Mixing & Mastering: Questions and Answers
Answers to the most common questions producers ask before a release: what mixing and mastering are, why they matter, and how to prepare your track.
Mixing
What is mixing?
Mixing is the process of combining all recorded and programmed parts of a track - drums, bass, synths, vocals, effects - into one stereo file. The engineer sets levels and panning, shapes each sound with EQ and compression, and adds reverb, delay and other effects so every element has its own place.
Why is mixing important?
A good mix makes the track clear and powerful: the kick and bass do not fight each other, the vocal sits on top, and nothing gets lost. Even a great idea sounds amateur if the mix is muddy or unbalanced.
Can I mix my own track?
Yes. Many electronic producers mix their own music. Use reference tracks in the same genre, check the mix on different speakers and take breaks to rest your ears.
Mastering
What is mastering?
Mastering is the final stage of production. It works with the finished stereo mix as a whole: balances the tone, controls dynamics and brings the track to a competitive loudness so it sounds finished and consistent on any system.
Why do I need mastering?
Without mastering a track usually sounds quieter and less polished than other releases in a playlist or DJ set. Mastering makes the track sound good on headphones, car speakers, phones and club systems, and prepares the file for streaming platforms and labels.
What is the difference between mixing and mastering?
Mixing works with individual parts of the track. Mastering works with the final stereo mix. Mastering cannot fix a bad mix, but it makes a good mix ready for release.
How loud should my master be?
Loudness is measured in LUFS. Techno and house are usually mastered around −8 LUFS, EDM and drum & bass around −7 LUFS, ambient around −16 LUFS. Streaming services normalize volume, so going louder mostly costs you dynamics.
How should I prepare my mix for mastering?
Leave headroom with peaks around −6 to −3 dBFS, remove the limiter from the master bus, and export a WAV file in 24-bit at the project sample rate.
Release
Do labels accept unmastered demos?
Yes, many labels listen to unmastered demos. A mastered track still makes a stronger first impression and shows how the release will sound.
Where can I send my track after mastering?
Send it to MojoHeadz Records through the demo submission page. We accept techno, house, melodic techno and other underground electronic music.
Where to Master Your Track Online
Not ready to book a studio engineer? Try music-promo.com. Upload your mix, pick your genre and hear the mastered version in a few minutes - no account needed.
- — Listen to the result and compare it with your original mix for free
- — Choose a Warm, Neutral or Bright sound and the amount of compression
- — Pay only for the tracks you download
Before mastering, check your track with their free BPM and key detector, pull out a vocal or drum stem with the stem splitter, or turn a melody into notes with audio to MIDI.
TRY FREE PREVIEW →Read our full guide: Music Mastering: How to Prepare Your Track for Release.
