What Is Mixing?
Mixing happens first. The engineer works with every individual track in your session (drums, bass, instruments, lead vocal, harmonies, ad‑libs) and blends them into one balanced stereo track.
A mix at F18 covers six areas:
- Prep and organisation. Cleaning up, labelling and organising the session.
- Balance. Setting the level of every element so nothing is buried or too loud.
- EQ and tone. Shaping each sound so instruments and vocals don't fight for space.
- Dynamics. Using compression to keep the energy consistent.
- Space and depth. Adding reverb and delay so the track feels wide and three‑dimensional.
- Automation and vocals. Riding levels and effects through the song so the vocal sits on top.
Think of mixing as building the record: deciding what the listener hears, where and how loudly. See mixing at F18.
What Is Mastering?
Mastering happens after the mix is finished. The mastering engineer works on the single stereo file, not the individual tracks. The goal is to make the song sound polished, competitive in loudness and consistent on every system, from phone speakers to club PAs.
Mastering covers critical listening, tonal balance, dynamics and loudness, stereo image and delivery in the right formats. At F18 we deliver in Hi‑Res WAV, MP3 or Apple Digital Masters. See mastering at F18.
The Key Differences
| Mixing | Mastering | |
|---|---|---|
| When | First, after recording | Last, before release |
| Works on | Every separate track | One stereo file |
| Goal | Balance and clarity between elements | Loudness, polish and consistency |
| Fixes | A buried vocal, a muddy bass | A track that sounds quiet or thin next to others |
| F18 price | From £250 | £75 digital, £175 stem |
All prices exclude VAT.
Do I Need Both?
If you're releasing music, yes. Mastering can't fix a bad mix, and an unmastered mix will usually sound quieter and less finished than other songs on a playlist. The two work together.
If your mix has a problem only the individual parts can solve, stem mastering is a good middle ground. You send grouped stems (for example vocals, drums, bass and music) and the engineer has finer control over balance than with a single stereo file.
Hear the Difference
The best way to understand it is to listen. Press play on the before and after players on our Mixing and Mastering pages to compare rough versions with finished mixes and masters.
FAQ
Can the same engineer mix and master my song?
Yes. At F18 our engineers handle both, and booking them together keeps the sound consistent.
How long do mixing and mastering take?
Both are delivered within two weeks of purchase.
How many revisions do I get?
A mix includes three revisions. Digital and stem masters include one revision.