How to Export a Song from Your DAW

Knowing how to export a song from your DAW is the final step that turns your project into a file you can share, upload or send for mastering. The process is similar in every DAW — it’s usually called Export, Bounce or Render — and the choices that matter are file format, sample rate, bit depth and the section you’re exporting. This guide covers all of them.

Get these settings right and your track will sound exactly like it did in your project, with no clipping, no missing tails, and the right quality for its destination.

Find the export command in your DAW

The wording differs, but the function is the same:

• Logic Pro / GarageBand — Share or Bounce.
• Reaper — File > Render.
• Ableton Live — File > Export Audio/Video.
• FL Studio — File > Export.
• Studio One / Cubase / Pro Tools — Export Mixdown or Bounce.

Choose the right file format

Pick the format based on where the song is going:

• WAV or AIFF — uncompressed, full quality. Use this for masters, for sending to a mastering engineer, and for uploading to streaming platforms.
• MP3 — compressed and small. Use it for quick demos, email and previews, not for the final master.
• FLAC — compressed but lossless. A good archive format.

Always keep a WAV master even if you also make an MP3 to share.

Set sample rate and bit depth

Export at the same sample rate your project was recorded in — usually 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz — to avoid an extra conversion. For bit depth, choose 24-bit for masters and files you’ll send for mastering; it gives more headroom and detail than 16-bit. Only render to 16-bit when a delivery spec specifically requires it. If those terms are new, our sample rate and bit depth explained guide breaks them down.

Set your render range and check levels

The most common export mistakes are exporting the wrong section or cutting off reverb tails. Before you render:

• Set the time/loop selection to cover the whole song, plus a beat or two of silence at the end so reverb and delay tails ring out fully.
• Check your master meter. The mix should peak below 0 dBFS — leave a little headroom (around -1 dB) so nothing clips, especially if a mastering engineer will work on it.
• Make sure no tracks are accidentally muted or soloed.

If your master is peaking too hot, revisit your gain staging rather than just pulling down the master fader.

Loudness and mastering

An exported mix is not the same as a master. Streaming platforms target a loudness level measured in LUFS, and a dedicated master brings your track up to a competitive, consistent loudness. Read LUFS explained: how loud should a master be and what is mastering to understand the final stage. For a quick check, compare your export against a commercial reference track.

Frequently asked questions

What format should I export for Spotify and Apple Music?

Upload a high-quality WAV or AIFF at the project’s native sample rate and 24-bit depth. The platform handles its own compression, so you don’t need to make an MP3 yourself.

Why is my exported song quieter than commercial tracks?

Because your mix hasn’t been mastered. Mastering raises and controls the overall loudness to a competitive level. Don’t just crank the master fader — that causes clipping.

Why does my export cut off at the end?

Your render range probably stops right at the last note. Extend the selection by a couple of seconds so reverb and delay tails have room to fade out naturally.