If you’re an independent artist getting ready to release music, you’ve probably come across the terms “mixing” and “mastering” and wondered — what’s the actual difference? Do I need both? Can I skip one?
These are fair questions, especially if you’re working within a budget. So let me break it down in plain terms, based on how I approach it here at the studio.
What Is Mixing?
Mixing is the process of taking all the individual recorded tracks in your song — vocals, guitars, bass, drums, keys, effects, everything — and blending them together into a single, cohesive stereo track.
During the mix, I’m working on:
- Balance — making sure every instrument has its place and nothing drowns anything else out
- EQ — carving out space so each element has clarity and doesn’t clash with the others
- Compression — controlling dynamics so the song feels consistent and punchy
- Reverb and delay — adding depth and space to create a sense of environment
- Panning — placing elements left, right, and centre to create width
- Automation — adjusting levels and effects throughout the song to support the emotional arc
Think of mixing like cooking a meal. You’ve got all the raw ingredients (your recorded tracks) and the mix is where you season, combine, and plate everything so it tastes — or in this case, sounds — incredible together.
The mix is where the emotion, energy, and vibe of your song really comes to life. It’s the stage where a good recording becomes a great-sounding track.
What Is Mastering?
Mastering comes after mixing. It takes the final stereo mix and prepares it for release on streaming platforms, vinyl, CD, or wherever your music ends up.
During mastering, I’m working on:
- Overall loudness — bringing the track up to commercial volume levels (e.g., hitting Spotify’s -14 LUFS target) without squashing the dynamics
- Final EQ adjustments — subtle tweaks to the overall tonal balance
- Stereo enhancement — making sure the width and imaging translate well across all playback systems
- Limiting — ensuring the track doesn’t clip or distort on any device
- Consistency across an album or EP — if you’re releasing multiple songs, mastering ties them together so they feel like a cohesive project
- Format preparation — delivering the right file formats for each platform
If mixing is cooking the meal, mastering is the final quality check before it goes out to the restaurant floor. It makes sure everything is polished, balanced, and ready to be served.
Do You Need Both?
Short answer: yes, for the best result.
Mixing and mastering serve different purposes and each one adds a layer of quality to your final product. Skipping either one is like recording a great vocal performance but never editing it — you’re leaving quality on the table.
That said, I understand budgets are real. Here’s how I’d think about it:
- If you can only afford one: prioritise mixing. A great mix can sound good even without mastering, but no amount of mastering can fix a poor mix.
- If you’re releasing a single: mixing and mastering together is very affordable and absolutely worth it.
- If you’re releasing an EP or album: mastering becomes even more important because it ties all the tracks together into a unified project.
Can the Same Person Do Both?
Yes — and many engineers (myself included) offer both mixing and mastering. There’s an argument that having a separate mastering engineer brings “fresh ears” to the project, and that’s valid. But for independent artists, having the same engineer handle both can be more efficient and cost-effective, and it means one person has a deep understanding of your entire project.
I offer both services individually and as a package, and I’m always happy to chat about what makes sense for your specific project.
What Should You Budget?
Pricing varies widely across the industry. For independent artists working with experienced engineers, you can expect to invest anywhere from $100 to $500+ per song for mixing, and $50 to $150+ per song for mastering. Bundling both together usually saves you money.
I wrote a more detailed breakdown in my article on how much mixing and mastering costs if you want to dive deeper.
The Bottom Line
Mixing is about making your song sound great. Mastering is about making it sound great everywhere. Together, they take your raw recordings and turn them into a professional, release-ready product that stands alongside anything else on Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever your fans find you.
If you’re working on new music and want to chat about mixing, mastering, or both — I’d love to hear from you. I work with indie artists, bands, and singer-songwriters worldwide, and I’m always happy to talk through what your project needs.