I’m not too fussy about being given notes for mix revisions. Fortunately I tend to be so aligned with the artists I work with that they rarely request significant changes. If we’ve agreed to an hourly rate project, I may include a small round of revisions for free but will charge hourly for additional. If we’ve agreed to a flat rate project, I will do unlimited revision within reason. I haven’t had anyone pass the threshold into unreasonable revision requests yet.
TIPS ON GIVING THE MOST USEFUL MIX REVISION NOTES:
Remain calm. This is rare, but once in a long while an artist will respond to the first mix in a panic that I’ve missed the mark. In almost every instance, after lowering the intensity of the situation and asking follow up questions I’ve found that all they needed were some small revisions to get the mix completely back on track for them. Asking for revisions is part of the process, there’s no need to get emotional about it.
Keep your revision notes in chronological order so I can efficiently tackle them moving forward through the timeline of the song.
Include time codes of the minutes and seconds (at XX:XX or from XX:XX to XX:XX) relevant to each note so I can easily find them. For vocals it also helps to include the lyrics and song section relevant to a note.
Refer to dates. Every version I send the artist of a mix will have a date on it. Sometimes I might change something and the artist preferred an older version of it. For example, you could say “I prefer the latest instrumental mix but prefer the vocal mix from from 6.13.23.” I can now go to the source sessions of each corresponding date and compile them into a new version.
Include references, where applicable. If you’re hearing an idea in your head that you’re having trouble describing in words, refer me to a recording of a song that features the sound you’re looking for.