In a stereo mastering session, if a mastering engineer hears an error that they would like remedied, the engineer can only affect the stereo file, and will, in turn, be limited in possibilities. This is due to the extra control available to the mastering engineer. It is used by over 1500 FM stations ranging from small local stations to 50-100 kW stations and nation-wide networks with dozens of transmitters, thousands of streaming stations and many DAB+, HD, AM and TV stations. Quality of the MasterĪlthough a stereo mastering session can still be exceptional when it comes to quality, a stem mastering session typically results in a more complex and balanced master. What is Stereo Tool Stereo tool is a software-based audio processor which offers outstanding audio quality and comes with many unique features. When it comes to cost, a stereo based mastering session is more cost effective during all typical stages, and possible stages of the mixing and mastering process.
Contribute to the open source community, manage your Git repositories, review code like a pro, track bugs and features, power your CI/CD and DevOps workflows, and secure code before you commit it. On the other hand, you may incur extra costs when using stem mastering due to the potential need for a transfer service, extra cost for a revision, extra charge if files need to be redelivered, and the actual services or printing stems and mastering a stem-based session. GitHub is where over 73 million developers shape the future of software, together. Select all the tracks in your session from beginning to end.
Just as importantly, the actual services of exporting a stereo file, and mastering a stereo file are less expensive due to the time, or lack of time that they take. If you’re sending your song in for our mixing and mastering service and you’re using Pro Tools, you’re going to want to export or bounce the individual tracks so your audio engineer can load them into whatever DAW they’re using.
So just to recap, stereo mastering is less expensive when it comes to transferring files, requesting revisions, and seeking to be resent a file that you may have lost. When it comes to stems, it’s possible that a premium or subscription-based transfer service may be needed for the job, adding to the already more expensive process.Ī premium dropbox account might be needed for storing and sending stems to an engineer. Again, it’s easier to transfer a stereo file, meaning many free services can be used to send it to your mastering engineer. Although this may not always be the case, it is something to be wary of if going the stem mastering route.Īlso discussed early is the matter of transferring the files of a stem mastering session.
This may result in additional costs.ĭuring mastering, importing, analyzing, and processing each stem will take longer to accomplish, hence the greater cost associated with the service.Īs discussed earlier, if you lose any files with a stereo mastering session, only the one stereo file will be needed – but if you loss a file full of stems, the mixing engineer may be less understanding, or willing to send you a large group of files without some cost associated with it. Stem mastering can result in extra time spent by both the mixing engineer and mastering engineer.