Beats
What Are Beat Stems?
A practical BeatSplit guide, from the quick answer to your next steps.
One beat, separate parts
A stereo beat versus stems
A stereo beat combines the instrumental into a single left-and-right audio file. Stems separate it into parts or groups of sounds. A drum stem might contain the whole drum kit, while a melody stem might contain several instruments. The exact grouping depends on what the producer supplies.
Why stems help a vocal mix
Imagine that your vocal is clear in the verse but a bright melody masks it in the chorus. With stems, you can lower or process that melody while keeping the drums and bass in place. You can also adjust an instrumental group during a particular section without turning down the entire beat.
Stems are not always individual tracks
A set of stems is not necessarily the original project or every instrument track. A drum stem can already include the kick, snare and percussion together. Check the download description before planning a mix that depends on changing one sound independently.
Set up your session
Import the supplied files at the same timeline starting point and preserve their timing. Check the tempo and sample rate, then listen to all parts together against the producer’s reference mix before changing levels. Keep a copy of the original files so you can return to the starting point.
Avoid doubling the instrumental
If the stems already reconstruct the beat, playing the stereo beat alongside them can double the instrumental and make it louder than intended. Use the stereo file as a reference and mute it while mixing the stems, unless the producer specifically supplies it as an additional part.
Check availability and licensing
Open the individual beat’s download options to see which files are available and whether stems have separate pricing. Access to stems does not expand your license or give you permission to sell the instrumental parts on their own. Review the applicable agreement before distributing your finished song.
Put it into practice
Find your next beat, or contact support for help with your account or release.