About Our Services
Great new technological advances have made quality-recording equipment more affordable and accessible. These occurrences have also made it possible for virtually anyone to record quality, & potential hit records, in the comfort of his living room, bedroom or basement. If your goal is to record and release professional quality sounding records and compete with, major labels, independent labels and recording artist. There are measures that need to be taken beyond your recording process. You need a quality mix. Hightower Productions, Inc. is offering “Mix By Mail ”™ Our answer to making professional mixing services available to clients who need top-notch quality. You don’t have to take time out of your busy schedule, in order to have your mixes done.
No amateur, Troy Hightower has been mixing music in major recording studios here and abroad for over three decades. With an awesome array of Major and Indie clients, quality isn’t even a question, you can rest assured that. Troy will bring a wealth of experience, expertise and talent to your record mix. (Visit our Discography, Clients, & Gold & Platinum records section to view previous works. Click here to hear our Show / Mix Reel.)
To find out how the “Mix By Mail ”™ process works, Please keep reading below.
The “MIX BY MAIL” ™ Process
You send us your individually recorded multiple tracks and we’ll send you a mixed-down song competitive with those heard on radio and in your favorite club. If you have any questions about how to send your song to mixed, email us or call the office. In this fast-paced, instant-gratification world, digital recording and music downloading has overtaken the music industry.
Digital software such as Pro Tools, Nuendo and Logic Audio to name a few has become the standard in many major and small project studios. Indeed, the technology has advanced so that nearly anyone can record a song.
How To Get Started
1) Upload your file here. Once received, we’ll listen to determine whether it contains all the elements necessary to produce a great mix. Then, we can discuss all the fees involved and go to the next step.
2) After your job has been accepted, send a copy of your individually recorded multi-track song on Pro Tools, Logic or another digital medium on the market. We’ll set-up a day to mix your song and put it in a secure folder on our site.
3) Once your song is finished, you’ll receive an invite to get a Dropbox account to share a folder and download a copy to listen to. We also accept file from WeTransfer and HighTail. A 320kbps MP3 will be sent for your approval.
4) After your approval and payment of either Mix Package 1 ($750 US Dollars), or Mix Package 2 ($350 US Dollars), a download will be loaded to either Dropbox.com, Hightail or WeTransfer. Please note, Mix prices fluctuate depending on the amount of records done. For more information on Mix packages click here or email to hightowerproductionsinc@gmail.com.
Required Audio Specifications
- Audio File Type can be either: Aiff, Wav
- Sample Rate should be either 44.1khz , or 48khz
- Bit Rate should be 24bit
Directions and Specifications for Pro-Tools
Pro Tools Users
If using more then one Pro Tools session per song due stereo comping to have more tracks to record on. Make sure all Pro Tools sessions have identical start points and are able to sync when imported into one session. Don’t think that making an audio CDR or MP3 of a Pro Tools session, then recording it back into Pro Tools, will sync up with the original session.
Let me explain. Different brands of CD players run at different speeds and MP3’s even though they might sound the same are shorter then the original Wav or Aiff sessions file. It will not sync with original session. If you need to record extra tracks. Mix down all tracks in Pro Tools and then import that stereo track (wav) to another Pro Tools session with the same start time. This will guarantee that all sessions will sync when imported into Pro Tools session for final mix.
When ready to sends files for mixing:
- Consolidate all edits into whole regions. DON’T FORGET – check all edits before consolidating.
- No plug-ins. Print all necessary effects.
- No automation, volume rides, or panning in sessions.
- All mutes should be done on wav file of track, not with mute automation.
- Delete all unused audio files. Don’t just remove them from the sessions.
- Provide a “ruff” mix of song on a separate CD, MP3 or as part of the Pro Tools Session .
Finally, clearly label all CDR’s, DVDR’s, and song session file download with song title and tempo.
Pro Tools TDM and HD users
- Clearly label which session file is to mixed.
- Clearly document Pro Tools reference level on CDR or DVDR. (i.e. -18, -16, etc.)
- Consolidate all edits into whole regions. DON’T FORGET – check all edits before consolidating.
- No plug-ins. Print all necessary effects.
- No automation, volume rides, or panning in sessions.
- All mutes should be done on wav files, not with automation.
- Delete all unused playlists from session.
- No inactive tracks. If they don’t belong in mix, delete them.
- No hidden tracks. If they don’t belong in mix, delete them.
- Delete all unused audio files. Don’t just remove them from session.
- Keep Pro Tools sessions to 65 tracks or fewer.
Once the above is complete:
In Pro Tools, with session loaded, go to the file menu and click on “Save Session Copy In….” A window will pop-up.
- Make a new folder.
- Name folder “(Your title) for mix”
- Select this folder to save files in.
- Click on “Refer To Source Audio” and change it to “Copy From Source Audio”.
(Selecting this will save all audio and session files. No matter what drive or folder, all will be saved in the same folder).
- Under “Session Format” , choose: Pro Tools 5.1 Session or greater
- Under “Session Parameters”:
- Audio File Type can be either:
- Aiff
- Wav
- SD II
- Sample Rate should be: 44.1khz or 96khz
- Bit Depth/Rate should be: 24bit
- Select “PC/Mac Compatibility”
- In “Items To Copy” Section:
- Select “All Audio Files”;
- Select other options only if they are being used in your session.
- Finally, “Click Save”. Once save is complete, find the folder, and copy to CDR, DVDR or on your hard drive.