Preparing a song for a remote session

A rough mix is enough to start a conversation. I want to hear the song and understand what you want the drums to do before we get into file details.

Send the song and your drum idea

If you have a demo drum part, the most useful package is three audio exports, often called bounces: a mix with the drums in, the same mix without them, and the drums on their own. The full mix shows me how the part fits; the other versions let me hear the drum idea clearly and play along without it.

If the drums are programmed, send the MIDI file along with the rendered audio. I can turn the MIDI into drum notation, print the charts, and sight-read your part during the session.

Send what you have. A programmed part can be something you want me to follow closely or just a starting point. Let me know which, especially if there is a fill or rhythm you want to keep.

Export the versions from the same starting point, keeping any silence or count-in before the song. That way they line up when I bring them into my session. Keep the ending long enough to hear the final notes ring out.

Tell me what to listen for

A reference track helps most when you tell me what you like about it: the snare sound, how busy the part is, or the way the chorus opens up. You don’t have to describe it in technical terms.

For arrangement notes, a section name or timestamp gives me somewhere to listen. Something like ‘keep the first verse sparse’ or ‘save the biggest fill for the last chorus’ gives me more direction than ‘make it energetic.’ A few specific notes are enough.

Tempo and time signatures

If the song was recorded to a click, send the tempo and time signature. For a song with changes, send the tempo map if you have one. It tells the recording software where the tempo changes happen.

A song that moves or was never recorded to a click still works. Tell me that and I’ll play along to the recording. You don’t have to force it onto a fixed tempo before sending it.

Sample rate and files

If you’re working in recording software, tell me the project’s sample rate and export at that rate. There is no need to convert your files to a higher rate for me.

The standard delivery is four cymbal audio tracks as 24-bit WAV files, plus the kick, snare, and tom performance as MIDI. MIDI needs a drum instrument to make sound; if you want those drums as audio too, we can agree on the sounds before I print them.

The session files and delivery options show the channel list and optional prints.