Stem Mastering
For when a stereo master can't reach the problem. Working from your grouped stems — kick, bass, drums, music, vocals, FX — means the low end, the dynamics and the balance can be corrected at source instead of worked around. Fully online, wherever in the world you are.
How Stem Mastering Works
Stem mastering sits between a full mix and a stereo master. You get some of the control of a mix with the finish of a master — the right call when a track is nearly there but something in the balance is holding it back.
Group Your Stems and Send Them
Seven groups is the standard: Kick (always on its own), Low-End Percussion (toms, lower perc), High-End Percussion (hats, claps, toppers), Bass, Music (synths, melodic), Vocals, and FX. Export them all from bar one at your project's sample rate, with no master bus processing except anything that is genuinely part of the sound. Seven groups sits comfortably inside the 4-8 stem band the £250 covers.
The Stem Session
With the stems separated, the fixes a stereo master cannot make become available: tightening kick and bass independently of each other, opening the top end without dragging the midrange up with it, resetting the balance between the drums and the music bed. That is the whole reason to master from stems rather than a bounce.
Revisions and Delivery
You get the finished stereo master back, ready for release. A session typically runs 1 to 1.5 hours. An instrumental or acapella taken from the same arrangement comes with it.
What's Included
- ✓Individual stem-level EQ, compression, and saturation
- ✓Low-end tightening on kick, bass, and sub independently
- ✓Drum transient shaping without affecting the full mix
- ✓Vocal and FX balance correction at the mastering stage
- ✓Club and streaming loudness targets
- ✓Final stereo master included
- ✓4-8 grouped stems included; each additional stem +£35 (22 stem maximum)
- ✓Same-arrangement instrumental & acapella included
- ✓Ideal for house, techno, drum & bass, and electronic
- ✓Full-resolution WAV delivery
- ✓Fully online — stems in, master back, from anywhere
Stem Mastering
£250
Covers 4-8 grouped stems, ex. VAT. No hourly rate. Each additional stem is £35, up to a maximum of 22 stems — beyond that a Full Mixdown at £750 gives you more for less. Final invoice in GBP, converted to your local currency at current rates. Final master and same-arrangement instrumental/acapella included.
Get a QuoteStem mastering is the middle ground between a full mix and a stereo master. Where stereo mastering works from a single finished file, stem mastering gives Sam individual control over grouped elements: kick, bass, drums, synths, vocals and FX. This allows corrections and enhancements that simply are not possible from a stereo file.
It is the go-to choice when a stereo master is not quite cutting it. Muddy low-end, a kick that is not punching through, a vocal sitting awkwardly in the mix. These are all problems stem mastering can solve without sending the track back for a full mix.
Typical sessions run 1 to 1.5 hours. The final stereo master is included, and £250 covers 4 to 8 grouped stems. If your track needs more separation, additional stems are £35 each, up to a maximum of 22. Fully online, with artists submitting stems from anywhere in the world.
Related Services
Complement your project with our other professional audio services.
Stereo Mastering
The final polish for a mix that is already sitting right — one stereo file in, release-ready master out.
Learn More→Full Mixdown
When the track needs more than stems can fix. £750, the mix built from scratch, master included.
Learn More→Stem Mastering in London
The same service for house artists working with London labels, from the room at Wired Masters.
Learn More→From the Studio
Guides and insights from Sam at Wired Masters.
Stem Mastering vs Stereo Mastering
Stem mastering is always better. Here's why, what it costs, and when stereo still makes sense.
Read Guide→How to Get Your Low End Right
Kick and bass fighting each other? Here's how to fix it before mastering.
Read Guide→How Much Does Mastering Cost in 2026?
Honest pricing breakdown including stem mastering and mixdown rates.
Read Guide→Send Your Stems Over
Get in touch to discuss your project, turnaround, and pricing.