Standard Session File Delivery Guidelines

The LA industry standard is 48kHz or 96kHz, 24-bit WAV files. While 96kHz is popular with engineers who prefer additional frequency headroom during processing, 48kHz is the sweet spot for compatibility with video delivery and modern streaming services. Always ensure your session is consolidated, meaning every track starts from bar one, beat one, so it lines up perfectly when opened in any DAW regardless of what software was used to create the session.

Name your tracks clearly from the start. Vocal Lead Main is better than Audio 01 Copy. Include a lead sheet or a plain text file with the BPM, time signature, and key of the song. This allows the engineer to set up their grid and pitch correction plugins in seconds rather than spending the first portion of your paid time on detective work. Some studios will request this information before the session in their booking confirmation, and providing it proactively signals that you are a professional client.

If you are bringing stems, make a clear decision about whether they should include effects or not. Providing effects-printed stems gives the mix engineer the version of the sound you actually want, while providing dry stems gives them maximum flexibility to process differently. The safest approach is to provide both: a wet folder and a dry folder clearly labeled, so the engineer can make an informed choice based on how the mix is developing.

Use cloud storage as your primary delivery method, but always carry a physical SSD backup. Internet connections at studios can be inconsistent, and a large session with many tracks could take hours to download when you could have simply plugged in a drive. Use clearly labeled folder structures on both the cloud and the physical drive so that the backup process does not require explanation or hunting. Label the drive itself with your name and project so it cannot be confused with another client's media.

After the session, establish a clear archive protocol with the studio. Know whether the room keeps a backup copy of your session files for any period after delivery, or whether you are expected to leave as the sole owner of all session data. Many independent studios do not maintain long-term client file storage, which means your exported files and the original session backup are both your responsibility from the moment you leave. Build an archiving habit before it becomes a recovery problem.