The Differences Between Mixing and Mastering
A good mix must be balanced between early and late reflections, and it should also be optimized for the post-mix mastering step. A good mix requires a thorough understanding of the sounds you're mixing and mastering. This requires referencing your favorite sounds and listening closely to the production. After all, you're trying to get the best sound out of your recording.
Mastering involves polishing the mix and preparing it for distribution. The mastering engineer will use brickwall limiters, linear-phase EQs, and other tools and processes to enhance the audio. He or she will also use character EQs, stereo wideners, and tape saturation to create a professional sound. Mastering is all about subtlety, and the mix will be shaped to suit the medium in which it will be distributed.
Limiters, for example, are more relevant to mastering than to mixing, but they are still necessary to keep the song's volume levels consistent. Often, mastering engineers use brickwall limiters to achieve this goal, which can create distortion. If they're used improperly, however, they can create unwanted side effects.
Mixing is an art form, and a good sound engineer knows how to mix and blend multiple instruments to make one cohesive song. Ultimately, mixing can make your song a future hit. The process of mixing is about more than just technical tricks, it's about expressing emotions and individuality. The key is to create an interesting song.
Mastering is the last stage of production. It involves adjusting the volume of individual songs and adding fades and spacing at the beginning and end of songs. It also adds the title, CD Text, UPC/EAN codes, and ISRCs. Mastering engineers must ensure that the final product has a high level of sonic quality.
While mixing and mastering are separate processes, they share some common techniques. Mixing takes place on a stereo track. During this phase, the audio producer may choose to add effects like compression, reverb, and delay to each track. Automation is also used to help the engineer control the emotional impact of the song.
