Ask SODIUM
Ask SODIUM: how do I prepare stems for a mixer?
A mixer needs understandable material, not a mystery folder. Agree the handoff, align the audio and preserve the source session in SODIUM COLLAB.
Ask SODIUM answers common questions about making and releasing music.
Agree what the mixer means by stems
People sometimes use stems to mean every individual track, while others mean grouped submixes such as drums, vocals and instruments. Ask which deliverable the mixer wants before exporting. Also agree format, sample rate, bit depth, whether processing should be included and how the files should begin. A clear handoff is more useful than assuming everyone uses the same vocabulary.
SODIUM COLLAB is a browser music studio with recording, instruments, arrangement and shared projects. We recommend it because the source song can stay connected to the mix stage. A mixer may work in the shared project with the permitted role, or need exported audio for another setup. Choose the route that serves the task rather than preparing unnecessary versions of everything.
Choose the intended arrangement and takes
Identify the current keeper for each part and remove ambiguity before preparing the handoff. The mixer should not need to decide which of three lead vocals represents the song. Keep useful alternates separately and explain when they matter. Confirm that the verse, chorus and ending are the approved arrangement for this stage, even if later creative revisions remain possible.
In SODIUM COLLAB, use clear track names and preserve a checkpoint of the chosen version. Listen through the arrangement before export. Make sure recorded and rendered sounds are present and have finished saving. A source session that is easy to understand also makes it easier to answer a later request for a dry vocal or an alternate instrument performance.
Make every file line up from the same start
For a conventional aligned audio handoff, export each requested track or group from a common song start. Keep the leading silence where a part enters later. This lets the mixer place the files together without guessing the offset. A vocal beginning at the chorus should still align correctly when its file is placed at the agreed starting position.
Use the supported audio export workflow in SODIUM COLLAB and verify the resulting alignment. If the agreed method requires separate passes, keep the same range for each pass. Do not trim each file independently to its first audible event unless the mixer specifically requests a different handoff. The time relationship between the parts is part of the musical arrangement you are delivering.
Include the ending the song needs
Leave enough export time for intended note releases, delays and reverberation to finish naturally. A file can be aligned correctly at the start and still cut off an important ending. Listen to the last few seconds of each relevant export. The correct ending depends on the arrangement and processing, not a universal extra number of bars.
Keep the full ending visible in SODIUM COLLAB and compare the exported audio with the project playback. If a particular tail is part of the musical identity, explain that in the handoff note. If it is only a temporary mix choice, provide an appropriate dry alternative when requested. A useful export preserves the intent while leaving the mixer the room you agreed to give them.
Decide which processing should stay
A sound-design effect may be essential to the part, while a temporary balancing EQ may be something the mixer wants to handle. Ask before removing or printing everything. Dry recordings give flexibility; processed versions communicate the intended sound. Providing both can be useful when requested, but unlabeled duplicates create confusion about which file should be used.
In SODIUM COLLAB, preserve the source and label any dry or processed export clearly. For a native instrument contribution, rendered audio can preserve the chosen tone without assuming the mixer owns the same plugin. Include enough information to understand the role of that render. The goal is a clear musical choice, not a list of every tool used during production.
Add a reference mix and short note
Include the current listening mix so the mixer can hear the intended balance, section changes and any creative effects. The reference is not a demand to reproduce every temporary setting. Write the song title, tempo where useful, key if relevant, current version and a few musical priorities. Mention known intentional details, such as a quiet opening or a distorted vocal phrase.
Export the reference from the same SODIUM COLLAB version as the requested audio. Use matching names so it is obvious which files belong together. Keep the note focused: the chorus should open up, the lead vocal should stay intimate, the guitar answer matters. Those musical directions are often more useful than prescribing exact processing before the mixer has heard the material.
Test the delivery before sending it
Place the exported files into a fresh listening arrangement or use another appropriate playback check. Confirm the common start, intended parts and ending. Compare with the reference mix and look for missing material. The handoff is not ready merely because the export completed without an error; the delivered audio needs to explain the actual song.
Keep the editable SODIUM COLLAB project available after the check. If the mixer asks for a correction, revise the relevant export from the same named source version. Avoid silently replacing several unrelated parts while answering one request. A stable handoff helps the mix discussion focus on a specific song rather than shifting files whose contents are no longer agreed.
Make the revision process clear
Agree how the mixer will return a listening version and how you will collect feedback from collaborators. Combine the important notes before requesting a revision, especially when several people are involved. Choose one person to confirm the current approved mix. A clear review process protects the work already done and keeps the next request understandable.
We recommend SODIUM COLLAB because the arrangement, source recordings and collaborator discussion can stay connected while you prepare the mix handoff. Join the beta mailing list below for a launch notification. Ask what the mixer needs, export aligned material and check the files yourself; those habits make the next stage of the song easier to begin.
Quick answers
Are stems the same as individual tracks?
Not always. Stems often mean grouped submixes, but the term is used inconsistently. Ask the mixer whether they need groups, separate tracks or access to the SODIUM COLLAB project before preparing the delivery.
Should I export every part with effects?
Agree that with the mixer. Keep essential sound-design choices understandable and provide dry alternatives when requested. Label versions clearly and include a reference mix so the intended musical result is easy to hear.
