EchoCraft Media Client Guide: How to Prep & Send Your Music Session Like a Pro

EchoCraft Media Client Guide: How to Prep & Send Your Music Session Like a Pro

So you're ready to send your track over? AWESOME. Let’s make sure it gets to me clean, organized, and ready to rock (or vibe, or bounce, or chill). Whether you’re working in Logic, FL Studio, Ableton, Pro Tools, or GarageBand, this guide will walk you through how to prep your project like a total legend.

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Why Stems Matter (a.k.a. Don’t Just Send Me a Mess)

Stems are the individual audio files of each track in your session: vocals, guitars, drums, synths, FX, etc. Exporting stems gives me flexibility to mix your song from the ground up, while keeping your creative choices intact.

I can open full Pro Tools or Logic sessions, but even then, I prefer having stems—it avoids plugin issues, version errors, and...chaos.

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Step-by-Step: Prepping Your Track for Mixing or Mastering

✅ Step 1: Clean Up Your Session

Label all your tracks clearly – Please, no “Audio_01_Final_maybe2”

Use names like: Lead_Vocal, Kick_Drum, Synth_Arp, Guitar_1

Mute or delete muted/unwanted takes

Consolidate any edits or comped takes before exporting

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✅ Step 2: Set Your Session to Zero

Remove any limiters or compressors from your master bus (unless we agreed otherwise)

Set all faders at 0dB before exporting—no automation unless it's essential to the sound

Bypass all mix plugins unless they’re creative FX baked into the tone (e.g., an amp sim or delay)

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✅ Step 3: Export Stems

No matter your DAW, the goal is to bounce each individual track as a full-length audio file, from start to end of the song—even if the track is silent in places.

Export Format:

File Type: WAV

Sample Rate: 48kHz

Bit Depth: 24-bit

Naming Convention: [SongName]_[TrackName].wav

Example: GoldenSky_Kick.wav, GoldenSky_LeadVocal.wav

In Logic, use File > Export > All Tracks as Audio Files.

In Pro Tools, use File > Bounce Mix > Multiple mono/stereo stems.

In Ableton/FL Studio, select "All Tracks" or "Split Mixer Tracks" when exporting.

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✅ Step 4: Create a Folder & Organize

1. Create a folder with the name of your song: GoldenSky_Stems

2. Put all the WAV files inside

3. Optional: Add a rough mix or reference track (MP3 is fine)

4. Optional: Add a short note (txt or PDF) with tempo, key, and any specific requests

5. Zip it up: Right-click > Compress/Zip folder to send easily

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✅ Step 5: Upload & Send

Use a file-sharing service like:

WeTransfer

Google Drive

Dropbox

Then email or message me the link (or upload it via my form, if I gave you one).

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🎯 Checklist Before You Hit Send

[ ] Stems are exported from the same start point

[ ] File format is 24-bit/48kHz WAV

[ ] Tracks are named clearly

[ ] FX are printed only if they’re part of the sound

[ ] You've included a rough mix or reference

[ ] Session is zipped and ready to go

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Bonus Tips (for Gold Stars)

Include tempo (BPM) and key – It helps for vocal tuning and FX timing

Bounce mono tracks as mono – Keeps the session cleaner on my end

Let me know if anything is experimental/weird on purpose! I won’t “fix” your art unless asked

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Final Words

You don’t need to be an engineer—you just need to be organized. When your files are clean and prepped, I can focus on what I do best: making your music sound amazing.

Let’s make something great.

— Scott @ EchoCraft Media