what is a STEM?

[davidshek]

and I think from what I have been reading about creating RB songs, is that the drums need to be seperated by bass drum, snare and then the other toms, etc.

That's preferable, yep, but not required. You can author songs that only have 1 mixed drum track. Or 1 kick/1 snare/1 kit tracks, or 1 kick/1 kit, etc. Any combination of those 3.

[MrOwn1]

Uhhhh.

A LOT of bands and representatives I've talked to did NOT know what the term 'stem' referred to at first. I've had to say "I mean the separate instruments" quite a few times.

I think our friend is going to be just fine.

Well, I'm pretty sure that he read the website first, and it says AUDIO STEMS in quite a few places. Either he didn't really pay attention to what the site actually said, or....

[braddavisrevue]

I get it people. But why use STEM? when TRACK is more commonly used in the industry. 'STEM' led me to believe there was so more to it then it actually is. So, no problem.

[davidshek]

I get it people. But why use STEM? when TRACK is more commonly used in the industry. 'STEM' led me to believe there was so more to it then it actually is. So, no problem.

"Stems" and "master tracks" are pretty much both used interchangeably in the music industry. Any studio/producer/engineer in the world is going to know what you mean if you say either one of them.

[braddavisrevue]

well..I'm not a studio producer or engineer...I'm a musician.

[ethicalpaul]

This might give you some insight:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stem_mixing_and_mastering

I would definitely not use "stem" and "master track" interchangeably (if we're voting)

[davidshek]

This might give you some insight:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stem_mixing_and_mastering

I would definitely not use "stem" and "master track" interchangeably (if we're voting)

We're not voting, and that Wiki article is pretty useless anyway. I've never once heard a studio use the term "stem" to refer to a subgroup on the board.

[braddavisrevue]

We're not voting, and that Wiki article is pretty useless anyway. I've never once heard a studio use the term "stem" to refer to a subgroup on the board.

Now, I have heard the term 'subs' in my experiences. I do thank everyone for the feedback and helping to get me up to speed. I'm an old school player used to 4-track SOS reel-to-reel recording.

-{:-)

[ethicalpaul]

We're not voting, and that Wiki article is pretty useless anyway. I've never once heard a studio use the term "stem" to refer to a subgroup on the board.

Well excuse me. I found its description of the _idea_ of stems to be valuable. Obviously YMMV.

[HMXMister_Game]

From talking to our audio department, plus label representatives via MTV, pretty much everyone knows what stems are. Just so you don't think it's a Harmonix only thing.