly.

Yes!  Just check out the samples page.

Not usually.  But I will go out of my way to make sure you are completely satisfied with the mixing I do for you.  In special circumstances, I may offer a discount, especially if you are having me mix your entire album, or if I really, really love your music.

I will, however, sometimes offer trade deals for extremely talented singer/songwriters, or other artists, that I think may be able to help me out with some of my own productions.

Please don't hesitate to contact me with any further questions you may have.