Mixing and mastering are the two final stages of audio production, and while they are often confused, they are distinct processes with different goals. Think of it like a movie:

• Mixing is like film editing. It's the process of taking all the individual elements (dialogue, sound effects, music, and ambient sounds) and putting them together to create a cohesive and compelling story.

• Mastering is like film color grading and final distribution. It's the last step, where you take the finished film and give it a final polish to ensure it looks and sounds its best on every screen, from a movie theater to a smartphone.

Here’s a quick overview of the differences between mixing and mastering:

• Audio Mixing is the stage where all the individual tracks of a song—vocals, drums, guitars, synths, and more—are balanced and blended into a cohesive whole. A professional mix engineer adjusts levels, EQ, panning, compression, and effects so that every element has its place, creating clarity and emotional impact. The purpose of mixing is to make the song feel alive and engaging, with the right energy, depth, and atmosphere before it moves to the final stage.

• Audio Mastering comes after mixing and is the last step in the production process before release. Instead of working on each track separately, mastering focuses on the final stereo mix (or stems) and applies subtle enhancements like EQ, compression, limiting, and stereo widening. This process ensures that the song is polished, consistent, and optimized for all listening environments—from earbuds to car stereos to large sound systems—while achieving the competitive loudness and sonic quality expected in professional releases.

You can—but it depends on your mixing skills. If the mix isn’t solid, even the best mastering engineer can only do so much to help the final product. 

The turnaround time for online mixing and mastering can vary depending on the complexity of the project and the engineer’s workload, but here’s a good professional overview you could use:

Online Mixing
A full song mix typically takes anywhere from 3-5 business days per track, depending on how many stems are provided and the level of detail required. More complex projects with lots of layers, revisions, or special requests may take a bit longer, but fast, professional engineers can often deliver mixes quickly without sacrificing quality.

Online Mastering
Mastering is generally faster, since it works with a finished stereo mix. Many engineers offer a turnaround of 24–48 hours per track, though some can provide same-day masters if needed. For EPs and albums, expect around 3–7 business days depending on length and revision needs.