Mixing vs mastering
Mixing works inside the track: it balances the parts against each other. Mastering works on the whole track, once the mix is locked, to get it ready to go out. The first builds, the second finishes. In that order, always.
What mixing does
Mixing takes all the parts of a track and makes them work together. The engineer works part by part: the level of the vocal, where the bass sits, how wide the guitars are, how deep the drums are. There are dozens of independent elements in front of them, and each one can be touched.
It's the longest stage, and the one that decides the rest. A good master will never save a rough mix.
What mastering does
Mastering receives one file: the final mix, in stereo. The engineer can no longer turn the vocal down or move the snare. They work on the whole thing, with broad tools, adjusting the overall colour, the dynamics and the final level.
On a project of several tracks it adds something mixing doesn't cover: how the tracks follow one another. Even volumes, the gaps between tracks, the same colour all the way through.
Working out which one you need
If your parts still exist separately and the track doesn't yet sound the way you imagine it, you need mixing.
If you're happy with your mix and you want a file you can send to a distributor, you need mastering.
If you're not sure, send us the track. We'll tell you straight what will make the biggest difference, including when the answer is to go back to the arrangement first.
Common questions
Can the same person do both?
Yes, and it saves time: the master is being thought about from the mix onwards, with no handover. Some artists prefer a fresh pair of ears at mastering, which is also a fair argument. We do both.
Should I master a track that isn't being released?
For a demo going to a label or a promoter, a light master helps: the track gets heard in the same conditions as everything else in the pile. For internal work, the mix is enough.
Tell us about your project.
We take on a limited number of projects each season. We read everything that comes in.