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.

Mixing starts from £160 per track. The final price depends on the number of stems and how complex the track is — you'll get a fixed quote before anything is booked. Every mix includes two rounds of revisions. EPs and albums are quoted per project, with a discount for multiple tracks. Get in touch for a quote.

Mastering is £30 per track, delivered as WAV and MP3 with one round of revisions. EPs and albums are quoted per project, with a discount for multiple tracks.

A full day production session (8 hours) is £300 and a half day (4 hours) is £180, at Fader House in Brighton. Each session includes stems delivered within 48 hours and one round of revisions. Multi-day projects are quoted per project.

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.

Masters are delivered within 5 working days, or on a date agreed when you book. Mixing turnaround is agreed at booking based on the project and current workload. Rush turnarounds may be available — get in touch.

Yes. Bigger projects — EPs, albums, multi-day production and regular or block tutoring bookings — are quoted per project, and discounts are available. Get in touch with the details of your project.

Payment is by bank transfer, and your booking is confirmed once payment is received. Production sessions, mastering and tutoring are paid in full when you book. Mixing is a 50% deposit when you book, with the remaining 50% paid before your final files are released.

Refunds depend on how much notice you give before your session, or before the agreed start date for mixing and mastering:

7 days or more — full refund
48 hours to 7 days — 50% refund
24 to 48 hours — 25% refund
Less than 24 hours — no refund

Once work on a mix or master has started, it can't be refunded. You can reschedule once for free with more than 48 hours' notice. Sessions start and finish on time, so arriving late doesn't extend a session, and a missed session counts as used. If Max ever needs to cancel, you'll get a full refund or a free reschedule — your choice.

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.

Mixing includes two rounds of revisions per track, mastering includes one, and production sessions include one round after the session. Additional rounds are £20 each.

A revision is one set of notes, sent together by email, to which Max responds with an updated file. To make the most of your included rounds, gather all your feedback before sending — notes sent in separate messages may count as separate rounds. Changes outside the original brief, like a new direction or extra tracks, are quoted separately.

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.

Mixes and masters are delivered as WAV (24-bit) and MP3 (320kbps). Production sessions deliver stems within 48 hours. Everything is sent via a download link that stays live for at least 30 days, so keep your own backup. Final files are released once payment is complete.

Once you've paid in full, the final master recording is yours. Project and session files stay with Max unless agreed otherwise. Anything Max produces for you is exclusive to you — he won't sell or license that production to anyone else.

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.

For production work — where Max has helped create the music itself — yes. By default, Max receives 50% of the composition (songwriting) share of the song: performance (PRS), mechanical and sync income. A different split can be agreed, but it has to be agreed in writing before work starts, and everyone involved signs a split sheet. Releases must credit "Max Noir - Producer". The master recording and its income stay with you.

Mixing and mastering don't carry royalties. A "Mixed by" or "Mastered by Max Noir" credit is appreciated but not required.

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.

One-to-one tutoring sessions covering music production, mix engineering and DJing. Sessions are 2 hours and cost £70, and new students can start with a £50 discovery session. Discounts are available for regular or block bookings. 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 2 hours and cost £70, paid when you book. New students can start with a discovery session for £50. If you're booking regularly or in blocks, ask about discounted rates. Available in-person at Fader House in Brighton or online via video call. 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.