“Stem Mastering” is when instead of us working solely from your single stereo mix file, you send in two or more stereo wav files of submixed elements for each song, for us to work from. A typical example would be sending all instruments on one stereo track, and all vocals on another stereo track. Another example which would allow for way more possible adjustments would be sending in separate stereo tracks for lead vocals, backing vocals, guitars, drums, bass, and keyboards. This then allows us to make adjustments to the balances or processing of only the elements in the mix that need these changes, rather than having to only be able to apply any processing to the entire mix (such as applying de-essing only to the vocals, instead of having to apply the de-esser across everything). When might it be worth sending in stems? • If you are still unhappy with elements of your mix, but do not know how to best fix the issues you dislike in it. • If elements such as lead vocals have serious amounts of sibilance or occasional bursts of harshness, that you don’t know how to best address at your end. • If some elements in the mix would benefit from being pushed in one direction, while other elements are better pushed in the opposite direction (e.g. overly bright and harsh vocals over a dull and muddy instrumental bed, or visa versa) and you don’t know how best to address this. • If you are unable to sort through conflicting issues in the low end between elements such as kick drums and bass. • If you are wanting numerous alternative versions provided back, such as vocal up, instrumental, TV track, and acapella. When should you NOT send in stem mixes? • If you are happy with your mix, and wish to best retain the balances and tones you have set in it. • If you wish to have the mastering done most efficiently and at lowest cost. • If you used a compressor or other processor across the 2-bus, and this gave you a balance and/or tone that is vital to the mix. As working from stems can potentially involve another stage of what is generally done in mixing, In nearly all cases we prefer to just work with stereo mix files, as this allows us to retain a more efficient work flow and a fresh clear perspective. But in some cases, stem mastering can be just what is needed to get your final masters to have the best possible sounding resutls. If sending in stems, please make sure that all files sent begin from the same exact 0:00:00:00:00 starting point! If properly set, when you play the stems all together with their faders set at “0” and with no additional panning, then it should exactly replicate your stereo mix. Additional costs for stem mastering are quoted on a per job basis. Please let us know how many (and of what elements) you wish to send stems in for, and what your concerns and desired goals are for these tracks, and we can provide a quote for you.