Prepping your mix for mastering is pretty straightforward.  Here's what you'll need to do:

 

1. Make sure you're happy with the mix

Make sure that everybody involved with the project is happy with the mix (or mixes). Mastering is going to enhance things sound-wise, but it's not going to drastically change the core balance of your song.

 

2. Remove any limiting from the master channel

Make sure that any limiting on the master channel is removed. I will take care of all things loudness at the mastering stage! If you've been using a limited reference, please send that over as well as your mix so that I have an idea of what you've been listening to up until now. Any other master channel processing can stay - I like to take mixes as close to "done" as possible and I want all of your creative vision intact.

 

3. Check and check again for any clipping

Before you hit export, just check and double check that your mix doesn't clip on the master channel. If it does, just bring the overall level down a touch until it no longer clips.

 

4. Export your audio at native resolution

With all of that done, simply export your audio as a WAV file in the resolution it was mixed in. If you mixed it at 44.1kHz 24bit, export it at 44.1kHz 24bit. If you mixed it at 48kHz 24bit, export it at 48kHz 24bit.

 

5. Need additional versions mastered?

If you need additional versions mastered (Instrumentals, Radio Edits, PA Mixes, etc), now is a good time to export those too.