Mix & Mastering
Mastering
Section titled “Mastering”Mastering is the final stage of working on a track — the process where all the creative choices made during the mix are brought out and refined into a full, polished sound.
The purpose of mastering
Section titled “The purpose of mastering”Giving the track its definitive sonic shape — one that will be:
- Consistent across every playback system — from headphones through studio monitors to a car stereo
- Dynamic and engaging
- Compliant with streaming platform standards
Stereo mastering vs stem mastering
Section titled “Stereo mastering vs stem mastering”Stereo mastering is working with a finished mix (a single stereo file). Think of it like baking a cake — the mix is preparing and baking the base, and mastering is the moment you add the icing and decorations.
Stem mastering is working with groups of sounds — separately for the lead vocal, panned vocals, ad-libs, harmonies, drums, instruments, bass, or effects. It gives much greater control over the final sound.
| Type | Input files | Control | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stereo | 1 stereo file (mix) | Limited | Professional mixes |
| Stem | 4-8 groups (stems) | Extensive | Home mixes, demos |
Stem mastering — when to choose it?
Section titled “Stem mastering — when to choose it?”Stem mastering is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to professionalize their sound while preserving the “homemade garage” character of the demo they built at home.
Typical stems:
- Lead vocal
- Backing vocals / harmonies
- Drums
- Bass
- Synths / melodies
- FX / ambient
Fresh perspective
Section titled “Fresh perspective”Mastering is often handled by a different person than the one who mixed the track. That fresh point of view allows them to focus solely on the sound itself, without interfering with the creative ideas from the mix.
Streaming platform standards
Section titled “Streaming platform standards”Streaming platforms have different loudness requirements (LUFS):
| Platform | Target LUFS | Headroom |
|---|---|---|
| Spotify | -14 LUFS | -1 dB |
| Apple Music | -16 LUFS | -1 dB |
| YouTube | -14 LUFS | -1 dB |
| Tidal | -14 LUFS | -1 dB |
| SoundCloud | no normalization | -1 dB |
We prepare masters that meet the requirements of specific platforms, or universal versions.
Track mixing
Section titled “Track mixing”Track mixing is the process where all the elements of your song come together into a cohesive, engaging whole. It is the moment when raw material takes its final shape and every detail begins to shape the listener’s emotions.
Our approach
Section titled “Our approach”- We always preserve the original character of the recording
- We follow the vision of the people we collaborate with
- We pay attention to detail and make sure the track is a pleasure to loop
- As co-creators, we listen to it dozens of times and make sure we never get tired of it — we care about repeat value
Stages of mixing
Section titled “Stages of mixing”- Session organization — importing tracks, naming, grouping, routing
- Balance — setting initial volume levels
- EQ — frequency correction, removing conflicts
- Compression — dynamics control, sonic consistency
- Space — reverb, delay, stereo panning
- Automation — dynamic parameter changes over time
- Finalization — checking on different systems, export
What do we do during mixing?
Section titled “What do we do during mixing?”- If the intro is too long, we suggest trimming it
- We pay attention to the outro — an interesting ending can become the natural culmination of the song
- Building on the beat stems, we add interesting compositional elements (with your approval)
- Vocal chops, spot delay, reverb tails, filter automation — you may not know these terms, but you have heard these techniques hundreds of times in your favorite tracks
Turnaround
Section titled “Turnaround”We typically deliver the first mix version within 7-10 days of the order. Sometimes it is accepted as final, but we are happy to work on further revisions if needed.
Revisions
Section titled “Revisions”We include 2 rounds of revisions in the standard price. Each revision is your chance to refine your feedback. That is why we encourage you to gather all your notes before sending — one well-thought-out round is better than five small tweaks.
How to prepare material for mixing?
Section titled “How to prepare material for mixing?”You will find a detailed guide here: How to prepare files for mixing
In short: export tracks from the same start point, in WAV 24-bit format, with clear naming, and include references.
Beat mixing
Section titled “Beat mixing”Beat mixing is the process where the raw elements of a production take on their full form, character, and energy.
- Achieving a clean, clear sound
- Giving the whole track proper dynamics and space
- Balancing so the beat works both on its own and with vocals
What do we do?
Section titled “What do we do?”- We make sure every element has its own place in the mix
- We eliminate unnecessary frequencies that cause muddiness
- Volume and effect automation highlights key moments
- We can weave in co-production elements (with your approval)
Beat-only vs vocal-ready
Section titled “Beat-only vs vocal-ready”| Version | Description | Use case |
|---|---|---|
| Beat-only | Full, standalone sound | Beat publishing, sales, portfolio |
| Vocal-ready | Space left for vocals | Recording with an artist |
When mixing for a specific artist, we prepare a vocal-ready version tailored to their voice character.
Stem isolation
Section titled “Stem isolation”Extracting individual elements from a finished mix using AI and spectral techniques.
Isolating an instrumental from a song
Section titled “Isolating an instrumental from a song”Separating the instrumental track from a finished song. Useful when:
- You want to record a cover but have no access to the official instrumental
- You need a beat for a remix
- You are looking for a sample from a specific track
Isolating individual tracks
Section titled “Isolating individual tracks”Separating elements from a mix:
- Vocals (lead vocal)
- Backing vocals
- Drums
- Bass
- Other instruments (piano, guitar, synths)
Isolation quality
Section titled “Isolation quality”Quality depends on the source material. Isolation works best when:
- The original is in high quality (WAV, FLAC, 320 kbps MP3)
- Elements are clearly separated in the mix
- There is not a lot of reverb and effects
Film audio post-production
Section titled “Film audio post-production”Professional film audio post-production is the process where recorded audio material reaches its full quality and is synchronized to picture.
Post-production stages
Section titled “Post-production stages”- Conform — synchronizing audio with the picture edit
- Cleanup — removing noise, clicks, and interference from on-set recordings
- ADR — re-recording dialogue in the studio (see Specialist Services)
- Foley — recording sound effects (footsteps, doors, props)
- Sound design — creating sounds that do not exist (see Sound design)
- Music — composing or licensing the soundtrack
- Mix — combining all elements into a cohesive whole
- Mastering — finalizing for the distribution format
Target formats
Section titled “Target formats”| Format | Channels | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Stereo | 2.0 | YouTube, streaming, TV |
| 5.1 | 6 channels | Cinema, Blu-ray, Netflix |
| 7.1 | 8 channels | Premium cinema |
| Atmos | object-based | Dolby Cinema, Apple TV+ |
5.1 surround mixing
Section titled “5.1 surround mixing”We offer mixes in 5.1 surround format:
- L/R — main stereo channels
- C — center channel (dialogue)
- LFE — subwoofer (bass, effects)
- Ls/Rs — rear channels (ambience, spatial effects)
On-set recording cleanup
Section titled “On-set recording cleanup”Even difficult on-set material can often be saved:
- Removing background noise (air conditioning, street traffic)
- Reverb reduction (echoes from large spaces)
- Eliminating interference (phones, planes, passing cars)
- Frequency correction (low-quality microphones)
Sound design
Section titled “Sound design”Even the most polished video material only reaches its full potential with the right sound design.
What is sound design?
Section titled “What is sound design?”Sound design is the creation of sounds that:
- Do not exist in reality (lasers, magic, transformation)
- Were not recorded on set (foley, ambience)
- Amplify emotions and narrative (tension, joy, fear)
Layers of sound design
Section titled “Layers of sound design”| Layer | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Dialogue | Character speech | ADR, voice-over |
| Effects | Action sounds | Gunshots, explosions, footsteps |
| Foley | Subtle sounds | Rustling clothes, setting down a glass |
| Ambience | Background sound | City, forest, office |
| Music | Soundtrack | Score, licensed music |
Applications
Section titled “Applications”- Films and animation — full soundtrack from scratch
- Commercials — a message that stays in memory
- Short-form content (TikTok, Reels, Shorts) — a first impression that stops the viewer
- Games — sound effects, ambient, UI sounds
Our experience
Section titled “Our experience”Several members of our team are graduates and lecturers of the Sound Design program at the Warsaw Film School, where one of the daily tasks is creating a complete soundtrack for video from scratch.
Audio cleanup
Section titled “Audio cleanup”Specialist audio cleanup for applications that demand maximum clarity.
Applications
Section titled “Applications”- Court recordings — evidence material requiring transcription
- Archival interviews — old recordings with noise and interference
- Field recordings — material from challenging acoustic conditions
- Audio restoration — vinyl, cassettes, magnetic tapes
What can we improve?
Section titled “What can we improve?”- Background noise (hiss, hum, rumble)
- Electrical interference (buzzing, interference)
- Reverb and echo
- Clicks and crackle
- Clipping and distortion
Limitations
Section titled “Limitations”We cannot:
- Add information that is not present in the recording
- Completely remove simultaneously speaking voices
- Repair completely destroyed recordings
Every recording requires an individual assessment. Before quoting, we need a sample of the material.
Frequently asked questions
Section titled “Frequently asked questions”What is the difference between mixing and mastering?
Section titled “What is the difference between mixing and mastering?”Mixing is combining many separate tracks into a cohesive stereo whole — working on balance, panning, effects, and dynamics. Mastering is the final processing of a finished mix — optimizing loudness, frequency balance, and preparing the track for specific distribution platforms.
Can I order mastering only if I mixed at home?
Section titled “Can I order mastering only if I mixed at home?”Yes. We master mixes from both external studios and home productions. For home mixes, we recommend stem mastering — it gives greater control over the final sound.
How long does mixing take?
Section titled “How long does mixing take?”We typically deliver the first mix version within 7-10 days. The timeline depends on the project’s complexity and the studio’s current workload. Albums require an individually agreed schedule.
What files do I need to provide?
Section titled “What files do I need to provide?”For mixing: individual tracks (stems/multitracks) in WAV 24-bit format, exported from the same start point. For mastering: a finished stereo mix in WAV 24-bit format. Details are in our guide How to prepare files for mixing.
For whom?
Section titled “For whom?”- Artists — you have recorded material and want it to sound professional
- Producers — you need external mastering or mixing for your beats
- Labels — you are looking for a steady partner for mixing and mastering
- Filmmakers — you need audio post-production, sound design, or on-set recording cleanup
- Podcasters and content creators — you want to raise the quality of your recordings