If you’re a musician or producer just starting out in South Africa, you’ve probably heard the terms “mixing” and “mastering” — but what do they really mean? Are they the same thing? Do you need both?
In this guide, we’ll break down the difference between mixing and mastering, why they matter, and what role they play in your music’s success.
🎛️ What Is Mixing?
Mixing is the process of combining all the individual elements of a song — vocals, instruments, drums, effects — into one polished, balanced track.
Think of it as cooking a meal:
- The ingredients (vocals, beats, melodies) are already recorded
- Mixing is adjusting the flavour — EQ, volume, effects — so everything blends perfectly
🎯 Key Mixing Tasks:
- Balancing volume between vocals and instruments
- EQing each sound to sit in the right frequency range
- Adding reverb, delay, and creative effects
- Panning sounds left and right for stereo width
- Compressing to control loudness and dynamics
🔊 Result: A song that feels right — clear, full, and emotionally engaging.
🧪 What Is Mastering?
Mastering is the final step after mixing. It’s about making sure the finished song sounds great everywhere — from your car to club speakers to streaming platforms.
If mixing is cooking the meal, mastering is plating and serving it professionally.
🎯 Key Mastering Tasks:
- Applying subtle EQ to the final mix
- Using compression and limiting to boost volume
- Adjusting stereo width
- Making sure the song meets loudness standards (e.g., -14 LUFS for Spotify)
- Preparing final files for digital release (WAV, MP3, DDP)
🧠 It’s all about consistency, clarity, and commercial loudness.
🤷 Do You Need Both?
Yes — especially if you’re planning to release your song professionally.
| Step | Purpose | When You Need It |
| Mixing | Makes your song sound clean & full | After all tracks are recorded |
| Mastering | Prepares for final release | After the mix is approved |
Skipping mixing or mastering is like uploading a selfie without checking the lighting.
🇿🇦 South African Context: Can I Do It Myself?
Yes — but with some limitations.
🧰 DIY Mixing:
- Many artists in SA mix their own tracks using FL Studio, Logic Pro, or Studio One
- You can use stock plugins or free ones like TDR Nova, Valhalla Supermassive, Youlean Loudness Meter
🔊 DIY Mastering:
- More challenging — mastering needs critical listening and accurate monitors
- Tools like Ozone Elements or LANDR can help if you’re on a tight budget
🎧 If you’re planning a Spotify release, a sync placement, or radio submission, we recommend using a professional engineer.
💸 What Does Mixing and Mastering Cost in South Africa?
At PRBLMTiC Productions, we keep it simple and affordable:
| Service | Price Range |
| Mixing | R800 – R3,000 per track |
| Mastering | R500 – R1,500 per track |
| Mix + Master | Package deals available |
📩 Contact us to get started
🧠 Final Thoughts
Mixing shapes the emotion. Mastering locks in the experience.
They work hand in hand to give your music the impact it deserves.
Don’t just make music — finish it professionally.