What Mixing and Mastering Actually Means
These two terms get lumped together constantly, but they are separate stages of post-production — and each one does something fundamentally different to your music.
Mixing is where the song takes shape. Every vocal, instrument, effect, and layer you recorded gets balanced, panned, EQ'd, compressed, and treated with effects until they sit together as a single, cohesive track. A good mix makes the listener feel the song without noticing the engineering. A bad mix makes everything fight for space.
Mastering is the final step. It takes the finished stereo mix and optimises it for loudness, tonal balance, stereo width, and consistency across every playback system — from studio monitors to earbuds to club systems. Mastering is what makes your track sound finished and competitive next to every other song on a playlist.
In short: Mixing shapes the song. Mastering prepares it for the world.
At StudioToGo, both stages happen through a combination of analog hardware and digital processing. We don't rely purely on plugins, and we don't treat either stage as a quick checkbox. Each track gets dedicated attention from an experienced engineer working on properly calibrated monitoring in an acoustically treated room.
Our Services
We offer four distinct services depending on what your project needs. If you're not sure which one is right for you, message us — we'll listen to what you have and tell you straight.
Mixing
AED 1,800 per track
Full multitrack mix with analog processing. 2 revisions included. Live mixing session via Sessionwire so you can direct the process in real time.
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Mastering
AED 400 per track
Stereo mastering for streaming, radio, and distribution. Loudness-optimised with tonal and dynamic correction. 2 revisions included.
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Stem Mastering
Custom quote
Mastering from grouped stems (drums, bass, vocals, instruments) for greater control over the final balance. Ideal for projects that need more surgical attention.
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Radio-Ready
Custom quote
Mix and master optimised specifically for radio broadcast standards — including format-specific loudness targets, clean edits, and intro/outro timing.
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The Signal Chain
Everything we do passes through real analog hardware. This isn't about rejecting digital tools — we use plenty of them. But there are things analog gear does to audio that plugins can only approximate. The harmonic saturation from a tube compressor. The way a passive EQ shapes the curve. The depth that hardware reverb adds. These are the differences between a mix that sounds processed and one that sounds alive.
Here's the core signal chain we use for mixing and mastering at Studio A:
On the digital side, we run Pro Tools as our primary DAW, supplemented with FabFilter for surgical EQ and dynamics, iZotope for metering and correction, and Soundtoys for creative effects. The AVID MTRX Studio handles our conversion between digital and analog, ensuring the cleanest possible signal path at every stage.
How the Process Works
Whether you recorded with us or somewhere else, the workflow is the same. We've designed it to keep you in control without slowing things down.
1. Send Your Files
Upload your stems (for mixing) or stereo mix (for mastering) via Google Drive, WeTransfer, or Dropbox. If you recorded at StudioToGo, we already have the session — one less step.
2. Reference & Brief
Share 2–3 reference tracks that represent the sound you're going for. Tell us what you like about them — is it the vocal presence, the low end, the width? The more specific you are, the closer we get on the first pass.
3. First Version
We complete the mix or master and send you a high-quality preview. For mixing, we also schedule a live Sessionwire session so you can hear it in real time and give feedback while we work.
4. Revisions
You get 2 revisions included. Most clients are happy after the first round. Additional revisions beyond the included 2 are available at a flat rate.
5. Final Delivery
You receive your final files in the formats you need — typically WAV (44.1kHz/16-bit for streaming) and any additional formats for distribution, vinyl, or broadcast.
What Makes Our Approach Different
Most mixing and mastering services in Dubai operate on a send-and-wait model. You upload your files, wait a few days, get something back, send notes, wait again. It works, but it's disconnected.
At StudioToGo, every mixing project includes a live session via Sessionwire. That means you join a video call, listen to the mix through our studio monitors in real time, and give direction as we make changes. You hear the difference a hardware compressor makes the moment we switch it in. You can say "the vocal needs more air" and watch it happen live. It turns a passive process into a collaborative one.
This matters because mixing is subjective. Two engineers can make the same song sound completely different — both "correctly" — and the only way to ensure the mix matches your vision is to be involved while it's happening. That's what Sessionwire gives you, whether you're in Dubai or anywhere else in the world.
Recorded Somewhere Else? No Problem
You don't need to have recorded at StudioToGo to use our mixing or mastering services. We accept sessions from any studio, any DAW, any engineer. Send us your stems labelled properly and we'll take it from there. If you recorded on your laptop in your bedroom — that's fine too. Good mixing can elevate anything.
For mastering, all we need is your final stereo mix as a high-resolution WAV or AIFF. Leave at least 3dB of headroom and make sure there's no limiter on the master bus. If you're not sure whether your file is ready, send it anyway and we'll tell you.
Pricing
Transparent rates with no hidden fees. Every service includes 2 revisions.
Working on a project? We offer discounted per-song rates for EPs (3–5 songs) and albums (6–10 songs). A full Record + Mix + Master single starts at AED 2,800. See all package pricing.
What to Send Us
For Mixing
- Individual stems as WAV files at the original sample rate and bit depth (48kHz / 24-bit minimum)
- All tracks starting from the same point (bar 1, beat 1)
- No effects on individual tracks unless they're intentional creative choices you want to keep
- No processing on the master bus — no limiter, no EQ, no compression
- Every track clearly labelled (e.g. "Lead Vocal", "Kick", "Synth Pad L")
- A rough mix for reference, so we can hear what you're going for
- 2–3 reference tracks from released music that represent your target sound
For Mastering
- Stereo mix as WAV or AIFF (44.1kHz / 24-bit or higher)
- At least 3dB of headroom — peaks should not exceed -3dBFS
- No limiter on the master bus
- If you have specific loudness targets (LUFS), let us know
- Reference tracks for tonal and loudness comparison
Not sure if your files are ready? Send them anyway. We'll review them and let you know if anything needs adjusting before we start.
Frequently Asked Questions