Mixing vs. Mastering: What's the Difference and Do You Need Both?
By Matt O'Neil · July 2025 · 6 min read
This is one of the most common questions I get from artists who are new to working with professional engineers. The short answer: mixing and mastering are two completely different processes that serve different purposes — and yes, most professional releases need both.
What Is Mixing?
Mixing is the process of combining all the individual elements of a song — vocals, drums, bass, synths, guitars, effects — into a single, cohesive stereo track. The mixing engineer controls the volume, panning, EQ, compression, reverb, and countless other parameters to make every element sit together in a way that sounds intentional, balanced, and emotionally impactful.
Think of mixing like directing a film. The raw footage (your stems) is all there, but it needs to be assembled, color-graded, and edited into something that tells a coherent story. A great mix makes you feel something — it has depth, dimension, and energy.
Mixing happens before mastering. You cannot master a song that hasn't been mixed — or rather, you can, but the results will be limited by the quality of the mix underneath.
What Is Mastering?
Mastering is the final step in the audio production process. It takes the completed stereo mix and prepares it for distribution. The mastering engineer applies subtle processing — EQ, compression, limiting, stereo enhancement — to ensure the track sounds consistent across all playback systems and meets the loudness standards required by streaming platforms.
Mastering also handles the technical requirements of distribution: format conversion (WAV, MP3, DDP for CD), loudness normalization for Spotify and Apple Music, and sequencing for albums and EPs.
Think of mastering like quality control. The mix is the creative product — mastering ensures it's technically perfect and commercially competitive.
Key Differences at a Glance
| Mixing | Mastering |
|---|---|
| Works with individual stems/tracks | Works with the final stereo mix |
| Balances all elements together | Optimizes the overall sound |
| Creative and technical process | Primarily technical process |
| Happens before mastering | Final step before distribution |
| Typically takes hours to days | Typically takes 1–4 hours per song |
Do You Need Both?
For any release you're putting out publicly — yes, you need both. Here's why:
Streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music apply loudness normalization to all tracks. If your track isn't properly mastered to the right loudness level (-14 LUFS integrated for Spotify), it will either be turned down (sounding quiet compared to other songs) or distort if it's too loud. Mastering handles this.
And without a proper mix, mastering can only do so much. You can't master your way out of a bad mix — the mastering engineer is working with whatever you give them. A well-mixed track will always master better than a poorly mixed one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between mixing and mastering?
Mixing combines individual stems into a cohesive stereo track with balance, EQ, compression, and effects. Mastering takes the final mix and prepares it for distribution with subtle processing and loudness optimization. Mixing is creative; mastering is technical.
Do I need both mixing and mastering?
Yes, for any public release. Streaming platforms require proper mastering for loudness normalization (-14 LUFS for Spotify). Without professional mixing, mastering can only do so much. Both are essential for commercial quality.
Can I skip mixing and just do mastering?
No. Mastering works with whatever mix you provide. A poor mix cannot be fixed by mastering alone. You need a well-mixed track first, then mastering to optimize it for distribution.
How long does mixing and mastering take?
Mixing typically takes hours to days depending on song complexity. Mastering usually takes 1–4 hours per song. Both depend on source material quality and revision rounds.
Can I use automated mastering instead of hiring an engineer?
Automated mastering is faster and cheaper, but significantly inferior to human mastering for commercial releases. Professional engineers make creative decisions that automated systems cannot.
When Can You Skip One?
The only time you might skip professional mixing is if you're releasing a demo, a rough cut for feedback, or content where audio quality isn't the primary concern (like a voice memo or a quick social media clip).
The only time you might skip professional mastering is if you're using an automated mastering service (like LANDR or eMastered) for a quick release — but be aware that automated mastering is significantly inferior to human mastering for anything that needs to compete commercially.
Need Mixing and Mastering in Houston?
Lunar Mansion Studios offers professional mixing and mastering by Grammy-nominated engineer Matt O'Neil. Remote sessions available worldwide.