Mixing and mastering are two essential steps in music production, each with a unique role. Mixing happens first, it’s where individual tracks like vocals, drums, and guitars are balanced, EQ’d, and enhanced to sound cohesive together. The mixing engineer adjusts levels, adds effects, and ensures each element fits within the sonic space of the song.
Mastering comes after mixing and focuses on the final polish. It enhances the overall sound, ensures consistency across an album, and prepares the track for distribution on streaming platforms, radio, or vinyl. Mastering also adjusts loudness, stereo width, and frequency balance to make sure your song sounds great everywhere. If you’re diving into music production or just curious about the process, the World-Wide Q&A community is a great place to learn from engineers and artists around the globe.