Audio Glossary
Mastering · aka stem mastering vs stereo mastering
WHAT IS
STEM MASTERING?
Stem mastering masters a track from a small number of instrument groups (stems) — typically drums, bass, music, and vocals — instead of a single stereo file. The extra separation lets the engineer rebalance elements and solve problems that can't be fixed on a summed stereo mix, making it a middle ground between stereo mastering and a full mix.
When stem mastering is worth it
Stereo mastering treats your bounce as one signal — the engineer can shape tone and loudness, but can't touch the balance between elements. Stem mastering gives 4-8 groups, so if the vocal is 1 dB shy or the kick is fighting the bass, those become fixable at the master stage instead of a bounce-back-to-mix.
The trade-off: the stems have to be printed cleanly. Every stem starts at bar 1 at unity gain, with any bus processing (except the master bus) intact. Done right, it's the best value in mastering — more control than stereo, far less cost than a full mix. See the stem mastering service for how I run it.
Quick answers
STEM MASTERING FAQ.
What's the difference between stem mastering and stereo mastering?
Stereo mastering works from one stereo file and shapes overall tone and loudness. Stem mastering works from 4-8 instrument groups, letting the engineer rebalance elements — so a buried vocal or a boomy kick can be fixed at the master stage.
How many stems should I send for stem mastering?
The useful minimum is four: drums, bass, music, and vocals. Six to eight is the sweet spot. Past ten stems you're doing a mix, not a master — at that point book a full mix instead.
Related terms
Get it done for you
Stem Mastering
Mastered with stem-level control. Tighter, louder, more transparent than stereo mastering.
See the service →