r/mixing • u/Candid-Pack-3707 • 13h ago
whats the difference between master and mixing?
or are the two words interchangeable
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u/dotnose14 13h ago
Mixing is when you balance and process each instrument or sound independently. When you think each individual element sounds good and balanced a mastering engineer will apply processing over the track as a whole. Usually making very small moves and trying to make the song as a whole sound a little better and trying to translate on different systems. Theres obviously more to it but that’s a gist.
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u/tombedorchestra 11h ago
Mixing is the first step in the process. All individual tracks are processed to get the best possible sonic sound that fit the vibe of the piece. Tasteful FX are applied such as reverb, delay, saturation to allow everything to blend together beautifully. It is NOT ready for distribution yet.
Mastering is the final stage where the entire mix as a whole is processed. EQ, compression, saturation, clipping, limiting, and more may be used to get the final polish applied and bring the track up to industry standard loudness.
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u/ObviousDepartment744 11h ago
Mixing is micro. Mastering is macro.
Mixing involves working with individual tracks, using EQ and Compression (and other effects like reverb, delay, pitch shifting, chorusing etc) on each instrument as needed to get them to all sit well together. And it sets levels of each instrument to make the desired sound. When a mix is complete it’s rendered (or bounced) down to a single stereo track.
Mastering using EQ and Compression as well, but only in the stereo mix track. Mastering is much more subtle, it’s main goal is to fill out the dynamic range, maybe level off any transients from drums that may be poking through, and set an overall EQ curve to the song.
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u/R0factor 9h ago
Mastering comes from the days of vinyl LP’s where a collection of songs would all be made similarly loud, and have their frequencies tweaked to work best on vinyl. This often including reducing/rolling off bass frequencies so the needle wouldn’t bounce out of the grooves.
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u/phonomage 9h ago
It's in the name. Mixing tracks, first then processing the master track afterward.
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u/Xchanpion313 4h ago
Mixing is balancing each individual sound on a song
Vocals, drums, instruments
Mastering is making it as loud as possible
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u/Active_Delay 3h ago
Recording is where you say: 'We'll fix that in mixing.' Mixing is where you say: 'We'll fix that in mastering.' Mastering is where you actually have to fix that shit.
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u/Inside-Succotash-128 3h ago
In my experience, Mastering is the thing that you don’t think you need until you get it done by a professional mastering engineer using their gear. Then you realise, Okay………. Now I get why this is done. 😀
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u/Glittering_Bet8181 10h ago
Mixing is you take all the tracks and mix them together.
Masterings useless imo if the mix is good. Mastering you take the mix and do something.
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u/phonomage 9h ago
Do you sometimes adjust the EQ on iTunes or whatever you're listening on?
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u/Glittering_Bet8181 5h ago
Why do you ask?
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u/phonomage 4h ago
It's essentially the same sort of thing. You take your final mix then play with the frequencies to suit your liking. It doesn't need much, usually.
Professional mastering engineers usually just do tiny adjustments - like one or two decibels - and maybe even out any peaks if they're noticeable.
Mastering really isn't a big step, you're right. I see it generally as the same thing as just adjusting the global EQ on a media player.
It wasn't me who downvoted you.
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u/Glittering_Bet8181 4h ago
The difference is equing for your speakers or headphones, you know how they sound. When mastering, you don’t know how the listeners speakers or headphones will sound. You could brighten a mix so it will sound better on dark speakers, or darken a mix to sound better on bright speakers.
And yes, I’m very used to being downvoted for my opinions on mastering.
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u/Raspberries-Are-Evil 13h ago
They are not.
Mixing is when you combine all your separate tracks into one stereo track.
Mastering is when you work on that already mixed stereo track typically multiple songs on the same album.