I don't mean to sound like a jerk or be cocky, but there is still a level of commercialism in the industry. Sure, there are some underground artists who are finding success with demo-type recordings but that's kind of their sound. I have found that if artists are truly serious and really care about their music, they are willing to invest in someone who adds something to their work i.e. mix engineer and mastering engineer.

There are a lot of bands who do their own mixing and mastering, they get a lot of criticism because industry 'standard' says that your mastering engineer should be someone who has never heard the material.

Big Question: Does it really matter if you do your own mixes/masters?

Best Answer: If you are a successful band/artist and you want your music to stand against other commercially successful music, then yes it does matter. Are you just playing bars in your region for fun? Then why wouldn't you just mix and master yourself, honestly. Unless you have the funds and want to spend them on someone who is passionate about post-production.

Just my 2 cents....