What is the difference between audio mastering and audio mixing?

The simplest distinction is:

Mixing = making all the individual tracks work together.
Mastering = making the finished mix sound polished and translate well everywhere.

🎚️ Mixing

Mixing happens after recording/production but before mastering.

You work with individual tracks such as:

Vocals
Kick and snare
Bass
Guitars
Synths
Effects

The mixer adjusts things like:

Volume — how loud each element is
Panning — where sounds sit left/right
EQ — shaping frequencies
Compression — controlling dynamics
Reverb/delay — creating space
Automation — changing levels/effects over time

The goal is to make the song feel balanced, clear, emotional, and cohesive.

For example, if the vocal is buried under the guitars, that’s primarily a mixing problem.

🔊 Mastering

Mastering happens after the mix is finished. Usually, the mastering engineer receives a stereo mix (or another final mix format), rather than all the individual tracks.

They might adjust:

Overall EQ
Compression
Limiting
Stereo image
Loudness
Tonal balance
Track-to-track consistency on an album/EP
Metadata and delivery formats

The goal is to make the final recording sound consistent, polished, and appropriate for different playback systems and platforms.

For example, if your finished mix sounds great on studio monitors but is noticeably too harsh or bass-heavy on other systems, that’s something mastering may help address.

A useful analogy

Think of making a pizza:

Mixing is preparing the pizza itself — getting the dough, sauce, cheese, and toppings balanced.

Mastering is the final presentation — making sure the finished pizza is properly cooked, consistent, and ready to serve.

And importantly: mastering can’t reliably fix a badly balanced mix. If the vocal is far too quiet or the bass completely overwhelms the drums, it’s usually better to go back to the mix.

In short: