Organize a stem handoff

A stem handoff should let the next person reconstruct your intended arrangement without guessing. Decide whether you are delivering individual tracks or grouped stems, and tell the recipient which one. Keep a reference mix alongside the files.

Work through it

1. Export every stem from the same start point, including any silence before the first sound. Preserve the intended sample rate and document the tempo.
2. Name files by their musical role and version. State which processing is printed, especially compression, effects and master-bus treatment.
3. Import the exports into a fresh session and compare their alignment and combined sound with the reference. Include the end of reverbs and delays.

Check your result

• Files align without manual guessing.
• Printed processing is documented.
• Tails and transitions are included.