About Mixing & Mastering
Talking about the services I provide, I decided to create this section to simply explain what I actually do, as different audiences may visit my site and some may not understand exactly what mixing or mastering is. So here we go:
Mixing
Mixing is the overall organization of a song, with recorded files being used and processed, thus forming a cohesive unit in an instrumental or a vocal track. It is literally where a sonic impression is given to a song, with its identity being formed and later refined and 'improved' in mastering.
We usually use equalization to adjust the sonic balance in frequencies, both generally and in isolated individual instruments, as needed. However, remember that music is art and art is subjective, so some procedures are purely creative, even though there are certain rules that make mixing and mastering cohesive. Additionally, we deal with the dynamics of a song, which is the balance of intensity in a context. Simply put, it's the adjustment of volume differences within a track.
Effects are also used to manipulate the perception of ambiance and time, such as reverb and delay, manipulating how spatial a sound is, as well as adding repetitions for creative effects. For example, the Haas effect enhances the perception of a doubled signal with a certain amount of delay.
Other effects are also used to give a sound a more 'processed,' 'artificial,' or dimensional feel. We combine all this information with panning and fader adjustments, creating our music.
Mastering
Mastering is not just about increasing volume or enhancing frequency perception, but it starts with an analysis of everything that has been done up to the mixing stage.
It is a process where the mastering engineer may recommend a mix revision, as mastering, in its essence, tends to be less creatively intentional than mixing. While there is analysis in mixing, mastering is the final process in post-production up to the pressing of a record, for example. In this process, we start and finish by analyzing the overall context.
Obviously, different people master in different ways because we are all different, but our intention is more about correction than creation, seeking a certain sound within a context.
For example, mastering aims to make songs sound very good on various equipment, and if it's an album, EP, or mixtape, to ensure the songs have a consistent identity or appropriate differentiation according to the context.
Therefore, some people may prefer less overall volume for better dynamics, or the opposite.
In summary, mastering is polishing, while mixing is the construction of the music in terms of cohesively combining sounds.