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Mix Directive

Manual / Searchable guide

MD / Web

Every part of Mix Directive, explained simply.

Start with a task or search in your own words. Each chapter explains what the feature is for, when to use it, and the safest way to work with it.

01 / Start

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Getting started and your first song

The shortest route from a downloaded song to a saved Mix Directive project.

When to use it

Start here if this is your first visit, or if you want a reminder of the normal order of work.

A simple way to do it

  1. 1

    Add the folder that contains your songs, ZIP packages, or audio files.

  2. 2

    Let Mix Directive scan the folder and create library entries.

  3. 3

    Choose a song, check its details and stems, then open it in Studio.

  4. 4

    Balance and polish the song, check the finished audio, then export it.

What each part does

What Mix Directive is for

Mix Directive keeps the files, notes, artwork, mix decisions, mastering checks, and release information for a song together. It is made for finishing existing music, especially songs and stems downloaded from AI music services.

What you need

A computer, your song files, and headphones or speakers are enough. WAV files give you the best starting quality, but the app can also work with common formats such as MP3, FLAC, OGG, AAC, and M4A.

A simple working order

Think of the app as one connected path:

  • Library: find and organise the right song.
  • Studio: mix the song or its separate stems.
  • Master: apply the final polish and measure it.
  • Quality and Release: check the result and prepare the hand-off.

02 / Organise

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Library, importing, and finding songs

Bring songs into one catalogue, avoid duplicates, and find the version you want quickly.

When to use it

Use the Library whenever you are choosing a song, adding new music, or checking the health of your catalogue.

A simple way to do it

  1. 1

    Add or choose a folder to scan. You can also drag supported files or ZIP packages into the app.

  2. 2

    Review the new library entries and open the song that you want to work on.

  3. 3

    Use search, folders, tags, moods, albums, or playlists to narrow a large catalogue.

  4. 4

    If a source moves, use the repair or relink option instead of importing a second copy.

What each part does

Imports and ZIP packages

A ZIP can contain a full mix, separate stems, artwork, and useful song information. Mix Directive reads the package, links the parts to one song, and keeps the source package available without making you organise every file by hand.

Search and filters

Search looks across the useful identity of a song. Filters help you focus on a folder, status, genre, tag, mood, album, or other collection. Clear the filters when a song appears to be missing from the list.

Duplicates and versions

The library checks sources so the same material is less likely to be added twice. Alternate versions can stay separate while sharing tags, an album, or a naming pattern that makes their relationship clear.

Missing sources

A missing badge usually means the audio was moved, renamed, disconnected, or not fully downloaded from cloud storage. Relink the existing entry to the correct file so its notes and work stay attached.

03 / Organise

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Song details, artwork, tags, and notes

Keep the identity and working history of each song beside its audio.

When to use it

Use Song Details when you need to identify a version, record an idea, prepare credits, or make the song easier to find later.

A simple way to do it

  1. 1

    Select a song in the Library and open its Details view.

  2. 2

    Check the title, artist, version, tempo, key, and other known information.

  3. 3

    Add artwork, lyrics, genres, tags, and a mood profile where they are useful.

  4. 4

    Save review notes or comments so the next decision has context.

What each part does

Song information

Basic information includes the song title, artist or persona, duration, tempo, key, and source. Some values can be read from the file or package; you can correct them when the source information is incomplete.

Artwork and lyrics

Store a single cover or album artwork with the song and keep lyrics close to the audio. Release checks can then warn you about missing items before you export a package.

Tags, genres, and mood

Genres describe the broad style. Tags are your own flexible labels, such as “needs vocals” or “summer release.” Mood values describe qualities such as energy and emotional feel, which makes related songs easier to find.

Comments and working notes

Comments are a simple record of feedback and decisions. Write what needs attention, what changed, and what should happen next. This is safer than relying on a filename such as final-final-2.

04 / Organise

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Playback, stems, and visualizers

Listen to a full song or a single part and use visual displays to support what you hear.

When to use it

Use these tools when comparing sources, checking a stem, repeating a problem area, or looking for something that is hard to hear.

A simple way to do it

  1. 1

    Choose the full mix or an individual stem.

  2. 2

    Use the transport to play, pause, move through the song, or repeat a short section.

  3. 3

    Open a waveform or visualizer when you need a clearer view of level, frequency balance, or stereo movement.

  4. 4

    Return to normal listening before deciding whether a visible difference is a real problem.

What each part does

The transport bar

The transport is the main set of playback controls. It shows your position in the song and provides play, pause, seeking, looping, reference listening, and tempo-related controls where available.

The stems panel

Stems are the separate parts of a song, such as vocals, drums, bass, or instruments. Preview a stem to confirm that it is the correct file and to hear problems that may be hidden in the full mix.

Waveforms and visualizers

A waveform shows how the level changes over time. Spectrum and stereo views show frequency energy, loudness, and left-to-right behaviour. They are guides, not scoreboards: the final decision should still make musical sense.

05 / Create

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Studio, mixer, and timeline

Balance the song, place sounds left or right, compare a reference, and work on exact parts of the timeline.

When to use it

Open Studio when the full mix needs adjustment or when you have stems that you want to balance and shape together.

A simple way to do it

  1. 1

    Play the loudest part and pull the stem levels down if the main output is clipping.

  2. 2

    Set the main balance with the faders before adding effects.

  3. 3

    Use pan, mute, and solo to understand how the parts fit together.

  4. 4

    Compare with a trusted reference at a similar listening level, then save the mix.

What each part does

Mixer channels

Each stem has a channel with level, pan, mute, solo, metering, and effects. The Main Mix channel controls and measures the combined result. Leave comfortable headroom so mastering has room to work.

Timeline and arrangement

The timeline places waveforms against time. Zoom in for a small edit, zoom out to see the whole song, and loop a section while you work. Arrangement and clip tools let you change where audio starts, stops, or repeats.

Reference comparison

A reference is a finished song whose balance or character you trust. Level matching stops the louder song from seeming automatically better. Compare broad qualities, then return to your song rather than copying every detail.

Clash Watch and the inspector

The inspector shows controls for the selected stem or main mix. Clash Watch points out frequency areas where parts may be covering each other. Treat its findings as places to listen, not automatic instructions to cut sound.

06 / Create

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Effects, plugins, and sound repair

Shape tone, control level, add space, or repair a problem with built-in tools and supported plugins.

When to use it

Use an effect after you can name the problem you want to solve or the character you want to add.

A simple way to do it

  1. 1

    Choose the stem or Main Mix that needs attention.

  2. 2

    Add an effect to an empty slot or start with a suitable Quick Chain.

  3. 3

    Change one control at a time and compare with bypass at a similar level.

  4. 4

    Keep the change only when it improves the song in context.

What each part does

Common built-in effects

EQ changes tonal balance. Compression controls changing levels. Reverb and delay create space. Saturation and modulation add colour. Stereo tools change width. Limiters catch peaks. Utility tools handle gain, polarity, channels, and timing.

Repair and intelligent tools

Noise reduction, de-clicking, de-essing, de-wobble, adaptive tone, space control, and related tools are designed for specific faults. Preview repairs carefully; removing too much can also remove musical detail.

Spectral editor

The spectral editor displays sound by time and frequency. Selection and painting tools can reduce a click, noise patch, whistle, or unwanted sound without changing the whole file. Work on a copy or keep an undo point for detailed repairs.

External plugins

The Plugin Manager scans supported VST3 plugins on Windows and supported plugin formats on macOS. A plugin that fails a scan can be disabled so it does not interrupt normal work. Built-in effects remain available without third-party plugins.

07 / Create

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Automation, clip editing, and routing

Make changes that happen only where they are needed and control how sound moves through the mix.

When to use it

Use these advanced tools when a static setting cannot solve the whole song—for example, one loud word or a reverb needed only in the chorus.

A simple way to do it

  1. 1

    Decide whether the change belongs to a clip, a channel control, or an effect control.

  2. 2

    Create the edit or automation points around the part that needs to change.

  3. 3

    Use gentle moves and smooth fades to avoid clicks or sudden jumps.

  4. 4

    Listen across the boundary before and after the change, then save a new mix version.

What each part does

Automation lanes

Automation records how a control changes over time. It can ride a vocal level, move a sound across the stereo field, or change an effect. Points form a line that the control follows during playback and export.

Clip tools

Split creates separate pieces. Move, duplicate, trim, and delete change the arrangement. Fades smooth the beginning or end of a clip. Time and pitch tools can alter a selected piece when the source needs a more involved correction.

Buses, sends, and returns

Routing lets several stems share processing. A bus groups sounds; a send feeds some of a channel into a return, often for shared reverb or delay. Sidechain control lets one sound influence an effect on another, such as making bass move out of the kick drum’s way.

08 / Finish

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Mastering, Easy Master, and metering

Apply the final polish to the complete song and measure whether the result is safe for its destination.

When to use it

Master after the mix balance is settled. Mastering can polish a good mix, but it should not be used to hide a large mixing problem.

A simple way to do it

  1. 1

    Open the Mastering inspector and choose the intended destination or a sensible starting preset.

  2. 2

    Use Easy Master for a guided starting point, or build the chain manually.

  3. 3

    Compare before and after at a similar listening level while watching loudness, peaks, and stereo safety.

  4. 4

    Preview the full song, especially its loudest section and its beginning and ending.

What each part does

Manual and guided mastering

Manual mastering gives direct control over the master chain. Easy Master and guided chains suggest a useful starting path from measured problems. You can adjust or reject those choices; they do not replace listening.

LUFS and true peak

LUFS describes the average loudness people are likely to hear. True peak estimates peaks that can appear during playback conversion. The chosen release destination supplies targets, but musical quality matters more than forcing every reading to one exact number.

Phase and mono checks

Stereo correlation and mono listening reveal sounds that may weaken or disappear on a single speaker. Wide high-frequency detail may be fine, while unstable bass or a vanishing lead part deserves attention.

Mix Report

The Mix Report gathers measurements and observations about loudness, peaks, spectral balance, stereo behaviour, and release health. Use it to guide a listening pass and to record what was checked.

09 / Finish

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Audio Audit and Quality Control

Run a local technical inspection, see a plain Pass, Review, or Fail result, and jump to the part that needs attention.

When to use it

Audit a source before difficult repair work and audit the finished export before you release or deliver it.

A simple way to do it

  1. 1

    Choose Audit Export after rendering, or run Audio Audit from Quality Control or the selected song or stem.

  2. 2

    Choose the purpose: streaming release, download release, source or stem, or a deeper diagnostic check.

  3. 3

    Read the verdict and next action. Open Technical view only when you need measurements and thresholds.

  4. 4

    Use timeline markers and original-versus-master comparison to confirm the problem, correct it, then rerun the audit.

What each part does

What the verdict means

Pass means no enabled release-blocking rule failed. Review means a warning needs human judgement. Fail means a hard safety or destination rule failed. Incomplete means the file could not be fully read or a required measurement was unavailable.

What is checked

The audit checks whether the file can be read, its format and metadata, loudness, sample and true peaks, clipped regions, leading, trailing, and unexpected silence, DC offset, dynamics, stereo and mono safety, low bass width, effective bandwidth, possible upsampling, and selected artifact evidence.

Find the problem in time

Regional findings include time markers. Previous and Next move between them, and the audition control plays a short area around the finding. This avoids searching through the whole song for one clipped hit or silent gap.

Compare original and master

Aligned waveform and spectrogram views can be stacked, overlaid, shown as a difference, or compared with a movable wipe. Zoom, pan, linked playback, logarithmic frequency view, and left-minus-right view help explain what changed without assuming that every difference is an improvement.

Reports, privacy, and speed

Save HTML or PDF for people, JSON or CSV for records, and a labelled PNG comparison image. The normal audit works locally and does not upload audio. Quiet, Balanced, Fast, and Custom modes control how much computer power batch audits use; cancelled batches can be resumed.

10 / Finish

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Exporting, renders, and batch work

Create the right file for listening, release, video, collaboration, or safekeeping.

When to use it

Export when the mix or master is ready to leave the project. Use batch work when the same known process should run across several songs.

A simple way to do it

  1. 1

    Choose whether you need the full mix, the mastered song, separate stems, or more than one output.

  2. 2

    Select a format and quality that match the next destination.

  3. 3

    Choose a clear output folder and filename, then render.

  4. 4

    Listen to the rendered file and run Audio Audit before delivery.

What each part does

Choosing a format

WAV is the safest high-quality choice for release and further work. FLAC keeps full quality in a smaller file. MP3 is convenient for quick sharing but removes some audio information. A 24-bit WAV is useful for archive or video work; 16-bit, 44.1 kHz WAV is a common music delivery format.

Preview and final renders

A Preview Render lets you hear the processing quickly before committing to the final output. The full-quality render should be the file you listen to, audit, and deliver.

Stem exports

Export separate stems when a collaborator, remix, performance, or archive needs them. Check whether master-bus processing should be included; otherwise the stems may not rebuild to exactly the same sound as the final master.

Batch jobs and reports

A batch can repeat an approved path over several songs or files. The queue shows progress and failures, and its report records the settings and outputs. Review a small sample before trusting a large unattended batch.

11 / Finish

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Release readiness and delivery

Check that the song, sound, artwork, and identity are complete before upload or hand-off.

When to use it

Open Release Readiness when a song is meant to leave your private working library.

A simple way to do it

  1. 1

    Choose the song or collection that you plan to release.

  2. 2

    Review the audio, master, artwork, metadata, credits, lyrics, and checklist status.

  3. 3

    Open each warning and either correct it or record why it is acceptable.

  4. 4

    Create the final files and keep the audit report with your release records.

What each part does

The readiness checklist

The workspace gathers the pieces that are easy to forget when they live in different folders. It can show whether a song has a suitable master, complete identity, artwork, album or persona links, and required checks.

Warnings and blockers

A warning asks you to review something; a blocker identifies a requirement that is not satisfied. Open the item to see what is missing and the next available action instead of treating every message as a technical fault.

Release packages

A release package keeps approved audio and supporting information together for upload, backup, or delivery. Check filenames and open the package once before sending it.

12 / Manage

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Albums, playlists, and artist personas

Group songs for listening and releases while keeping each artist identity consistent.

When to use it

Use these workspaces when songs belong together, need a listening order, or are released under a particular artist identity.

A simple way to do it

  1. 1

    Create the album, playlist, or persona and give it a clear name.

  2. 2

    Add songs from the Library and arrange them in the intended order where order matters.

  3. 3

    Add shared artwork, notes, and identity information.

  4. 4

    Review the collection before using it in a release or listening session.

What each part does

Albums and EPs

An album is a release collection with a deliberate track order and shared information such as title, artwork, and artist. It helps Release Readiness check the songs as one body of work.

Playlists and smart playlists

A normal playlist is a hand-picked listening or working list. A smart playlist follows rules, such as songs with a certain tag or status, so it updates as the library changes.

Artist personas

A persona stores a consistent artist identity, biography, artwork, and useful defaults. Linking songs to the right persona reduces repeated typing and helps prevent mixed-up credits or branding.

13 / Manage

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File safety, archives, trash, and backups

Keep the catalogue tidy without losing important sources or finished work.

When to use it

Use these controls when a project is inactive, a source has moved, a song was removed by mistake, or you are preparing a backup or clean uninstall.

A simple way to do it

  1. 1

    Archive inactive songs when you want them out of the daily view but still safely recorded.

  2. 2

    Move unwanted library entries to Trash and review them before emptying it.

  3. 3

    Restore an entry if it was removed by mistake, then relink its audio if needed.

  4. 4

    Back up both the source audio and the Mix Directive library data.

What each part does

Archive is not delete

Archiving hides inactive work from normal views while preserving its details and links. Use it for finished, paused, or older material that you may need again.

Trash and restore

Trash is a recovery step before permanent removal. Restoring puts the library entry back. Emptying Trash may remove records or files depending on the confirmation shown, so read the target list carefully.

Backups

The library database contains organisation and project information; audio folders contain the music itself. A complete backup needs both. Keep at least one copy on a different physical drive or trusted backup service.

Removing the app

Uninstalling the application and removing its local data are separate actions. Keep a backup before deleting settings or library data, especially if you plan to reinstall cleanly.

14 / Manage

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Settings, performance, updates, and help

Choose audio hardware, balance responsiveness and stability, customise the app, and solve common problems.

When to use it

Visit Settings when changing equipment or preferences. Visit Help when a control is unfamiliar or the app is not behaving as expected.

A simple way to do it

  1. 1

    Choose the correct audio output device and a stable buffer size.

  2. 2

    Set interface, scanning, playback, and keyboard preferences to suit your work.

  3. 3

    Use in-app Help, tips, the glossary, and this Manual before changing many settings at once.

  4. 4

    When reporting a problem, include the app version, operating system, what you did, what happened, and whether it happens again.

What each part does

Audio device and buffer

The output device decides where sound is sent. A smaller buffer feels more immediate but works the computer harder; a larger buffer is more stable for heavy mixes. Increase it if playback crackles or drops out.

Performance choices

Large visualizers, many plugins, complex repair tools, and low buffer settings can all add load. Freeze, render, bypass, close, or simplify expensive work when playback becomes unreliable.

Shortcuts and interface help

Keyboard shortcuts speed up common actions and can be customised where supported. Tooltips and “What’s this?” help explain controls in context. The glossary translates audio terms into everyday language.

Updates and troubleshooting

Read What’s New before updating an important project. For a problem, begin with the smallest likely cause: selected device, missing source, active filter, muted channel, failed plugin, or unfinished cloud sync. Save work before restarting.