Mixing is the most over-looked, yet, most important part of audio production and like mastering, it is a true art in itself. The main reason for mixing is to prepare a track for mastering using an array of tools such as EQing, compression, Gating and other processes.

Here is a simple example of how a track is mixed down;

Here is what a typicl mix down looks like and below is how the track sounded before and after.  Notice how in the finished track, all the elements seem to melt together, where as in the before, some of the elements seem to take over the track and others fade away. Not only that but the over-all sound is muddy, compaired with the polished, finished version.

Before

After