Mixing vs Mastering — What's the Difference?
Two stages, two different jobs. What each one actually does, why the order matters, and why mastering won't fix a bad mix.
Notes / 01 — Mixing & mastering journal
On sound,
craft, and the mix.
Practical writing about mixing, mastering, and getting your music release-ready. No fluff.
7 articles
3 published
4 coming soon
How to Prepare Your Track for Mixing
Seven things to do before you send your track to a mixing engineer. From performance to export — what matters, what doesn't, and why.
Is Your Track Ready for Mixing?
7 signs you're actually done — and the difference between "ready" and "just tired of listening to it."
What Actually Happens When I Mix Your Track
The decisions, the workflow, the thinking. What you're actually paying for when you hire a mixing engineer.
10 Mistakes Artists Make Before Sending a Track
Most tracks don't fail at mixing. They fail before they ever get there. Fix these before you hit send.
Loudness for Spotify, YouTube and Apple Music
LUFS explained without the boring part — and what "loud enough" actually means for your release.
How to Reference Your Mix Like a Pro
What reference tracks actually do, how to use them without losing your own sound, and common mistakes to avoid.