Reske File Delivery Guide
A way for optimum happiness and fun
Strategy
I’d like your file delivery to sound very close to the mix you currently have. This means that, when I import your files and press play, I hear the mix as you intend it to sound, and I can start mixing from pretty much exactly where you left off.
This means that I like to work with the effects/EQ/compression choices that you already have. In general, you don’t have to remove any processing for me to start mixing with your files.
One exception: tracks with reverbs and delays that are applied directly to a sound (as opposed to an aux send). If this is the case, send me two files: a version of the track that is dry, and a version of the track that is the same sound, but 100% wet. Label these trackname dry.wav and trackname wet.wav. This is especially true for vocals. Other sounds might be fine with just a wet stem. Use your discretion!
If you are unsure about whether to include more options (individual tracks rather than the whole group/bus), that’s fine— just include those options in a separate folder, inside the main folder. (Example: a stem that’s a sum of all the gang vocals, and a “gang vocals” folder with all the individual, dry vocals). That said— I’m always happy to mix with fewer stems, so no need to go overboard.
If you’re stuck, double check your export by importing your stems back into your DAW in a new session. Does it sound pretty close to the rough mix, when all the tracks are played together? If not, adjust the export until you’re happy.
Exporting
Send all files as 48k/32bit .wav files.
If your song is on a fixed tempo, include the bpm in the export folder’s title. If your song is not to a fixed tempo or has lots of tempo mapping, don’t worry— no need to include a tempo map.
If you DAW differentiates between mono and stereo files, there is no need to export tracks to me as mono. I’ll work with the files (and the panning scheme, if they’re stereo) in either case.
If you’re exporting multiple songs, place the files for each song into their own folder, and label them “Song Name - [[xx]bpm.” If you have alternate bounces of stems (groups, etc) put them in a separate folder inside the main folder.
In a separate folder inside the song’s main folder, include a mix of your song, labeled “Songname mix,” in .wav format. This is for me to check that I’m starting with the same mix that you left off with.
Lyrics: I’d love a text document of the lyrics of your song, so I can read them alongside the music. This helps me internalize the lyrics and focus on them while working!
Track naming: Track names should be in the following format: instrument name.wav (ex: synth.wav).
Naming (extra credit)
This is how I like to receive track names and how I name tracks in all my sessions. This part is extra credit. I will accept any existing naming scheme you have for your tracks, and I’ll name them myself when setting up the session. But if you feel inclined, this is the quickest way to communicate the elements of your song to me.
General
I always put the instrument type at the beginning of the track name (drum, piano, synth, etc.) This helps group your stems into categories when they get imported.
I use numbers to refer to different parts from the same instrument type (synth 1, synth 2, etc.). No need to label the first synth “moog” or the second synth “oberheim” — they can just be “synth 1” and “synth 2.”
I use letters to designate multiple mics or captures of the same performance (ex: guitar 1a and guitar 1b might refer to the DI capture or amp capture of the same performance)
I do spell out drum mics (drum tom, drum snare top, etc.)
I label things “dry” and “wet” if there’s a stem that has reverbs/delays on it.
Track names look like “instrumentype instrumentname [#][a] [wet/dry].” Example: “guitar 1a.”
Example names (taken from a real export):
LV 1 wet
LV 1 dry
LV 2
LV 3
bgv 1
bgv 2
bgv 3
ac 1
ac 2a
ac 2b
ac 3
elec 1a
elec 1b
elec 2a
elec 2b
elec 3
piano A
piano b
rhodes
organ
synth 1
synth 2
synth 3
violin 1
violin 2
flute
bassoon
drum OH
drum kick in
drum kick out
drum snare top
drum snare bottom
drum rack tom
drum floor tom
drum room
sfx 1 (sound design track)
sfx 2
aux room (room reverb on an aux send)
aux delay 1 (delay on an aux send)
aux delay 2
If you have questions, please message. I am always free to help get this right!