Stem mastering
When a stereo master is not enough.
Send me 2 to 5 grouped stems instead of one stereo bounce and I can shape the master at the element level. Vocals, drums, bass and instruments each get their own treatment before the final master is printed. Ranked top 1% worldwide for mixing and mastering on Muso.ai. Unlimited revisions free for first-time clients.
The short version
What stem mastering actually is.
Traditional mastering works from a single stereo file. Stem mastering works from grouped stems, usually vocals, drums, bass and instruments, so each one can be treated on its own before they are summed.
That gives me control a stereo master cannot reach. Vocals sitting slightly louder in the finished master without going back to the mix. More weight on the kick without lifting the whole top end with it. It is the middle ground between a remix and a normal master, and it suits a mix that is 95% there but needs a push the stereo file will not give.
What you get
Everything included, every session.
Same analog chain that major-label releases run through, applied stem by stem.
Individual stem processing
Vocals, drums, bass and instruments each get their own EQ, compression and treatment before being summed. Nothing has to be compromised for the sake of something else in the mix.
Analog mastering chain
Bettermaker mastering units, Avalon, Dangerous Music and Louder than Liftoff. Real hardware, adding weight and dimension that a digital-only chain does not.
Loudness that holds up
Controlling the dynamics of each element separately means more competitive loudness than a stereo master can reach, because your low end never has to compromise your top end.
Apple Digital Masters certified
Every master meets Apple Digital Masters spec, the highest quality standard for streaming delivery.
Every format you need
Streaming-optimised WAV and MP3, a vinyl pre-master if you need one, and a club-ready loud version.
Revisions until it is right
Three rounds as standard. First-time clients get unlimited rounds free. Claim your code.
Which one
Stem or stereo mastering?
Both are professional services and most records only need the stereo version. Here is how to tell them apart honestly.
Choose stereo mastering, $70
Your mix is balanced and you need it louder, polished and streaming-ready. This is the industry standard and it handles the large majority of releases perfectly. It also scales better across an album or EP, and it is the better value when the mix is already solid.
Choose stem mastering, $110
The mix needs fine-tuning at the element level. Vocals need to cut more, the low end needs tightening, or the top end is harsh but only on the instruments. Worth it on a major single, or when you cannot go back to the mix because the engineer or the session files are gone.
Being straight about it: if I am already mixing your song, you do not need this. I have every individual track at that point and master from there. Mixing and mastering together gets you the most controlled result available.
How it works
Four steps. Two to four days.
01
Export your stems
Two to five groups, most often vocals, drums, bass and instruments. Buy online and the upload link arrives straight away.
~15 minutes
02
I master them
Each stem treated on its own, then summed through the analog chain. Done personally, in my Los Angeles studio.
2–4 business days
03
You review it
Tell me what needs to move. Plain English is fine.
Revisions in 24–48 hrs
04
Take your master
Every format you need, ready to release.
Same day
Pricing
Two ways to master.
Both run through the same analog chain. The difference is how much control I have over the individual elements.
First-time client? Claim your code for unlimited revisions.
Stereo
$70per song
- Analog EQ, compression and limiting
- Stereo widening and loudness
- Apple Digital Masters delivery
- 3 revision rounds
Stem
$110per song
- Everything in stereo mastering
- Individual processing on 2 to 5 stems
- Element-level control of the low end
- 3 revision rounds
Need the mix done too? Mixing and mastering from $349 · Album and EP pricing, just ask
Questions
Before you export.
How many stems should I send?
Between two and five. Most sessions use four: vocals, drums, bass, and instruments or everything else. If the song has a distinct element that needs its own treatment, a lead synth or strings, split it out. More stems means more control, but even two or three is a meaningful upgrade on a stereo master.
Do I need to strip the master bus first?
Take any limiter off the master bus before you export, and leave headroom, peaks around -3 to -6 dBFS. Bus glue compression is fine, just no brick-wall limiting. If you had been listening with a limiter on, send me a screenshot of the settings so I know the level you are used to.
What format should the stems be?
WAV or AIFF at the sample rate and bit depth you recorded at, 24-bit, 44.1kHz or higher. All stems the same length so they line up when summed, exported from the very start of the session even if the first sound comes in later.
Is it actually worth the extra $40?
Not always, and I would rather tell you that. For most songs a stereo master is all you need, especially when the mix is solid. Stem mastering earns the difference when you need precision at the element level, or when going back to the mix is not an option.
How long does it take?
Two to four business days. Revisions come back in 24 to 48 hours. A rush option gets the first version back in 48 hours.
Can I add it to a full mix and master?
You would not need to. If I am mixing the song I already have every individual track and master from there, which is more control than stems give. Stem mastering is for mixes coming in from outside.
Start here
Send me the stems.
Buy online and the upload link is in your inbox within minutes. Not sure whether you need stem or stereo? Tell me about the mix and I will give you a straight answer.