The difference of Recording, Mixing, and Mastering

I just want to share information about the meaning and difference of Recording, Mixing and Mastering, in general, and in the outline of the practice.

• RECORDING

Recording is a sound taking activities, in practice it can be done through recording equipment (guitar connected via a mixer), or pointed directly to the speakers. So we can find a sound that we want, if it's fit, just recorded it, either through audio filter (mixer, etc) or directly. The results of the recording depends on the tool and how we record it.

• MIXING

Mixing is the advanced stage of the recording process. Mixing is also a phase of correction, remove, manage and add effects, even choose the sound you want. For example, you want to create a vocal sound like a robot, put the guitar sound on the right side, and etc. The process of presenting musical concepts in more details are in this stage. It takes a lot of imagination and references. Not only the sound, but also its arrangement. So mixing process can not be done in a hurry. It is better to consult often with a Sound Engineer expert to explore more idea and experience.Result of this mixing just enough to hear, do not be too loud. Because the gain and volume of this mixing process are both limited. It's important to avoid over peak in the mastering process later. So you should not be surprised if the sound results of the mixing is small, as they should be.

• Mastering

Mastering is the final stage in the process of professional recording. Mastering is the process of equating the gain and volume in accordance with international broadcast standards. There are specific indicators in volume leveling, not just rough up the volume at random.
There are certain rules in mastering that make the result is not broken if played on the radio, television, etc. So that in all media, your songs sound still stable in balance with the other songs.
If you don't follow these standards, it's funny if after the radio played a top song and played your song, then the sound's shrinking and not good.

Thus the mastering stage is very important. Besides for volume leveling, the result are audible, the detail will be more clear, more warm, and majestic, likes professional song that you often hear generally.

The thing to remember is after this stage there should be no editing stage anymore. This stage should be the final stage. Your songs have to be fixed before entering the mastering stage.
After mastering process, your song deserves to be played in all media.

Don't be wrong again. Mastering is not putting/copying Song into the form of audio CD/DVD, in fact it is the process of Duplicating.