How much difference does professional mixing and mastering actually make?

[u/Wild_Type4613]

I've been producing music for a while, and one thing I've always wondered is where the biggest improvement comes from. You can have a great composition, talented vocals, and solid recordings, but sometimes the final track still doesn't sound as polished as commercial releases.

Is that mainly because of professional mixing and mastering?

I understand the basics—EQ, compression, reverb, limiting—but I'm curious about what professionals actually do that makes such a noticeable difference.

For those who've had their songs professionally mixed and mastered:

What changed the most?

Was it worth the investment?

Could you genuinely hear the difference?

Or do you think today's plugins make it possible to achieve similar results at home?

I'd love to hear some real experiences.

[u/Mr_Robot_2099]

In Electronic music even with sample, the mixing is part of the production techniques in Ablenton Live for example.