diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index cd583bf8..8889aa41 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -8,3 +8,4 @@ venv/
 *.exe
 deej-dev
 deej-release
+releases/
diff --git a/scripts/README.md b/scripts/README.md
index 33cd9ffe..020d226f 100644
--- a/scripts/README.md
+++ b/scripts/README.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 This document lists the various scripts in the project and their purposes.
 
-> Note: All scripts are meant to be run from the root of the repository, i.e. from the `deej` directory: `scripts\whatever.bat`. They're not guaranteed to work correctly if run from another directory.
+> Note: All scripts are meant to be run from the root of the repository, i.e. from the `deej` directory: `scripts\...\whatever.bat`. They're not guaranteed to work correctly if run from another directory.
 
 ### Windows
 
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ This document lists the various scripts in the project and their purposes.
 - [`build-all.bat`](./windows/build-all.bat): Helper script to build all variants
 - [`make-icon.bat`](./windows/make-icon.bat): Converts a .ico file to an icon byte array in a Go file. Used by our systray library. You shouldn't need to run this unless you change the deej logo
 - [`make-rsrc.bat`](./windows/make-rsrc.bat): Generates a `rsrc.syso` resource file inside `cmd` alongside `main.go` - This indicates to the Go linker to use the deej application manifest and icon when building.
+- [`prepare-release.bat`](./windows/prepare-release.bat): Tags, builds and renames the release binaries in preparation for a GitHub release. Usage: `prepare-release.bat vX.Y.Z` (binaries will be under `releases\vX.Y.Z\`)
 
 ### Linux
 
diff --git a/scripts/misc/default-config.yaml b/scripts/misc/default-config.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..60ba6f65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/misc/default-config.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+# process names are case-insensitive
+# you can use 'master' to indicate the master channel, or a list of process names to create a group
+# you can also use 'system' on windows to control the "system sounds" volume
+slider_mapping:
+  0: master
+  1: chrome.exe
+  2: spotify.exe
+  3:
+    - pathofexile_x64.exe
+    - rocketleague.exe
+  4: discord.exe
+
+# set this to true if you want the controls inverted (i.e. top is 0%, bottom is 100%)
+invert_sliders: false
+
+# settings for connecting to the arduino board
+com_port: COM4
+baud_rate: 9600
+
+# limits how often deej will look for new processes
+# it's recommended to leave this setting at its default value
+process_refresh_frequency: 5
diff --git a/scripts/misc/release-notes.txt b/scripts/misc/release-notes.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..56e4405d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/misc/release-notes.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+This release ___________:
+
+- One awesome thing that happened
+- Another awesome thing
+
+Launch instructions:
+
+- Download both `config.yaml` and `deej.exe` and place them in the same directory
+- Verify that your config has the correct COM port for your Arduino board
+- Launch `deej.exe`. You can always edit the config while `deej` is running
+
+**_Linux users:_** for the time being, please build from source. If there's demand for precompiled release binaries, please [let us know!](https://discord.gg/nf88NJu)
+
+> _Tip: If `deej.exe` seems to crash or doesn't start, please [send us](https://discord.gg/nf88NJu) the `logs\deej-latest-run.log` file from your `deej` directory.
+
+> _Tip:_ `deej-debug.exe` is a version with a console window that displays additional logs. If you have trouble getting things to work, [join our Discord](https://discord.gg/nf88NJu) and post a snippet there.
+
+More detailed instructions and documentation are in the [repo's main page](https://github.com/omriharel/deej).
+
+Enjoy!
diff --git a/scripts/windows/prepare-release.bat b/scripts/windows/prepare-release.bat
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..aa9798d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/windows/prepare-release.bat
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+@ECHO OFF
+
+IF "%1"=="" GOTO NOTAG
+
+ECHO Preparing release (%1)...
+ECHO.
+
+git tag --delete %1 >NUL 2>&1
+git tag %1
+
+REM set windows scripts dir root in relation to script path to avoid cwd dependency
+SET "WIN_SCRIPTS_ROOT=%~dp0"
+
+CALL "%WIN_SCRIPTS_ROOT%build-dev.bat"
+
+ECHO.
+
+CALL "%WIN_SCRIPTS_ROOT%build-release.bat"
+
+REM make this next part nicer by setting the repo root
+SET "DEEJ_ROOT=%WIN_SCRIPTS_ROOT%..\.."
+PUSHD "%DEEJ_ROOT%"
+SET "DEEJ_ROOT=%CD%"
+POPD
+
+MKDIR "%DEEJ_ROOT%\releases\%1" 2> NUL
+MOVE /Y "%DEEJ_ROOT%\deej-release.exe" "%DEEJ_ROOT%\releases\%1\deej.exe" >NUL 2>&1
+MOVE /Y "%DEEJ_ROOT%\deej-dev.exe" "%DEEJ_ROOT%\releases\%1\deej-debug.exe" >NUL 2>&1
+COPY /Y "%DEEJ_ROOT%\scripts\misc\default-config.yaml" "%DEEJ_ROOT%\releases\%1\config.yaml" >NUL 2>&1
+COPY /Y "%DEEJ_ROOT%\scripts\misc\release-notes.txt" "%DEEJ_ROOT%\releases\%1\notes.txt" >NUL 2>&1
+
+ECHO.
+ECHO Release binaries created in %DEEJ_ROOT%\releases\%1
+ECHO Opening release directory and notes for editing.
+ECHO When you're done, run "git push origin %1" and draft the release on GitHub.
+
+START explorer.exe "%DEEJ_ROOT%\releases\%1"
+START notepad.exe "%DEEJ_ROOT%\releases\%1\notes.txt"
+
+GOTO DONE
+
+:NOTAG
+ECHO usage: %0 ^<tag name^>    (use semver i.e. v0.9.3)
+GOTO DONE
+
+:DONE