Files & delivery

A bit of headroom never hurts — and the fact that you're even asking is a good sign. What really matters is not clipping while you record: once a take clips, it's clipped for good, and turning the file down afterwards won't bring it back. Past that, don't get hung up on a number — clean tracks that don't clip are all you need. The one thing to avoid is going extremely quiet, since at 24-bit or below the faintest detail simply drops out.

Yes, you can. We work mainly in Cubase Pro. If you work in Cubase too, you can send us your session directly. We can also open other formats, including Logic. That's useful for closer collaboration or production work. If that's of interest, just let us know.

You can also export the individual tracks: almost every DAW has a batch-export function for that. It's worth checking how exporting works in your particular DAW.

• What is an AAF file?
• What is a batch export?

AAF (and the older OMF) is an interchange format that bundles a whole DAW session into a single file: the tracks and files with their timecode, and with AAF also names and automation (OMF drops those). It's a useful option, but not a one-click solution. Especially third-party plugins and DAW-specific features don't always come across correctly, so it's not something to rely on blindly.

You can also export the individual tracks: almost every DAW has a batch-export function that does the work for you. It's worth checking how exporting works in your particular DAW.

• What is a batch export?

A batch export is a function that lets you export several tracks, or a whole session, in a single pass, something that used to be a laborious, manual job. Almost every DAW offers it these days. A few clicks let you set what gets exported: whether you get just the raw material, whether master effects are included, whether all plugins are bypassed, or whether the tracks are normalized.

The settings are what matter here. Normalizing, for instance, adjusts each track's level on its own, which undoes the level balance of your mix. It's worth checking how batch export works in your own DAW, and paying attention to the right settings.