Normal Mastering
$100 per song
You send one finished stereo mix. I master it as it is: tone, dynamics and loudness, ready for release. Best when you're happy with the balance.
Multi-Stem Mastering
What Is Multi-Stem Mastering?
A master with a bit more room to manoeuvre. Your song comes in as 3 to 5 stems instead of one stereo file, so I can fix the balance between them while I master it, using analog and digital processing. $120 per song.
What Is It?
Multi-stem mastering is like a super basic mix. The goal is to split your song into 3-5 component parts (stems), keeping all the processing and effects you've done included in them. So you could choose to split a rock track into bass, drums, guitar, and vocals. Or a dance track into drums, bass synths, lead synths and effects.
Why Do It?
I'm going to be brutally honest here and say that sometimes the mixes we're sent aren't the best. Multi-stem mastering allows a greater degree of freedom at the mastering phase to level things a little better, and make sure things are working cohesively as a unit (I'm looking at you, low end frequencies).
When Isn't It a Good Idea?
There are two answers here. If you are truly happy with your mix and don't want it changed, then multi-stem mastering isn't for you, let's just stick to normal mastering. Equally, if your track needs mixing, effects and processing, that's not what we're doing at this stage. This is very much a polishing process, and tracks that haven't been mixed still need to get that done.
Which One Do You Need?
Stem mastering, normal mastering or a mix?
The difference is what you send me and how much I'm allowed to change.
Multi-Stem Mastering
$120 per song
You send 3 to 5 stems with your effects printed in. I master the song and can rebalance the stems against each other, usually the low end and the vocal level. Best when the mix is nearly there.
Mixing
from $150 per song
You send every track. I mix the song from scratch, mastering included. Best when the balance, the effects or the arrangement need real work.
Before You Send
How to export your stems for multi-stem mastering
Get these right and the stems add back up to exactly the mix you made, which is the whole point.
- Group the song into 3 to 5 stems. For example drums, bass, music (guitars, keys, synths) and vocals, plus effects if they're a big part of the sound.
- Keep your processing and effects on. These aren't mixing stems. Every plug-in, reverb and delay you used should be printed into the stem it belongs to.
- Take the limiter off your master bus. If compression or EQ on the master bus is part of your sound, tell me, and send a stereo bounce with it switched on so I can hear what you were going for.
- Start every stem at the same point and run it to the end of the song, even where it's silent, so they line up when I load them.
- Export WAV files at your session's sample rate, 24-bit if you can, with nothing clipping.
- Check they add up. Play all the stems together with the faders at zero. They should sound exactly like your mix. If they don't, something is missing or doubled.
- Send your stereo mix as well, so I have the version you know and love as a reference.
More on preparing files in the stems checklist, which is written for mixing but most of it applies here too.
How Much Does It Cost?
$120 per song
So cheaper than a basic mix, more than a master. Analog and digital processing, alternate versions $20 a song.
Questions
Multi-stem mastering FAQ
Is multi-stem mastering the same as stem mastering?
Yes. Stem mastering, multi-stem mastering and multistem mastering are all names for the same thing: mastering a song from a handful of stems instead of a single stereo mix.
How many stems do I need?
Usually 3 to 5. Drums, bass, music and vocals covers most songs. More than that and it starts turning into a mix, which is a different job.
How much does multi-stem mastering cost?
$120 per song at MixGenie. That sits between normal mastering at $100 and mixing, which starts at $150. Alternate versions, such as an instrumental, are $20 a song.
Will you change my mix?
Only the balance between the stems, and only to make the song work as a unit. I won't add new effects or rebuild your sound. If the song needs that, it needs a mix, and I'll tell you honestly before you pay for the wrong thing.
Should I keep my effects on when I export the stems?
Yes. Multi-stem mastering stems should sound exactly like your mix when they play together, so keep every effect and plug-in printed in. The only thing to take off is the limiter on your master bus.
Not sure if your mix needs it?
Send me the song for a free mix check and I'll tell you whether normal mastering will do, whether stems would help, or whether it really needs mixing.