Mixing, mastering,and audio engineering
Mixdowns, mastering, editing and audio for individual tracks, whole albums, live shows, video, film and podcasts.
Send John your files from anywhere, or work together in person at The Snedlab in Coburg North.
- Songs, EPs and live band recordings
- Audio for video, film and podcasts
- Coburg North or online
What Johncan do for you
Most projects need more than one of these. Tell John what you are working on and he will suggest what it needs.
Mixing
- Mixdowns of songs and tracks
- Live band multitrack mixdowns
- Mix feedback
- Mix and master together
- Sit in on the session and mix or master together
Mastering
- Mastering for songs, EPs and albums
- Mastering from stems
- Loudness and delivery for streaming, YouTube, social media and broadcast
- EP and album mastering, 4 or more songs
Editing and vocals
- Vocal editing and tuning
- Editing and comping takes
- Timing edits for drums and bass
- Breath, click and noise removal
Video, film and podcasts
- Audio for video and film
- Dialogue editing and cleanup
- Voiceover recording and editing
- Sound design
- Podcast editing
Recording and files
- Live recording
- Re-amping guitar and bass parts
- Audio cleanup and restoration
- Stem preparation
- Alternative versions: instrumental, a cappella, TV mix, cut-downs
- Ableton project tidy-up and stem export
Music production and session work
- Session parts
- Song production
- Songwriting
- Music for video
Need something not on the list? Ask John.
Mixing
Mixing brings every track in your song together into one finished stereo file. Levels, EQ, compression, space, effects and automation are shaped until each part has its own place and the song feels finished.
It works for songs and tracks made in a DAW, for bands recorded in a studio, and for live gig recordings mixed down from the multitrack.
Good for
- Producers whose tracks sound good in the session but not yet finished
- Songwriters and bands with recorded parts that need to sit together
- Live band multitrack recordings from a gig
- Anyone who wants notes on their own mix to fix it themselves (mix feedback)
- Tracks that sound good on your speakers but not in the car, on headphones or on a phone
- Low end that feels muddy, weak or unpredictable
- Vocals, drums, synths or guitars fighting for space
- EPs and albums that need every song to sit together
What you send
- Each track as its own stem: a separate audio file, with every file starting and ending at the same point. How to export stems
- A rough mix, if you have one
- One or two reference tracks you like the sound of
- Notes on what you like and don’t like in your rough mix
- The tempo and key, and any deadline or release date
- Any effects you want kept as they are
What you get
- A finished stereo mix of each song
- Two rounds of changes
- A 24-bit WAV, plus an MP3 for listening on your phone
- A version without the limiter for mastering, and a louder reference version
- Instrumental and a cappella versions, as an option
- The mix checked on studio monitors, headphones and small speakers
- Short notes on what was changed and why
Prices
- Mixdown of a song or track: from $220
- Live band multitrack mixdown: from $250 for the first song, then $150 for each extra song from the same recording · Book and pay
- Mix and master together: from $270 a song · Book and pay
- Mix feedback: $65 an hour, written or recorded notes · Book and pay
Mastering
Mastering is the last step before release. It takes your finished mix and adjusts the overall tone, dynamics and loudness so it sits well next to other music, and makes sure the file suits where it is going: streaming, YouTube, social media or broadcast.
For an EP or album, mastering also makes the songs sound like they belong together.
Good for
- Finished mixes ready for release
- EPs and albums that need a consistent sound
- Mixes that need a final check before going out
- Singles going to Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp or YouTube
- CD releases
- Live recordings that need to sound like a release
What you send
- Your finished stereo mix as a WAV file
- Mastering from stems: a few grouped stems instead, such as drums, bass, music and vocals
- One or two reference tracks
- The mix with about 3-6 dB of headroom and no limiter on the main output
- The song order and gaps, for an EP, album or CD
- Song titles, and ISRC codes if you have them
What you get
- A release-ready master of each song
- Files at the right loudness for where they are going
- One round of changes
- 24-bit WAV masters, plus 16-bit and MP3 versions if needed
- For CD: a DDP file for pressing, with the track gaps, titles and ISRC codes
- Song titles and ISRC codes added to your masters
- A short note on loudness and where each file is for
Prices
- Mastering: $60 a song
- 4 or more songs: $50 a song
- Mastering from stems: $90 a song · Book and pay
Editingand vocals
Editing is the detailed work that gets a performance ready for mixing. Vocal editing removes breaths, clicks and noise between phrases, and tuning corrects pitch, as subtly or as obviously as you want.
Comping builds one best take from several, and timing edits tighten drums and bass to the groove.
Good for
- Singers and rappers with recorded vocals
- Bands and producers with several takes of each part
- Drum and bass parts that need to lock together
- Podcasters and voiceover artists who need clean takes
- Home recordings with background noise
What you send
- The recorded takes as WAV files
- The backing track or a rough mix
- Notes on which takes you like
- The lyrics, with the takes you like marked
- How natural or obvious you want the tuning
What you get
- Edited, comped and tuned parts as WAV files, ready to mix
- A comped lead vocal, plus the original takes
- Before and after versions to compare
- Edited takes lined up to the start of your song, ready to drop back in
Prices
- Vocal editing and tuning: $65 an hour
- Editing and comping takes: $65 an hour
- Timing edits for drums and bass: $65 an hour
Hourly work can have a cap. Tell John the most hours you want to spend, and he checks with you before going past it.
Video, filmand podcasts
Sound for video and film covers dialogue, music and effects. Dialogue is edited and cleaned up so every word is clear, voiceover is recorded and edited, sound design adds the effects and atmosphere, and the final mix brings it all together at the right loudness for where it will be shown.
Podcasts are edited, cleaned up and levelled so every episode sounds consistent.
Good for
- Videographers and filmmakers
- Businesses and creators making video for social media or the web
- Podcasters
- Short films, music videos and promo videos
- Online courses and talks
What you send
- The video, and the audio from your edit as separate files
- Any music you want to use
- For podcasts: the raw recording of each voice
- The final picture edit (picture locked)
- Where it will be shown: YouTube, social media, cinema or broadcast
What you get
- A finished audio mix for the video, or the finished episode
- One round of changes
- Loudness set for where it is going
- Separate dialogue, music and effects stems, if your editor needs them
- For podcasts: an intro and outro set up once and reused for each episode
Prices
- Audio for video and film: $65 an hour
- Dialogue editing and cleanup: $65 an hour
- Voiceover recording and editing: $65 an hour
- Sound design: $65 an hour
- Podcast editing: from $90 an episode, up to 60 minutes
Hourly work can have a cap. Tell John the most hours you want to spend, and he checks with you before going past it.
Recordingand files
Live recording captures a performance, a band or an instrument. Re-amping sends recorded guitar or bass back through amps to change the tone after the fact. Cleanup and restoration removes noise, hum, clicks and room sound from recordings that matter to you.
File work gets your music ready for other people: stems for collaborators, remixers or live playback, alternative versions for video and sync, and tidied Ableton Live Sets with stems exported for other studios.
Good for
- Bands and performers who want a recording
- Old or noisy recordings worth saving
- Artists sending music to collaborators, other studios or video editors
- Musicians who want a clean recording of one instrument or a demo
- Bands sending songs for sync or licensing
What you send
- For recording: the details of the performance
- For files: the Live Set, the session or the finished mix
- What the stems are for: remix, live playback, video or sync
- For cleanup: the original files at the best quality you have
What you get
- WAV files, organised and named so anyone can use them
- Stems named and grouped clearly (drums, bass, music, vocals), all starting at the same point
- Instrumental, a cappella, TV mix and cut-down versions as separate files
- Cleaned-up audio with a before and after to compare
Prices
- Live recording: $65 an hour
- Re-amping guitar and bass parts: $65 an hour
- Audio cleanup and restoration: $65 an hour
- Stem preparation: $65 an hour
- Alternative versions: $65 an hour: instrumental, a cappella, TV mix, cut-downs
- Ableton project tidy-up and stem export: $65 an hour
Hourly work can have a cap. Tell John the most hours you want to spend, and he checks with you before going past it.
Why workwith John
John is a multi-genre multi-instrumentalist and producer, playing electric bass, upright bass and guitar, with a Bachelor of Music in jazz performance. He has performed as a live musician and electronic producer across a great diversity of genres, with loads of audio engineering and production experience along the way.
He has taught music production & mixing in Ableton Live for many years - and designed & hosted Australia’s first Ableton Live-centric Cert IV in Music Industry at Oxygen College in Geelong.
The experience on all sides of the mix - as performer, producer, and engineer - allows great insight on all aspects of the process.
From your files to the finished audio.
- Mixing: 7-10 working days a song
- Mastering: 3-5 working days
- Bigger projects: a date agreed up front
Describe the project
What it is, what you need, and when you need it.
A free listen and a quote
John listens first for free, then sends a quote. Half up front to book the work.
Send your files
Online, or bring them to The Snedlab.
John does the work
Then sends it to you to listen.
Your notes
Two rounds on a mix, one on a master. Send each round as one list.
The final files
Sent once the balance is paid.
In the studio,or online
From $220 a song
Live band multitrack mixdowns from $250 for the first song, $150 each extra song from the same recording. Mix and master together from $270 a song.
$60 a song
$50 a song for 4 or more songs. Mastering from stems $90 a song.
$65 an hour
Everything else on the list, and extra changes. You get an estimate of the hours before John starts, and you can set a cap on the hours.
From $90 an episode
Episodes up to 60 minutes.
Questionspeople ask
Is this DJ mixing?
No. This is mixing in the audio engineering sense: balancing and shaping the recorded tracks of a song into one finished mix.
What is mastering from stems?
Usually a master is made from one finished stereo file. Mastering from stems means sending the mix as a few grouped stems instead, such as drums, bass, music and vocals. John can then make small balance changes between those groups while mastering, for example bringing the vocal up a little, which is not possible from a single stereo file. It is useful when you are close to happy with the mix but not quite.
What files do I send?
For mixing, send each track as its own stem: its own audio file, with every file starting and ending at the same point. How to export stems. For mastering, send the finished stereo mix. If you are not sure, get in touch first.
Can I work with John in person?
Yes. Work can happen in person at The Snedlab in Coburg North, online, or a mix of both.
Can I cap the hours?
Yes. For hourly work, tell John the most hours you want to spend. He works within that and checks with you before going past it.
How many changes can I ask for?
Two rounds of changes are included on a mix, and one on a master. Further changes are $65 an hour.
How long does it take?
Usually 7-10 working days for a mix and 3-5 working days for a master. Bigger projects get a date agreed up front.
Do you also teach mixing?
Yes. Guided mixing sessions on the music production lessons page teach you to mix your own music.
Mixing, mastering and audio engineering, in person at The Snedlab in Coburg North or online.
Tell Johnabout your project
What it is, what you need, and when you need it.
