MIXING IS THE PROCESS OF OPTIMIZING AND COMBINING MULTITRACK RECORDINGS INTO A FINAL MONO, STEREO OR SURROUND SOUND PRODUCT. IN THE PROCESS OF COMBINING THE SEPARATE TRACKS, THEIR RELATIVE LEVELS ARE ADJUSTED AND BALANCED AND VARIOUS PROCESSES SUCH AS EQUALIZATION AND COMPRESSION ARE COMMONLY APPLIED TO INDIVIDUAL TRACKS, GROUPS OF TRACKS, AND THE OVERALL MIX.