Mixing vs Mastering: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters
Introduction
If you're preparing a track for release — whether it's a single, podcast episode, film score, or full album — chances are you'll come across two essential stages: mixing and mastering.
These terms are often used interchangeably, especially by those new to production. But they serve very different purposes. One shapes the track’s internal balance; the other prepares it for the outside world.
In this guide, we’ll explain the difference between mixing and mastering, when you need each, and why both are vital for achieving a professional, release-ready sound.
What Is Mixing?
Mixing is the process of balancing and shaping the individual elements within a session — such as vocals, instruments, sound effects, or voiceover tracks — into a cohesive and polished whole.
At this stage, the engineer works within the multitrack project, applying creative and technical decisions to make everything sit well together.
Mixing typically includes:
Adjusting volume levels between tracks
Panning elements in the stereo field
Applying EQ to shape tone
Adding compression for consistency
Introducing reverb, delay, or effects for space and texture
Editing timing or fades
Removing unwanted noise or artifacts
Bouncing a final stereo or surround mix
Mixing is where the emotional impact and creative identity of a track are defined. A great mix enhances the energy, clarity, and feel of the project — whether it’s music, film dialogue, or branded content.
What Is Mastering?
Mastering is the final stage of post-production — the last polish applied to a finished stereo or surround mix to prepare it for distribution across all formats and platforms.
It focuses on how the final track sounds as a whole and ensures consistency between tracks or across formats.
Mastering involves:
Final EQ adjustments to the overall mix
Subtle compression and limiting for dynamics and loudness
Stereo widening or enhancement
Matching loudness standards (e.g. LUFS for Spotify, Apple, broadcast, etc.)
Sequencing and spacing (for albums or series)
Exporting and encoding in required formats (WAV, MP3, DDP, etc.)
While mixing focuses on individual elements, mastering focuses on the track as a single unit — and how it competes and translates across various playback systems.
Why Both Stages Matter
Skipping either stage can undermine the final quality of your project.
Without proper mixing:
Vocals may be buried or too loud
Drums and bass may overpower other instruments
Frequencies may clash, causing muddiness
The emotional impact of the track might be lost
Without proper mastering:
Volume might be too quiet or distorted
Tracks may sound inconsistent across devices
You could fail to meet delivery standards for streaming or broadcast
A strong mix might still sound unpolished or uncompetitive
If you’re planning to release commercially or send to a client, you need both stages to ensure your project translates accurately and professionally.
Do You Always Need a Separate Mastering Engineer?
Not necessarily. Some projects — especially independent singles or podcasts — may be mixed and mastered by the same engineer, especially if they have both the skillset and the tools.
However, there are advantages to having a second set of ears on the final master:
Fresh perspective
Dedicated monitoring and acoustic environment
Specialised outboard gear or mastering tools
Objectivity for final loudness and tone decisions
At Kore Sounds, our team can handle mixing and mastering as separate services, or as part of a streamlined package — depending on the scope and the desired outcome.
Mixing and Mastering in Dolby Atmos
With the rise of spatial audio on Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Tidal, more producers are mixing in Dolby Atmosor immersive formats.
In these cases:
Mixing includes placement of audio elements in a 3D space
Mastering includes encoding for ADM BWF and other spatial delivery formats
Loudness targets and monitoring become even more crucial
We offer Atmos mixing and mastering as part of our services at Kore Sounds — ideal for artists and labels looking to future-proof their releases.
When to Master Your Podcast or Voiceover
While mastering is often associated with music, it’s equally important for:
Podcasts (to maintain consistent levels across episodes)
Voiceover (to meet broadcast or platform specs)
Audiobooks (to comply with Audible or Findaway Voices standards)
In these contexts, mastering ensures clarity, comfort, and compliance — especially when mixing in intro/outro music or publishing to multiple platforms.
Final Thoughts
Mixing and mastering are two sides of the same coin. You can’t afford to skip either if you want your content to sound polished, professional, and platform-ready.
Mixing shapes the soul of the track
Mastering prepares it for the world
And when both are done properly — whether in stereo or Atmos — the result is something that sounds good everywhere, not just in your studio.