Send it Raw: A Guide to Prepping Dry Stems for Mixing and Mastering
You've poured your heart and soul into crafting the perfect song, and now it's time to hand it off to the sonic magicians – the mix and mastering engineers. But before you hit that send button, there's a crucial step: stripping your tracks down to bare-bones, dry stems.Think of it like this: sending raw ingredients allows the chef to cook your vision to perfection, adding their own artistry and expertise without being limited by pre-existing flavors.
Why Dry Stems?
- Flexibility: Dry stems give the engineer complete control over shaping the sound, from EQ and compression to effects and panning. They can craft the perfect mix without fighting with pre-applied processing.
- Clarity: Excess processing can mask issues and hinder the engineer's ability to diagnose and fix problems. Dry stems reveal the true nature of your sounds, allowing for more precise adjustments.
- Artistic Control: Of course, there are exceptions! If you have unique effects baked into a track that are integral to your artistic vision, by all means, send those wet stems. Just communicate clearly why they're essential.
Prepping Your Stems:
- Bounce everything down: Convert virtual instruments and plugins to audio tracks. This ensures the engineer receives a consistent set of files.
- Comp Vocals: Pick and choose the best parts of the recording and seamlessly blend them together.
- Switch off basic processing: Unless it's an artistic choice, disable EQ, compression, and other basic effects on your tracks. Let the engineer add their own touch.
- Label clearly: Name your stems accurately and consistently to avoid confusion.
- Provide reference tracks (optional): Share professionally mixed tracks in your genre to guide the engineer towards your sonic vision.
Remember:
- Communication is key! Discuss any specific requests or concerns with the engineer beforehand.
- Trust their expertise! They're there to enhance your music, not rewrite it.
- Enjoy the process! Witnessing your song transform through the mixing and mastering magic is a rewarding experience.
By sending dry stems and following these tips, you're setting the stage for a stellar collaboration and a final product that truly shines. So go forth, strip it down, and let the sonic chefs work their magic!I
