What is the difference between mixing and mastering?
Mixing takes every recorded track (vocals, drums, guitars, synths) and turns them into one balanced stereo mix using levels, panning, EQ, compression, and effects. Mastering is the final stage that polishes that stereo mix so it sounds consistent, loud enough, and ready for distribution, for example at -14 LUFS for Spotify. In our experience, around 80% of the problems that make a song sound unprofessional are solved in mixing, not mastering.