Preparing a Wedding Mix to Hand Off to Your DJ
Checklist, file formats, naming, lead time, backup copies: the method to hand a wedding mix to a DJ or sound engineer with no surprises on the day.
A DJ or sound engineer receiving your wedding mix needs far more than a file attached to an email: a format that works on their gear, a clear name, a backup copy, and enough lead time to test before the day. Here's the full checklist for a handoff with no surprises.
The handoff checklist
- Format: MP3 320kbps by default (light, universal), or WAV if the sound engineer explicitly asks for it. See our MP3 vs WAV comparison.
- Naming: date, couple's names, content, duration. Example:
2026-09-12_Julie-Marc_Reception-mix_58min.mp3. - Lead time: at least 7 days before the event, to give the sound engineer time to test it on their own setup.
- Two copies: a digital send (email, share link) and a physical USB drive handed over in person, in case of a network outage on the day.
- Confirmation: ask for written confirmation that the file was received, opened, and tested.
What a DJ or sound engineer actually expects
Beyond the file itself, a professional appreciates receiving an approximate timing sheet: which song corresponds to which moment (couple's entrance, first dance, etc.), and a contact point for last-minute questions. A calculator for how many songs per moment helps document that timing.
Why 7 days of lead time, not 1
A file tested the night before leaves zero room for error if something goes wrong (an unreadable format, a corrupted file, a volume miscalibrated for the sound system). Seven days allow a back-and-forth: test, feedback from the sound engineer, fix if needed, then re-test.
Preparing the file in MixClap
- Finish your mix and check the volume and transitions.
- Export as MP3 320kbps (or WAV if requested) for €4.99.
- Rename the file according to the convention above.
- Send it to the sound engineer at least 7 days before the event, with a backup copy on a USB drive.
Going further
To build the mix before handing it off, see our complete wedding mix guide.
