Stem Specifications.

Please carefully read the stem specifications below:

Stems are essential for every track. Many production companies do not use tracks unless all of the stems are available. Additionally, we cannot accept yours stems unless they are formatted properly.

  • Stems need to be organized as simply as possible for clients. They should be stereo, post mix and grouped together by instrument. For example: one stem for all drums rather than kick, snare, toms etc… We would typically expect 5-10 stems per track (may be more or less).

  • Ideally, any melodies should be on a separate stem, e.g. rhythm and lead guitar should be separated. It should also be possible for the underscore to be recreated from the stems, so anything taken out for the underscore should be on a separate stem.

  • Stems should be interleaved stereo files, not mono or separate left and right channels.

  • Please ensure all stems start from beat 1 bar 1 and are the same length as each other and the full track.

  • The aim of the process is to start from where you left off, so when the stems are imported into any DAW, with the faders in a straight line, we get your mix exactly as you left it, minus any mastering across the full mix.

  • You should take off any dynamics from the master channel before printing stems and make sure the mix does not exceed 0db, so when the stems are added back together they should not exceed 0db, ideally around -3db to leave room for mastering.

  • Stem File Name must match the metadata submission exactly and uniquely

  • 48 kHz, 16 or 24 bit, Stereo, WAV or AIFF

Meta-Data:

New metadata fields added for stems are “Stem Name” and “Audio Filename”

  • “Stem Name” describes the instrument or group of instruments, and will be what the client sees to notify them of what the stem contains.

  • “Audio Filename” must link exactly to an audio file of the same name; our administration team will process and rename the audio files in a standard format for our clients. You can name the audio file whatever you like as long as it is unique.

Stem Name Best Practices:

“Stem Name” is the name of instruments or group of instruments.

  • This is a text field with no validation, use your best judgement.

  • The goal is to communicate the contents of the stem track as easily and clearly to the client/editor.

Single Instrument examples:

  • Electric Guitar

  • Bass

  • Synth

  • Lead Guitar

  • Rhythm Guitar

  • Trombone

Group of instruments examples:

  • Drums

  • Percussion

  • Strings

  • Horns

Multiple Instrument examples:

Multiple guitars:

  • Guitar 1

  • Guitar 2

  • Lead Guitar

Multiple vocals:

  • Lead Vocal

  • Backup Vocals

  • Vocal Harmony