Stem Mastering
Mastering from grouped stems, adjusting sections before summing to the final master
Related
Stem mastering takes grouped stems rather than a single stereo mix into the mastering stage. The engineer can adjust EQ, dynamics and level on drums, bass, vocals and other groups separately before summing them into the final master.
It suits film, game or projects needing small corrections, and makes instrumental and vocal versions easier to keep. The stems must come from the same mix with matching start points and sample rates. Compare the summed result with the original stereo mix section by section; careless group processing can introduce phase and loudness shifts.
The usual mistake is treating stem mastering as remixing. If the balance needs large changes, the work belongs back in the mix; mastering makes limited corrections and keeps a stereo version for reference.
Sources
- 分轨母带流程，参 Bob Katz, Mastering Audio 与 Bobby Owsinski, The Mixing Engineer's Handbook；本文为原创表述
Used for fact-checking only; all prose is original.