Before you call it finished.
A short review to help you finish a version with intention. Bring your reference, your notes and a little distance from the session.
The idea
- Play the complete arrangement without adjusting anything.
- Identify the part that should hold your attention in each section.
- Write down the three changes that matter most.
- Remove any task that is only about making the session look more complicated.
The balance
- Check the busiest passage and the sparsest passage.
- Compare with a familiar reference at a similar perceived listening level.
- Listen once at a lower playback level and note which elements remain clear.
- Check the mix in mono and listen for changes in the important parts.
The details
- Listen across edits, entrances and transitions.
- Check the beginning for accidental noise and the ending for cut-off tails.
- Review automation in context, especially after moving clips.
- Check the final output for unintended overload.
The export
Confirm the destination's requested format, sample rate and bit depth. Include the intended start and ending. Name the file with the track, version and date, then listen to the exported file itself. The export is the file that leaves the session.
Keep the project, its media and a previous mix together in your archive. A version such as TrackName_Mix03_2026-10-13 is easier to identify than another file called final.
The next listen
Return after a break and use another familiar playback system if you have one. Write specific observations with timestamps. Separate an audible problem from a preference you could keep changing forever.