punchline studio / Mixing & Mastering
Recording Studio Lahr · Remote worldwide

Mixing & Mastering
that breathes.

A good recording is not a finished song. Between the recording and what ends up on Spotify lies the mix – and that step determines whether a song works or not. Mixing is not about making things louder. It is about balancing frequencies, drawing out emotions, creating depth and space. A professional mix gives every instrument its place without one crowding out another. And mastering ensures that mix sounds exactly the way it should on every speaker – from headphones to a club system.

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Our speciality

Live Recording Mixing –
the hardest discipline.

Live recordings are unforgiving. Inconsistent levels, room acoustics, feedback frequencies, microphone bleed – what is controlled in the studio is reality at a live concert. Many studios take on live mixing jobs and only realise mid-process that it is its own discipline. We know these problems from countless concert recordings and know how to fix them without it sounding like a fix – because a good live mix carries the feeling of the evening, not just the notes.

Our concert film label WeLive is the proof: every film sounds like a carefully produced studio recording – because we treat live recordings exactly that way.

Pricing

Transparent. Clear.
No surprises.

All prices include VAT. For more complex projects (more tracks, longer songs, multiple songs) we are happy to provide an individual quote.

Standard
Mixing
from 390€
per song · incl. VAT
  • Song up to approx. 4 minutes, up to 24 tracks
  • Leichtes Vocal Editing & Tuning
  • Noise Reduction & Re-Amping
  • Reference track matching on request
  • 2 revisions
  • All formats
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Entry
Mastering
from 95€
per song · incl. VAT
  • Song up to approx. 4 minutes
  • Streaming-optimised (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.)
  • Stem mastering on request
  • Analogue signal chain + digital precision
  • 2 revisions
  • WAV + MP3 delivery
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Popular
Complete package
Mixing & Mastering
from 460€
per song · incl. VAT · 5% vs. separate booking
  • Everything from Mixing + Mastering
  • Abgestimmter Workflow zwischen Mix & Master
  • 4 revisions (2× mixing, 2× mastering)
  • Stem mastering on request
  • All formats & Streaming-ready
  • Fastest turnaround
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Speciality
Live-Recording
Mixing & Mastering
from 515€
per song · incl. VAT
Mixing ab 450€ + Mastering from 95€ − 5% = from 515€
  • Specifically for live concert recordings
  • Raumklang-Behandlung & Bleed-Reduktion
  • Inconsistency correction between takes
  • Drum replacement / drum enhancement
  • Mastering for streaming & broadcast
  • Stem mastering on request
  • 2 revisions Mixing · 2 revisions Mastering
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Album packages: 5% discount from 5 songs · 10% discount from 10 songs – applies to mixing, mastering and mixing & mastering.

In detail

What goes into every mix.

Mixing

Input: Multitracks (all individual tracks of your session)

  • Gain Staging & Session-Vorbereitung
  • Leichtes Vocal Editing & Pitch-Korrektur
  • Noise reduction
  • EQ, compression, saturation per track
  • Stereofeld & Raumtiefe
  • Automation & Dynamik
  • Re-amping: ENGL & Fender amplifiers
  • Reference track matching
  • 2 revision rounds included
  • Delivery in all requested formats

Mastering

Input: Stems or stereo mixdown (WAV/AIFF, 24bit+)

  • Analoge & digitale Signal-Chain
  • EQ & Dynamik-Optimierung
  • Stereobreite & Tiefenstaffelung
  • Loudness optimisation (Spotify, Apple, Tidal, etc.)
  • True peak limiting
  • Stem mastering on request
  • DDP / CD-ready on request
  • 2 revision rounds included
  • WAV (24–32bit / 44.1–192kHz) + MP3 320kbps
  • ISRC embedding on request
Remote workflow

How it works.

Whether you're in Freiburg, Offenburg, Karlsruhe, or on the other side of the world, mixing and mastering works just as well remotely as it does for clients who come to the studio in person. The process stays the same:

01
Send your filesMultitracks for mixing, stems or stereo mixdown for mastering – via WeTransfer, Dropbox or Google Drive.
02
BriefingReference tracks, target platform, genre, desired sound – ideally in writing by email.
03
First mixPrivate streaming link – no download needed. Within 3–5 working days.
04
RevisionsFeedback in writing, as specific as possible – timecode, track, what bothers you. We adjust until it's right.
05
DeliveryWAV, MP3 and all formats you need – streaming-ready.
References

Hear for yourself.

Mixed & mastered by punchline studio – from folk and rock to hip-hop.

Live recording mixing – examples from real concert recordings.

Live sound reference 1 – punchline studio
Live sound reference 2 – punchline studio
Live sound reference 3 – punchline studio
Live sound reference 4 – punchline studio
Live sound reference 5 – punchline studio
Live sound reference 6 – punchline studio
Maik Styrnol, mixing and mastering engineer at punchline studio

Photo: Maik Styrnol · CC BY-SA 4.0

Who's Mixing

Maik Styrnol

I've been mixing and mastering music for bands and artists for many years, from the first demo to live recordings in front of thousands. Together with my brother Pirmin, I run punchline studio in Lahr, in the Black Forest. Whatever lands with us gets mixed by me personally, no anonymous team, no clicking through presets.

In Depth

More on Mixing & Mastering.

What we actually do in the studio, and why.

See all articles
FAQ

Common questions.

Can a self-recorded demo be professionally mixed?
Yes – with one important caveat: mixing improves a recording but cannot rescue fundamentally poor recordings. Recording at home with a decent microphone in a quiet environment often produces surprisingly good results. We are happy to listen to your material beforehand and give you an honest assessment of what is possible.
What format should I send my files in?
For mixing: individual tracks (multitracks) as WAV or AIFF, 24bit or 32bit float, at the original sample rate. No master compressor or limiter on the mix bus. For mastering: your stereo mixdown, ideally 24bit WAV or higher. If you're unsure, just ask – we'll help you.
How many revisions are reasonable?
Two revision rounds are sufficient in most cases – provided the feedback is specific. The more precisely you describe what bothers you (timecode, instrument, quality), the faster we reach the goal. Vague feedback like "something still feels off" is harder to work with than "the guitar in the bridge sounds too harsh".
How long does a mixing project take?
Typically 3–5 working days for the first mix. For multiple songs or complex projects we agree on a schedule upfront. Express orders (24–48h) are available on request.
What's the difference between studio mixing and live recording mixing?
In studio recordings, all parameters are controlled – each track was recorded in isolation. With live recordings, microphones bleed into each other, room acoustics are part of the recording, and level differences between songs or takes are normal. Live recording mixing requires significantly more experience and specific tools – which is why it's its own category with us.
Can I give feedback before paying?
Yes. You receive the first mix as a private streaming link and can give feedback before final delivery and invoicing. The included revisions are clearly defined – additional rounds are possible at an extra charge.
Do you work with all genres?
Yes – from rock, folk and americana to jazz, hip-hop, funk and electronic. Our reference playlist shows the range. Just send us your reference track and we'll tell you honestly whether we're the right partner.
Are there discounts for albums or multiple songs?
Yes – 5% discount from 5 songs, 10% from 10 songs. Particularly worthwhile for EP and album productions. Just drop us a message about what you're planning.
Do you work with clients outside Germany?
Yes – we work daily with artists from Germany, Italy, Switzerland, the US, and beyond. Remote mixing and mastering works just as well as working in person: you send your files, we send back the mix. All communication runs over email, video call, or messenger, whatever works best for you.
How does payment from abroad work?
The simplest option is a bank transfer via IBAN, which is what we'd recommend. PayPal works too. We issue invoices according to whatever fits your specific situation, for example under the EU reverse-charge mechanism for business clients with a valid VAT ID within the EU. Best to just mention it beforehand so the invoice is set up correctly from the start.
Technical standards

Our production standards.

Mixing

  • Avid Pro Tools Ultimate
  • Sample rates: 44.1 – 192 kHz
  • Bit depth: 24bit / 32bit float
  • Microphones: Telefunken, Sennheiser, Oktava, Shure, Røde, Sony, Audix
  • Monitoring: Genelec 8050, Yamaha MSP 5
  • Converters: Focusrite
  • Consumer check: Teufel, Denon, Harman Kardon (hi-fi)
  • Delivery: WAV, MP3, all formats

Mastering

  • Analogue signal chain
  • True peak limiting (–1 dBTP)
  • Loudness: –14 LUFS (Spotify), –16 LUFS (Apple)
  • Stem mastering on request
  • DDP / CD-ready on request
  • ISRC embedding available

Live Recording Mixing

  • Multitrack recording
  • Desk direct feed (analogue)
  • Room acoustics treatment & noise reduction
  • Drum enhancement & bleed control
  • Compatible: concert, theatre, dance
  • Experience: 100+ live productions

Plugins & Processing

  • FabFilter (Pro-Q, Pro-C, Pro-L, Pro-MB)
  • iZotope RX (Restoration & Repair)
  • Pulsar Modular (analogue emulations)
  • Tokyo Dawn Labs (TDR Nova, Kotelnikov)
  • Waves, Soundtoys, Valhalla
  • UAD / Apollo Processing
Ready?

Let's work on your mix.

Drop us a short message about what you have – we'll get back to you within 24 hours.

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