Stem mixing is the creation of the final recording from the individual recorded tracks. This includes the editing of the original recorded tracks, effects processing and combining into a single project. It can also involve restoring recorded tracks.
Editing is often considered a separate stage of work. Mixing music originated in the 1960s with the advent of multi-track recorders which allowed engineers to record eight channels simultaneously. Initially, the mixing was not a separate stage of the process of the creation of music and was an integral part of the recording, as the technical ability to keep the whole project was absent. The stem mixing went on when the recording of the new material took place without the possibility to return to earlier stages. With the increasing number of channels, it was possible to work with the entire project. Hence, the mixing became an independent stage of the work.
In the 1990s, the digital approach of mixing became significantly widespread. In 1994, it was possible to use real time effects processing to apply the processing parameters while listening. Cubase VST in 1996 marked the beginning of the mixing in the form in which it is most common until recent times. As a result, a multi-channel project is converted into mono, stereo or multi-channel item which usually gets its final form in the process which is called mastering.
Stem mixing is not a purely technical process of connecting the various tracks into a single entity. It’s rather creative process, which determines the features of the sound in the final result. The purpose of mixing varies depending on the project conception. It includes:
Spatial records impression which includes such components as the volume of the room in which the sound sources are located, the naturalness of the transmitted space, reverb reflections, sound plans, traditions of the sound solutions in terms of the spatial image in the different music styles free from defects caused by overlay multiple audio spaces (multispatiality).
Transparency of the mix is determined by the text legibility, distinguishable sound of individual instruments or groups of instruments, and the clarity of the transmitted space.
When you are mixing music, the musical balance of the item is created by the logical balance of the volume between the parts of the item and ratios of the volume of the instrumental groups and individual instruments.
The arrangement of the items presented in the form of a phonogram is estimated in the case of implementation of transcriptions of music for other groups of the instruments. There are different ways of the mixing for each individual style of music. These ways may differ from each other significantly. As a general rule, the stem mixing can be done either in the mixing console or in the sequencer.
If you want to get your music mixed, please send it to us via wetransfer.com This kind of work can be done in two or three days depending on complexity of your music. You will get the test result with our watermark in the middle of your item. If it needs some corrections, we will do it. Only after all the corrections are done you should send the payment to us. You will then receive the final version of your music. When you send music to us, please follow these instructions:
1. Format your music in 32 bit and 44100 Hz, WAV.
2. The peaks must not be higher than 0 dB or you will have unwanted distortion.
3. All the tracks in your project must be exported right from the beginning even when some of your instrument appears only in the middle of the song.
4. There should be no chorus, no EQ, no compressor, flanger, or delay.
5. The panorama of each instrument must be in the center.
6. There are no effects on the master bus.
7. You must have proper names for your files (examples: kick.wav, snare.wav, synth stab.wav).
8. You can send your version in mp3 format if you want.
9. Indicate the tempo of your song.
10. Send us the reference tracks (not more than 2).
You can listen and compare the results of our remote services below.
