Difference between Mixing and Mastering:
The words "mixing" and "mastering" are often used as synonyms by people who, well, don't know better. It seems as though mixing and mastering are two equally mystical parts of the hazy science of music recording, and for most of the public, there's no reason to differentiate between the two.
To further complicate the issue, sometimes the two terms are confused--a remastered CD will be referred to as "newly mixed" or "remixed."
Whether you're just getting into the business of home recording or you're simply a music fan, it's important to know the difference between a master and a mix, and what each entails.
The instruments on a song are recorded into "tracks," which are separated from the rest of the instruments either through the use of digital or analog equipment. The number of tracks depends on the number of microphones, instrument inputs, and the track capacity of the system being used.
The mixing process involves the use stereo panning, equalization, and the adjustment of the different tracks in relation to each other in order to result in a natural, well-balanced sound. The mixing engineer will often try to make the song sound as it would in a concert by panning instruments to the sides they'd naturally be at (i.e. a piano on the left side, a guitar mainly to the right) and similarly use equalization to make sure no two instruments fill up the same frequency and result in muddiness. The mixing engineer will imagine the song as a room, and make sure that no two sounds occupy the same space.
Effects are also added during the mixing process. While the guitar, bass, and occasionally keyboard tracks may have had effects put in while being recorded (with pedals, effects boards, etc.) most effects like reverb, flange, and delay are added after the actual recording has taken place. The mixing engineer must take care to make sure that any effects added are used sparingly and complement the artist's concept for the song; too many effects will distract from the musical piece.
The mastering engineer works with all of the songs on an album, rather than the tracks for a single piece. The job of the mastering engineer is to make sure all the songs sound natural and consistent, that the volume levels are approximately the same, that equalization is optimal, and that the sequencing between the songs sounds good. The mastering engineer decides how to compress each song, how much space should be between one song and the next, and occasionally what overall effects to give each song. Songs are also faded out and in during the mastering process.
Many artists will have a large part of the mixing and sequencing processes but will remove themselves from the mastering portion of an album's production. In fact, it's quite common for mastering to be done at a different studio than the studio that recorded and mixed a project.
The words "mixing" and "mastering" are often used as synonyms by people who, well, don't know better. It seems as though mixing and mastering are two equally mystical parts of the hazy science of music recording, and for most of the public, there's no reason to differentiate between the two.
To further complicate the issue, sometimes the two terms are confused--a remastered CD will be referred to as "newly mixed" or "remixed."
Whether you're just getting into the business of home recording or you're simply a music fan, it's important to know the difference between a master and a mix, and what each entails.
The instruments on a song are recorded into "tracks," which are separated from the rest of the instruments either through the use of digital or analog equipment. The number of tracks depends on the number of microphones, instrument inputs, and the track capacity of the system being used.
The mixing process involves the use stereo panning, equalization, and the adjustment of the different tracks in relation to each other in order to result in a natural, well-balanced sound. The mixing engineer will often try to make the song sound as it would in a concert by panning instruments to the sides they'd naturally be at (i.e. a piano on the left side, a guitar mainly to the right) and similarly use equalization to make sure no two instruments fill up the same frequency and result in muddiness. The mixing engineer will imagine the song as a room, and make sure that no two sounds occupy the same space.
Effects are also added during the mixing process. While the guitar, bass, and occasionally keyboard tracks may have had effects put in while being recorded (with pedals, effects boards, etc.) most effects like reverb, flange, and delay are added after the actual recording has taken place. The mixing engineer must take care to make sure that any effects added are used sparingly and complement the artist's concept for the song; too many effects will distract from the musical piece.
The mastering engineer works with all of the songs on an album, rather than the tracks for a single piece. The job of the mastering engineer is to make sure all the songs sound natural and consistent, that the volume levels are approximately the same, that equalization is optimal, and that the sequencing between the songs sounds good. The mastering engineer decides how to compress each song, how much space should be between one song and the next, and occasionally what overall effects to give each song. Songs are also faded out and in during the mastering process.
Many artists will have a large part of the mixing and sequencing processes but will remove themselves from the mastering portion of an album's production. In fact, it's quite common for mastering to be done at a different studio than the studio that recorded and mixed a project.
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source: www.associatedcontent.com
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