Mix and Mastering — What Is It?
You often hear “mix,” “mastering,” “mix/master” — but what does it actually mean? This guide explains the difference and helps you understand what you need.
| Stage | What Does It Do? | When Do You Need It? |
|---|---|---|
| Mix | Combines all tracks into a cohesive whole | Always after recording |
| Mastering | Adds punch, clarity, and release-readiness | Before publication |
What Is Mixing?
Section titled “What Is Mixing?”Mixing is the process of combining all recorded tracks into one cohesive song.
What Does a Mix Engineer Do?
Section titled “What Does a Mix Engineer Do?”- Balances volumes — vocals should be audible but not overpower the beat
- Pans — places sounds in stereo space (left-right)
- Equalizes (EQ) — corrects frequencies so nothing “clashes”
- Compresses — controls dynamics, evens out quiet and loud parts
- Adds effects — reverb, delay, chorus, saturation
- Automates — volume and effects change throughout the song
Example
Section titled “Example”You have recorded vocals and a backing track (beat). The mix engineer:
- Sets the vocal at the right level
- Adds reverb so the voice isn’t “dry”
- Equalizes so the vocal “cuts through” the beat
- Compresses so quiet parts are audible
- Automates volume in choruses
Result: Everything sounds like one cohesive track, not separate recordings played together.
What Is Mastering?
Section titled “What Is Mastering?”Mastering is the final step before publication — but don’t underestimate it. This is often when a track truly “comes alive.” You work on a finished mix (one stereo file) or on stems — grouped tracks like DRUMS, BASS, INSTRUMENTS, VOCALS, VOCAL FX, BV. Stem mastering offers even more possibilities.
Why Does Mastering Make a Difference?
Section titled “Why Does Mastering Make a Difference?”- Fresh ears — the mastering engineer hears your track for the first time and catches things you and the mixer missed after hours of work
- Professional monitoring — speakers worth tens of thousands in an acoustically treated room reveal problems invisible on headphones or home monitors
- Punch and energy — good mastering adds impact you feel in your chest. The kick starts hitting, the bass has weight
- Width and space — the track becomes “bigger,” instruments spread out, vocals push forward
- Clarity — everything becomes clearer, each element has its place
- Consistency across systems — sounds good in the car, on AirPods, in the club
What Specifically Does a Mastering Engineer Do?
Section titled “What Specifically Does a Mastering Engineer Do?”- Optimizes loudness for streaming (without destroying dynamics)
- Corrects frequency balance (does the bass disappear on small speakers?)
- Controls dynamics — compression and limiting
- Adds analog character (saturation, tape emulation)
- Checks mono compatibility
- Prepares formats for distribution
Example of the Difference
Section titled “Example of the Difference”You get a mix from the engineer — sounds good. After mastering:
- The kick hits harder, you feel it in your body
- Vocals are clearer and closer
- Hi-hats have air, don’t scratch
- Everything is louder but not “crushed”
- Sounds just as good on headphones as on speakers
Clients often say mastering made more difference than they expected. Sometimes it’s subtle polishing, sometimes a real transformation — a good mastering engineer knows when a track needs just a gentle touch and when much more can be extracted from it.
Mix vs Mastering — Differences
Section titled “Mix vs Mastering — Differences”| Aspect | Mix | Mastering |
|---|---|---|
| You work on | Multiple tracks (multitrack) | Stereo or stems |
| Scope of changes | Large — everything can be changed | Final touch, but noticeable |
| Work time | Hours to days | Hours |
| Can fix | Recording problems | Balance, energy, width |
| Goal | Coherence and balance of elements | Punch, clarity, release-readiness |
What Do You Need?
Section titled “What Do You Need?”Mix Only
Section titled “Mix Only”If:
- You want a demo to show friends
- You’re sending a track to a label/A&R
- Maximum loudness doesn’t matter to you
Mix + Mastering
Section titled “Mix + Mastering”If:
- You’re publishing on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube
- You want the track to sound professional and compete in the music market
- You’re releasing a single, EP, or album
Mastering Only
Section titled “Mastering Only”If:
- You already have a finished mix (e.g., from another engineer)
- The mix sounds good but needs finalization
How Much Does It Cost at Flightcore?
Section titled “How Much Does It Cost at Flightcore?”| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Mix/mastering of a track | from 500 PLN |
| Mastering only | from 300 PLN |
| Vocal mix (to a ready beat) | from 400 PLN |
Full pricing: Pricing
Common Mistakes
Section titled “Common Mistakes””Mastering Will Fix a Bad Mix”
Section titled “”Mastering Will Fix a Bad Mix””No. Mastering works on finished stereo — if vocals are too quiet in the mix, mastering won’t fix that. You can only raise everything, but proportions remain. Stem mastering offers a bit more flexibility, but nothing replaces a well-done mix.
”Louder = Better”
Section titled “”Louder = Better””Not always. Streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music) normalize loudness. An over-compressed, “crushed” track will sound worse than a dynamic one.
”Mix/Master Is One Thing”
Section titled “”Mix/Master Is One Thing””These are two different processes. Often done by the same person, but requiring different skills and tools.
How Does It Work at Flightcore?
Section titled “How Does It Work at Flightcore?”- You record — vocals, instruments
- You get a demo — premix, so you can hear how it sounds
- You order a mix — engineer works on the tracks
- You get a mix for approval — 2 revision rounds included
- You order mastering — finalization for publication
- You get the master — ready for distribution