When to send stems
Send stems after recording and before the mix slot is confirmed. Mix per track €235; EP up to five tracks €520 (incl. 21% VAT). Includes 2 revision rounds on balance, EQ and dynamics — not new recording takes. Recorded live with us? Request export via contact; external studios are fine if format matches.
Technical baseline
Deliver WAV or AIFF, interleaved stereo or mono per stem. Sample rate: identical for all tracks of one song (often 48 kHz; 44.1 kHz if everything matches). Bit depth: at least 24-bit; no mp3 or AAC as source. Start at sample zero: align all files, no leading silence unless intentional.
Leave headroom: peaks around −6 dBFS give the mix engineer space for buses and processing. Avoid a limiter on every stem unless creative and agreed. Export with the same clock as recording; drifting stems sound flammy and eat mix time.
Print reverb and delay on aux sends only when you are sure you want that space locked; otherwise send dry stems and describe the vibe in your note.
Naming that scales
Use short, consistent names: Song_Stem_DrumKick.wav, Song_Stem_BassDI.wav, Song_Overdub_VoxLead.wav. Skip spaces; underscores or hyphens are fine. Put BPM and key in a text file in the folder, plus structure (intro, chorus, bridge) if markers are not embedded.
- One folder per song, zip or cloud link with access for our team.
- Reference track separate, labelled REF, up to two relevant minutes.
- MIDI or project files only on request; stems lead.
Grouping: separate vs bundled
| Group | Approach |
|---|---|
| Drums | Kick, snare, overheads separate; room mic optional. No premix unless intentional. |
| Guitar | DI plus amp mic separate for flexibility; doubles on own tracks. |
| Keys and synths | Stereo stem per patch or submix without heavy bus compression. |
| Vocal | Lead, doubles, ad-libs split; no printed reverb unless desired. |
| FX and risers | Separate stereo stems; avoid non-reproducible sidechain tricks. |
Unsure? Send a track list in the contact form; we reply within 2 business days.
Revisions and feedback
After the first mix we send a streaming-friendly file for phone, car and headphone checks. Note time codes (minute:second) and concrete requests: softer bass, more air on vocal, less reverb on bridge. Vague warmer helps less than a reference example.
Rounds beyond 2 are billed at production hourly (€98) or by agreement. New recording takes are outside the mix; book via vocals or band.
Archive and transfer
We keep mix projects for 12 months on secured storage. Download finals and instrumentals within that window. Large packages via encrypted link; avoid public file drops without a password for unreleased material.
Privacy and processor terms: privacy policy and data processing agreement for business clients.
Common mistakes
- Mono vocal exported as dual-mono stereo with phase issues — check in mono.
- Mixed sample rates within one song — convert uniformly before upload.
- Stems missing automation that only lives in the DAW — print effects or send project.
- Missing tempo map — wastes time on edits.
More answers in FAQ; loudness and delivery formats in master delivery formats guide.
Next step
Stems ready? Book mix via Mixing or email [email protected] with song title, track count and deadline. After mix, plan Mastering in your release calendar. Call 020 248 3164, Mon–Fri 09:00–21:00 · Sat 10:00–18:00.
