Mixing

 
 
 

Mixing with Ambient Works

Ambient Works provides top-class creative mixing services, focused solely on elevating your productions and bringing your musical ideas to life.

Rather than applying a cookie-cutter ‘house sound’ to your music, we listen to you, aim to fully understand your concept and use all the tools necessary to bring that idea into focus - allowing you to communicate with your listeners the way you intended.

//// All mixing at Ambient Works is performed personally by Robert Soma-Lewis. ////

Here’s how it works:

  1. Contact us, and tell us a bit about your project.

  2. Once we receive your note, we’ll get in touch to learn more as well as give you instructions on uploading your source files.
    We’ll also agree on fee and turnaround time for the project.

  3. When your mixes are ready for review, we’ll send them to you for approval. If needed, we can also discuss any further edits or revisions needed (up to 4 rounds are included in the fee).

  4. Once all mixes (and masters, if ordered) are approved, we’ll send the final high-res files and close out the project.

Discounts and Packages

Mix + Master Bundle - We offer a 30% discount on Mastering when ordered at the same time. This discount is automatically applied when you select a Mastering option with your Mix.

What do you review as part of a mix?

  • Style and Reference - Before starting work, we’ll define creative direction and vibe, reviewing any similar tracks you want to use as a reference.

  • Balance and Imaging - Gives all the elements of your mix a clear position and role, and establishes a solid foundation for your track.

  • EQ / Harmonic Treatment - Ensure that all mix elements are present and work together tonally. Address any unwanted or distracting resonances and harmonics.

  • Compression - Bring the rhythm and dynamics of your mix into focus, give mix elements a sense of movement and energy, and reinforce the overall groove or pulse where needed. Can also be used creatively to enrich the tone and vibe of mix elements.

  • Delay / Reverb / Spatial FX - Create a clear sense of atmosphere, space, and feeling. Can also be used creatively to add character and depth to mix elements.

  • Distortion / Saturation - Used subtly to add life and energy to mix elements (or the entire mix in some cases!) Used less subtly to add edge, roundness, or anything in between.

  • Mix Automation - Used to add subtle variation, realism, and modulation to the mix which keeps the listener engaged throughout. Can also be used to create a sense of tension and release in different sections of the track.

Answers to some common questions

  • Sometimes your best performance isn’t the most perfect, or perhaps has some unwanted noise. If this is the case, we can help you clean these up at a small (but additional) fee. If you’d like to know more, get in touch and we can work something out.

  • In summary, we’ll need every stem (individual part) that makes up your mix - each stem should be printed at 24 bit or higher, and at the original sample rate. Please ensure that there is no clipping on any of the stems (unless you’re sure you want it there!)

    When it comes to stem effects - please only include effects that are an essential part of each stems’ sound. Once they are printed, I can only work with what’s there.

    If you have delay or reverb effects, I recommend printing them on a separate stem so we can make changes to the ‘dry’ stem without a problem.

    If you have done a ‘board mix’ - an example mix to help me understand the overall feeling you’re after, please include a stereo bounce of this as well.

    If you have any other questions about pre-mix prep, just drop me a note.

  • This is a great question! There are a few benefits for us:

    • It eliminates the needs for contracts or lengthy agreements. We work on a simple and understandable set of terms, and then get straight to the music.

    • By working on flat rates, we can focus together on the work, rather than the clock;

    • When we take care of payment upfront, there is no problem with sending full-res drafts back and forth, so you know exactly what you’re getting;

      Finally, if we start working on a longer-term basis, we can discuss the possibility of invoice-based working. Many of my long term clients move to this, particularly when they start working with a label or manager.

    But if you’re unhappy with the result?

    • I typically accept less work than a standard studio, so I can give every client the time we need to get a brilliant result.

    • Every mix order comes with three revision rounds so we can dial things in. Let’s be honest - a halfway mix is no good for you, and I also want to put my name on work I can be proud of!

    • With that in mind, the majority of my mixes typically get approved within one or two rounds.

  • In short - the most complex mixes can take many times longer than simpler ones! Rather than charge by the hour, I prefer flat rate pricing that ensures I have time to do the best work for you.

    I have set and refined my rates over time to give a good balance of value for you and enough working time for me.

  • That’s easy! Just get in touch, and I’m happy to discuss your project in detail to help you decide whether I’m a good fit.