Charging for.... mixing?
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Posted on Nov 28, 2005 01:20 am
Blindfold
Member Since: Dec 04, 2003
I realize the whole "what do you charge" has been addressed before on this site, but I'm curious as to how it applies to everyone else in accordance to "mixing time".
I have figured a $20/hour rate but the whole mixing part of it eludes me. If you consider the length of time mixing can take, do you just mix in front of the customer no matter how long it takes, or actually mix alone and add up the hours later? I assume most mix infront of their customers but what happens when they ask "Why does mixing take so long?" when your only trying to fine-tune their music. Instinct tells me to just tell the customer to sit tight as this long mixing is only to your benefit, but the majority of musicians really won't understand what they are paying for as I sit there and EQ/compress/pan/etc their song.
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Nov 28, 2005 02:00 am That's why I do it on a "per song" rate.
I don't do most of it infront of the customer, because it is just time consuming, and extremely boring for them. I get them to come stand behind me when I'm almost happy with the mix, or I post it on my forum for comments from them, so that they can give me their input before I do the final mixdown/master - that way they feel they have had their say in the mix, without them rushing me because they are counting hours etc.
I am perhaps extremely generous with the amount of time I put into mixes vs the amount of monay I get for them, but it is too my benefit too if I am happy with the mix when it is put out there with my name as "Mix engineer/producer" on it, because then other people are more likely to be impressed with it too - my name, as well as the bands name is on the line - I'd never want mixes I'm unhappy with floating around, that might turn future customers away...
RigsbyUltra MagnusMember
Since: Nov 13, 2004
Nov 28, 2005 03:42 pm I'm with dragnorchid on the per song rate, charging by the hour for mixing either ends up with impatient souls in the control room or a poorer mix than you may've otherwise had unless those guys are very used to recording and know the deal.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Nov 28, 2005 06:58 pm I do either one depending on the customer. Mostly by the hour though, unless it is a commercial or standard piece. Most all of my work is done without ever seeing the artist or client. Track's or project's are either mailed ot sent up for download by the client, I retrive them and mix away. There is a rare occasion when I need to redo thing's. Usually using the client's FTP site or such for file transfer's. Sometime's done peer to peer, depending again on the client.
