Stem mastering offers a powerful middle ground, providing more flexibility than single-file mastering and less extensive intervention than a full mixdown. This process is particularly beneficial when individual signal adjustments or corrections are needed at a level that could negatively impact other elements of your music within a stereo file.

For stem mastering, I require subgroup bounces of your mix. All stems should start at the same time position and can end when their modulation ceases. It’s crucial that the level of each stem is adjusted as follows and strictly NOT normalized: When all stems are set to unity fader level (0 dB), they should collectively represent your original mixdown at the master bus with a maximum peak between -6 dB and -3 dB.

The objective here is to receive your original mixdown with sufficient headroom at the master bus, allowing me to access and process subgroups/stems individually. I do not want normalized subgroups/stems, as this shifts the task into a full mixing job. Again, the primary goal is to work with your unmastered mixdown, offering more possibilities for precise changes within instrument groups without adversely affecting other groups.

For example, if your kick drum has 6 dB too much low end, but the bass is a bit thin in the same frequency range, a single-file mastering situation would require you to revise your mixdown and send a new file. With stem mastering, I have separate access to both the kick and bass and can make those adjustments myself.

The following stems will provide an excellent starting point to get the best out of your mix without needing a complete mixdown process. 8 to 12 stems are usually sufficient; if more are required, it definitively indicates the need for a full mixing job.

Standard Stems

001 – Kick (solo)
002 – Clap & Snare
003 – HiHat
004 – Drums (ATR) => all the rest…
005 – Bass
006 – Lead => all main synths and lead sounds
007 – Atmo => all athmospheric sounds like strings and backings
008 – FX => all mix effects like reverb, delay and so on

Please ensure you avoid double-bouncing FX signals. For instance, if you have a reverb applied to a clap, don’t include that same reverb signal again within the „008 – FX“ stem.

Typically, the starting point is for all individual stems to be dry, with the „008 – FX“ stem containing the wet FX signal. However, you have the flexibility to include FX signals within individual stems if you prefer, simply keeping in mind: „If I were the engineer doing this, how would I want these files organized for the best results?“ This approach is always a good choice!

Additional Stems

009 – NN
010 – NN
011 – NN
012 – NN

You can utilize four additional stems (009-012) for elements you’d prefer to have isolated for this process. For example, these could be two distinct lead synths, your main hi-hats and a background hi-hat groove, or specific solo sounds—anything you believe would be beneficial for me to process individually. These four additional stems can be customized for each song, but all other stems (001-008) should maintain a consistent setup across all tracks.

If we don’t end up needing stems 009-012, that’s perfectly fine—it simply means it’s a typical stem mastering job. Please name your files exactly like the bold examples, including the prepended numbers. This naming convention makes it much easier to import all stems with a single click.

As an artist, your focus should be entirely on your creative vision. Leave all the technical details to me! Send over your individual tracks, and I’ll handle the complete mixdown and mastering service. You’ll receive the absolute best possible final master, because I’ll have every opportunity to optimize your sound while you concentrate on your next project.

Before I even begin working or charge anything, I’ll thoroughly listen to your pre-mix/rough mix and provide detailed feedback. I’ll also offer proposals for changes that will truly boost your tracks.

Due to technical restrictions inherent in the vinyl manufacturing process, it’s necessary to apply specific processing during mastering to achieve a loud and punchy result on vinyl. I don’t charge extra for vinyl mastering, but you will need to choose either a vinyl-ready master or a digital-ready master. Should you require both, you can order an additional version at a reduced rate.

I can process WAV, AIFF, and CAF files up to 192 kHz. Please provide 24-bit files if available, but do not convert your project if you’re working at a different bit depth. Kindly specify your desired output format for the final master, for example: a 44.1 kHz/16-bit WAV file.

It’s crucial that you do not apply any EQ, compression, or maximizing on the master bus of your delivered file. You’re welcome to send me your own mastering version or other reference songs that you’d like your track to sound similar to.

For file transfers, I can set up a secure FTP account on my server, or you can simply use www.wetransfer.com.

Please name your files clearly, for example:

Artist Name – Song Name (Mix Name) – [Unmastered Mix – YYYY-MM-DD]

• Single File Mastering (1 Song): 49€
• Stem Mastering (1 Song): 99€
• Mixdown + Mastering (1 Song): 189€
• Additional Version Vinyl or Digital (1 Song): 29€

For new customers, payment is required in advance. If PayPal isn’t your preferred method, please contact me to arrange an invoice.

As a returning customer, you can simply send your tracks, and I’ll issue an invoice for payment once the job is completed and you’re fully satisfied. Please remember, my „Happiness Guarantee“ applies to all clients, including new customers—the only difference is that the first job for new clients is prepaid.