What is the difference between mixing and mastering?

Mixing and mastering are two distinct stages in the music production process, each with different goals and techniques. **Mixing** is the process that comes after recording the individual tracks (vocals, instruments, effects, etc.). The main goal of mixing is to blend these elements together into a cohesive and balanced stereo track. During mixing, an engineer adjusts levels, panning, equalization (EQ), compression, reverb, and other effects to ensure each element sits well in the mix. The focus is on clarity, balance, and creating the intended emotional impact of the song by shaping the sound of each individual track relative to the others. **Mastering** is the final step before distribution. It involves processing the mixed stereo track to optimize playback across all listening environments and formats. The mastering engineer applies subtle EQ, compression, limiting, stereo enhancement, and loudness adjustments to ensure the track sounds polished and consistent with industry standards. Mastering also ensures that the song fits well alongside other tracks on an album or playlist in terms of volume and tonal balance. In summary, mixing is about combining and refining individual tracks into a great-sounding song, while mastering is about fine-tuning that final mix to make it sound professional and cohesive across all playback systems.