Mastering, a form of audio post production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix. The final delivery is a stereo master file, ready to be released on all platforms, be it iTunes, Spotify, Amazon etc.

What format should I send my track in?
Your final mix down should be uncompressed stereo with a bit depth of at least 16bit, ideally 24bit and a sampling frequency of 44.1kHz up to 96kHz. No pre-processing using limiting or normalising - we need as much headroom as possible to work with. For ease of reference, between -6dB to -3dB is optimum.

What would be delivered once finished and approved?
You would get a final master in the following formats

• 24bit 48k .wav file
• 16bit 320kbps .mp3 file
• Image file of audio analysis and output reference specifications

Stem mastering allows an engineer to more easily access and isolate individual elements of the mix, allowing them to adjust the EQ and dynamics of the music without compromise. The engineer may not need to make changes to every stem, but the process provides the option to do so.

It can be as simple as working with two to three stems or multiple stems. The more stems, the greater the flexibility and control.

Traditional ‘mastering only’ allows the engineer to work on a single stereo mix file, adjusting the said EQ and dynamics of the final mix as a whole, which can limit the possibilities to access problem areas of a mix.

What format should I send my stems in?
Like mastering, each stem should be uncompressed stereo with a bit depth of at least 16bit, ideally 24bit and a sampling frequency of 44.1kHz up to 96kHz. Again, we need as much headroom as possible to work with. For ease of reference, between -6dB to -3dB is optimum for each.

Depending on each stem, avoid using limiting or normalising, delays and reverbs. Ideally, it is best practice for each stem to be ‘raw’. However, processing using autotune or other effects, that are essential to the track, especially vocals and instruments, should be left in. It is important to keep essential elements and specific sound(s) that you want, rather than us being creative with your expectations.

Finally, we would need a demo version of your mix down for reference.


A simple example for individual ‘stems’ to send could be

• Instrumental
• Vocals

Or better still, individual ‘stems’ to send could be

• Drums
• Bass
• Guitar
• Horns
• Vocals (main)
• Vocals (backing)

Additionally, the above could be broken down even further, for example

• Kick Drum
• Snare Drum
• Hats/Cymbals
• Bass
• Guitar 1
• Guitar 2
• Horn 1
• Horn 2
• Horn 3
• Vocals (main)
• Vocals (backing)
• Vocals (adlibs)

What would be delivered once finished and approved?
You would get a final master in the following formats

• 24bit 48k .wav master file
• 24bit 48k .wav mix down file
• 16bit 320kbps .mp3 file
• Image file of audio analysis and output reference specifications