What is the difference between a Producer and a Mix & Master?

A producer plays a crucial role in the creative process of music creation, whether it’s for individual tracks or entire albums. They are involved in composing and arranging the music and act as a sort of creative leader or manager in the studio. Their task is to guide the artist and ensure that the product is the best it can be. The producer is involved in the entire process, from start to finish, and participates in the recording of both instruments and vocals. In some cases, however, a producer might leave the subsequent editing work (mixing and mastering) to a sound engineer if they do not perform this role themselves.

At Upsound, a producer can also be a so-called "beatmaker" who sells beats for use in clients' own music projects. We offer a wide and varied selection, and you can find the perfect collaborator to suit your needs. Find our list of producers here.

The sound engineer, also known as a Mix & Master specialist, primarily handles the technical side of music creation. The sound engineer works to turn the artist’s and producer’s vision for the product into reality. As a musician, you are likely familiar with the terms "mix" and "master," and these are exactly the aspects of music production that the sound engineer manages. If you have a finished instrumental and recorded vocals but want to make the track more professional by mixing, mastering, or both, you’ll need a sound engineer. Read our blog on what mix and master are here.

Our selection of sound engineers at Upsound offers expertise in mixing and mastering tracks across all genres. The sound engineer will ensure that the tracks sound as good as possible and meet the high standards required for radio play and streaming services. So if you want to get the best out of your track and prepare it for release, you can find the right sound engineer in our selection. Find our list of mix and master providers here.