Standard mastering takes your finished stereo mix and prepares it for release. One file in, one master out. For a well-balanced, well-mixed track, it works perfectly. Stem mastering is different.
What stems are
Instead of one stereo file, you send the mix broken down into grouped stems. Drums, bass, synths and vocals as separate stereo files, each exported at the same level as your mix.
The difference is control.
What stems give you
When I'm working with a stereo file, anything I do affects the whole mix. If I want to tighten the low end, I'm touching the bass and the kick at the same time. If I want to open up the top end, I'm affecting the vocals and the hats together. A good mastering engineer can work within those limits. But there are limits.
Stems change that. I can process the kick without touching the bass. I can bring up the clarity in your lead without pulling the room on your drums. The master is still built from all the elements together, but there's more precision in how we get there.
When to choose stems over stereo
The clearest sign is when there's no definition between your kick and your bass. If they're sitting on top of each other in the low end, a stereo master can't separate them. I'm processing both at the same time. With stems I can treat them independently, tighten the low end, and give both elements the space they need.
The second sign is when something in the mix is getting lost. If your lead is getting buried, or your vocal is sitting back, stems let me bring that forward without affecting everything else.
What stems don't do
Stem mastering is not a remix. I'm not rebuilding your track or redoing your production. The arrangement, the sounds, the creative decisions, those are all yours. I'm just working with more material.
What about the cost?
A stem master is essentially double — or a bit more depending on what we're doing. But if you're already booking a master and a couple of passes, the gap closes fast.
If you send edit stems alongside your main mix stems, I'll run the edit pass in the same session. It adds barely any time, so it's essentially free. If you want mixed stems back, that's a separate addition, roughly half an hour's time.
The end product will be noticeably better. When in doubt, send your track over. I'll tell you honestly whether your mix needs it.
How to prepare your stems
Export each group from the same session, at the same position, with no stereo bus processing. Make sure they all add up to your mix when played back together. Send the original stereo mix as a reference alongside them.
Work with Sam
Not sure if you need stem mastering? Send your track over and Sam will give you an honest assessment.
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