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Mixing and mastering are often mentioned together, but they involve different skills and decisions. Whether you’re recording your own music or considering a career in production, it helps to understand what each brings to a finished track.
Let’s look at the key differences, what each process involves and the skills you’ll need to work as a mixing or mastering engineer.
What is audio mixing?
Audio mixing brings the individual recordings in a song together, balancing vocals, drums, bass and other instruments so they work as a whole.
A mixing engineer makes technical and creative decisions to shape the sound. Common techniques include:
Level adjustments: balancing the volume of each part.
Panning: positioning sounds between the left and right channels.
EQ (equalisation): adjusting frequencies to shape tone and help sounds sit together.
Compression: controlling changes in volume and shaping a sound’s impact.
Reverb and delay: creating space, depth and effects.
Automation: changing levels or settings throughout the song.
Mixing also means getting to know your production software and equipment, including how they influence what you hear.
What is audio mastering?
A mastering engineer usually works with an approved stereo file of the finished mix, assessing its overall sound and preparing it for release.
The process can involve adjustments to tonal balance, dynamics and loudness, alongside checks for technical problems. It also considers how the recording sounds across different playback systems.
For an EP or album, mastering helps tracks work together in tone and perceived loudness. It can also include setting the running order and gaps between songs, before preparing files for the intended release format.
Mixing vs mastering: the key differences
Both roles use tools such as EQ and compression, and both need critical listening, technical knowledge and musical judgement. The difference lies in where those skills are focused.
| Mixing Engineer | Mastering Engineer | |
| Main focus | Shape how the vocals and instruments work together within a song. | Assess the finished mix and prepare it for release. |
| Typical tasks | Can adjust individual vocals and instruments independently. Balances levels, position sounds and apply EQ, compression and effects to individual parts. | Usually works with a combined stereo mix, with less control over individual parts. Refines overall tone, dynamics and loudness, check technical quality and prepare release files. |
| Audio decisions | What should stand out, how much space each part needs and how the mix supports the artist’s message. | Whether the mix needs final adjustments, whether any issues need revisiting and what’s required for delivery. |
| Key skills | Hearing how sounds interact, using production tools creatively and interpreting feedback. | Identifying subtle sound issues, making precise adjustments and understanding release requirements. |
For a wider look at different studio roles and what they involve, explore our guide to careers in music production.
Where do mixing and mastering fit in music production?
Some stages seen in mixing and mastering can overlap, especially for independent artists producing their own music, but a typical workflow usually looks something like this:
- Recording and production: capture performances and develop sounds and arrangements.
- Editing: select studio takes and address timing, tuning or unwanted noise where needed.
- Mixing: balance and shape the individual parts.
- Mix approval: review the recording and agree on final changes.
- Mastering: assess the approved mix and prepare the final audio.
- Distribution: submit the release through your chosen distributor or delivery route.
Can mastering fix a bad mix?
Mastering can address some problems, but it can’t replace the control available during mixing. If a vocal is too quiet or the bass overpowers the song, it’s usually better to return to the individual tracks. Once those parts are combined, an adjustment intended to improve one sound may affect others too. A mastering engineer may flag an issue and ask for a revised mix before continuing.
Can you mix and master your own music?
Yes. One person can handle both, and working on your own recordings is a useful way to develop your skills.
Keeping perspective can be difficult, though. After hours of listening to the same song, you may stop noticing problems or overly scrutinize parts unnecessarily. A separate mastering engineer brings fresh ears, specialist experience and a different listening environment.
If you’re doing both yourself, leave time between the stages. Take breaks, listen on different speakers or headphones and compare your work with relevant reference tracks at similar playback volumes. Feedback from other musicians and producers can also help you judge what needs changing.
If you’re building your setup to mix and master your own tracks, it’s worth checking out the best free plugins with tools for EQ, effects and loudness metering.
Develop your music production skills with LCCM
Learning to mix and master takes practice, careful listening and feedback. Studying music production gives you time to explore these processes, collaborate with other musicians and develop your approach through practical projects.
Explore LCCM’s Music Production & Sound Engineering and Music Performance & Production courses, or take your practice further with postgraduate study in music production.
FAQs
How long does mixing and mastering take?
There’s no fixed timescale. It depends on the recording’s complexity, the work needed and the number of revisions. If you’re hiring an engineer, agree on deadlines and feedback arrangements before starting.
Do all songs need mastering before release?
For a planned release, mastering provides a final quality check and prepares the audio for delivery. It doesn’t have to involve major changes: a strong mix may need very little processing. A rough demo shared for feedback may not need the same preparation.
Is mixing or mastering harder?
Mixing and mastering both require expert skill when performed at a high level. Mastering is typically a more simple or straightforward process than mixing, but that doesn’t mean that it is easier or deserves less attention. Mixing and mastering both require their own separate set of skills and thought processes.
