Frequently Asked Questions

A production session with Max Noir covers everything from initial concept to finished instrumental — beats, arrangement, sound design and stems delivery. Full days and half days are available at Fader House, Brighton. You'll leave with a polished production ready to record over or release.

Mix engineering is the process of balancing, shaping and spatially arranging all the individual elements of your track so it sounds cohesive, clear and professional on any speaker. If you've recorded or produced a track and it doesn't quite sound like a finished record, mixing is what it needs.

Mixing balances the individual elements within a track. Mastering is the final step — it optimises the mixed stereo file for loudness, consistency and compatibility across streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube. You need both to release a professional-sounding record.

For mix engineering, send your stems — individual exported audio files for each element of your track (vocals, drums, bass, synths etc). These should be exported from the start of the project, with no effects printed unless you specifically want them. WAV or AIFF at 24-bit is preferred.

For mastering, send your final stereo mix as a WAV or AIFF file, ideally at 24-bit. Leave around 3–6dB of headroom — do not limit or clip the mix before sending. The louder the better is a myth at this stage.

Max Noir works across R&B, Hip Hop, Soul, Rap, Pop, Electronic and Dance Music. The skills of mixing and mastering transfer across genres — if you're unsure whether your project is a good fit, just reach out and we can discuss it.

Not at all. Most mixing and mastering clients send files remotely and receive the finished work back digitally. Production sessions are based at Fader House in Brighton, but remote collaboration is available — get in touch to discuss.

Mix engineering starts at £120 for a single track. EP packages (4–6 tracks) start at £400. All mixes include two rounds of revisions. Turnaround is agreed at the time of booking based on the project. Get in touch for a quote.

Mastering a single track starts at £25. EP mastering (4–6 tracks) starts at £90. A mix and master bundle for a single track is £135 — the bundle is the best value option if you need both services.

Full day production sessions are £240. Half days (4 hours) are £140. One round of post-session revisions is included. Stems are delivered within 48 hours of the session.

A mix can take anywhere from two to five or more hours depending on the complexity of the track — the number of stems, the genre and the level of detail required. Turnaround time is agreed at the time of booking so you always know when to expect your files back.

Mastering is typically delivered within 3 working days. Turnaround for mixing is agreed at the point of booking based on the project scope and current workload. Rush turnarounds may be available — get in touch.

Yes — EP pricing is built into the rate card and represents a meaningful saving versus booking tracks individually. Album pricing is negotiated per project — get in touch with the details of your release.

A 50% deposit is required to confirm any booking, with the balance due on delivery. Payment is via bank transfer. Files are not released until payment is received in full.

Flexible arrangements may be available for low income individuals or those with specific financial circumstances. Get in touch before booking and Max will do his best to find something that works.

Mix engineering includes two rounds of revisions per track. Mastering includes one round. Production sessions include one round of post-session revisions. Additional revision rounds are available at £20 per round.

A revision is a set of notes or changes sent in one go, to which Max responds with an updated file. To make the most of your included rounds, consolidate all your feedback before sending. Sending notes in multiple separate messages may count as multiple rounds.

Revision requests must be submitted within 7 days of delivery. After this window, the project may be treated as complete and additional work billed separately.

Mixing and mastering are delivered as WAV (24-bit) and MP3 (320kbps). Exclusive beat purchases include WAV, MP3 and full track stems. Production sessions deliver stems within 48 hours. All files are sent via a shared download link.

Use the contact form at maxnoir.co.uk or email maxnoir.uk@gmail.com. Include a brief description of your project — the service you need, the genre, the number of tracks and any relevant links. Max will get back to you to discuss and confirm the booking.

Yes — the Work section at maxnoir.co.uk includes the Kyla Kilzer & Max Noir EP on Tru Thoughts Recordings, along with a before-and-after mix comparison for 'Eye to Eye' by Max Adriaan. This gives you a direct sense of the sound and quality of the work.

Confidentiality is taken seriously. Max will not share, distribute or publicly reference any unreleased material before you release it. If a formal NDA is required, get in touch to discuss.

Absolutely. Max works with artists at all stages — from debut singles to more established projects. If budget is a concern, reach out before booking and he'll do his best to find an approach that works for your situation.

Generally, mixing and mastering are done independently to ensure focus, but studio attendance can be arranged for production sessions and in some cases for mixing. Mention this when you enquire and we can discuss what works.

Recording sessions are available at Fader House in Brighton. The permanent Fader House studio opens autumn 2026 — in the meantime, get in touch to discuss recording options at the current space.

A lease is a non-exclusive licence — you can use the beat for your release, but Max retains the right to lease it to others. An exclusive buyout means you own the rights to that production permanently and it's removed from the store. Exclusive rights command a higher price.

Basic and Premium leases include WAV and MP3 files. Exclusive buyouts include WAV, MP3 and full track stems — so you can rearrange, isolate elements, or send them for mixing.

Yes — both Basic and Premium leases permit monetisation on streaming platforms and YouTube. Basic leases cover up to 100,000 streams over 5 years. Premium leases cover up to 1,000,000 streams over 10 years. An exclusive buyout is unlimited.

Yes — the credit 'Max Noir - Producer' is required on all releases using any beat from the store, regardless of licence type. This must appear in streaming metadata, liner notes and any promotional materials.

Yes. If you have a specific sound, tempo or vibe in mind that isn't in the current store, you can commission a custom production. Get in touch with a reference and your budget.

One-to-one tutoring sessions covering music production, mix engineering and DJing. Sessions are 2 hours at £60 and available in-person at Fader House, Brighton or online via video call. All levels welcome — from complete beginners to more advanced producers looking to sharpen specific skills.

Sessions are taught on Ableton Live and Logic Pro. If you're not sure which DAW to start on, this is something we can discuss when you get in touch — both are excellent choices depending on your goals.

Tutoring sessions are £60 for 2 hours, available in-person at Fader House in Brighton or online. Get in touch to book a session or discuss what you want to cover.

Yes — mix engineering technique is one of the tutoring subjects on offer. Sessions can cover the full mix process, specific areas like EQ, compression and spatial processing, or mixing within your chosen DAW. Mastering fundamentals can also be covered on request.

Yes — DJing is available as a tutoring subject. Sessions can cover mixing, beatmatching, EQing on the mixer, track selection and building sets. In-person sessions at Fader House allow you to practise on professional equipment.

Absolutely. Sessions are tailored to your level and your goals — whether you've never opened a DAW before or you've been producing for years and want to develop specific skills. Get in touch with a brief description of where you're starting from and what you want to achieve.

For production and mix engineering, online sessions work very well — screen sharing means you can follow along in your own DAW in real time. In-person sessions at Fader House add the benefit of working in a professional studio environment, which is particularly valuable for DJing and hands-on engineering work.