Differences Between Mixing and Mastering

After recording a song, there are two key steps to perfect the track: mixing and mastering. Often confused, associated, and mixed together, these two processes are actually very different. They do not have the same goals at all.

How does album production work?

When you want to produce a musical album, you go through predefined and strictly chronological steps.

• Composition of the musical track(s)
• Recording
• Mixing
• Mastering
• Distribution (CD pressing, streaming platforms, and other media)

We will focus exclusively on the distinctions between mixing and mastering. The other steps are identifiable by their name, and very few musicians are unable to explain what recording is!

What is mixing?

Audio mixing is the process of combining and processing all recorded audio tracks to create a single stereo file.

When recording a track, the engineer will capture, for example, 8 different tracks of drums, guitars, bass, vocals, and any other instrument. There is therefore an audio capture by tracks. Mixing allows these 8 tracks to be associated to generate an exploitable stereo track.

What are the goals of audio mixing?

Audio mixing should result in the production of a single stereo track. The latter must be balanced in terms of frequencies, dynamics, and spaces.

Frequency balance allows for a harmonious balance between bass, mids, and highs.

Mastering dynamics provides an adjustment of power and compression between each track, and therefore between each musical instrument.

Finally, when we talk about spaces, we make sure that the presence of each instrument is pleasant to listen to. They can also be positioned in space to obtain a particular listening experience. We avoid large superpositions at the same degree to limit sound muddiness, while taking into account the wishes of the group or artist.

What audio treatments are used?

During the mixing stage, effects are used that are contained in the DAW or in plugins. They are applied to the tracks according to creative needs. This is where we talk about inserting gain, saturation, reverb, compression, or equalization.

When does mixing stop to make way for mastering?

Mixing is considered finished when the audio file is balanced and pleasant to listen to. The rendering must be harmonious. If you detect a problem when listening, it means that the mixing still needs some improvement. Each instrument must be audible and given a rendering…

Mastering having nothing to do with mixing, you should not count on this step to improve the mix. Mastering will not improve the mix! On the other hand, its quality depends on it.

It is always difficult to determine when the mixing is finished. It’s obviously subjective! The most important thing is that it meets the expected goals and that it suits you.

When you choose to move on to the mastering step, you consider that the mix is good!

What is mastering?

Mastering is always the last step in the audio production of a track. It allows you to optimize the final mix before it is distributed on streaming platforms or pressed into records.

What are the goals of mastering?

Mastering is the finality of mixing! It refines it to get the best possible rendering. During mastering, small adjustments are made to highlight certain elements. It is really a refinement step!

In general, the track will be standardized to give it coherence with all the other tracks that make up the album. You have noticed that albums have a coherence between the tracks. When listening to them, we have the feeling of unity. We listen to one track then another, and everything seems to belong to the same set. This impression is the sign of successful mastering! Conversely, it is sometimes difficult to appreciate an album because it lacks sonic coherence.

What is put in place during mastering?

Several things can be done during mastering. The person who takes care of it can add a few effects to the mix. They will work on the frequencies to boost certain presences or even add compressors.

In the case of an album, the engineer will balance the volumes and frequencies of all the pieces of music.

It is also checked that the sound is consistent on different media (CDs, vinyls, radios, etc.)

If you entrust the same track to two sound engineers, the final mastering will not be identical. Their personality comes into play and influences the rendering. You need an impartial ear with new ideas.

Who does the mastering?

It is not recommended to entrust the mastering to the person who did the mixing. After mixing, a person has difficulty detaching himself from what already exists. However, a third party is better able to intervene and modify certain settings. An impartial ear with new ideas is needed.