How to export stems from your DAW
Stems are isolated audio exports of each track group. Exporting them correctly is essential for collaboration and professional mixing.
A stem is a single audio file that contains one element or group of elements from your project: drums, bass, keys, vocals, FX.
Stems let a mixing engineer work with your project without needing your plugins or DAW. They are also required by sync libraries, remix contests, and many collaboration workflows.
Standard stem groups
Most projects export stems in these groups. Adjust for your genre.
- Drums (kick, snare, hi-hats grouped together)
- Bass (sub bass and bassline)
- Melodic (chords, pads, leads)
- Vocals (lead vocal, harmonies, ad-libs)
- FX (risers, transitions, ambient layers)
Export settings
Export at the same sample rate and bit depth as your project, typically 44.1 kHz / 24-bit. Do not convert unless the recipient specifies otherwise.
Start all stems at bar 1, beat 1, even if the element enters later. This ensures perfect alignment when the mixer imports all stems.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Exporting with master bus processing on (turn off the master limiter before exporting)
- Different stem lengths that do not align to the same grid
- Missing FX returns: include reverb and delay tails on the stems that use them
- Forgetting to bounce MIDI to audio before exporting
Frequently asked questions
Why do stems need to all start at bar 1?
If stems start at different points, they will not line up correctly when a mixing engineer imports them. Starting all stems at bar 1 guarantees perfect alignment regardless of where the actual content begins.
Should I include effects on stems or export them dry?
It depends on the agreement with the mixer. Dry stems give the engineer maximum flexibility. Wet stems are faster if you want your effects preserved. Always ask first.
What bit depth and sample rate should I use for stems?
Export at the same settings as your project, typically 24-bit 44.1 kHz. Do not upsample or downsample unless specifically requested.
Ready to upgrade your sound?
Browse VST plugins, sample packs, and presets at VSTShop.