Exporting Stems for Mixing: FL Studio, Ableton, Logic

In short

Every track starts at bar 1, even if the instrument comes in later. That way they line up instantly.

Export every track as its own 24-bit WAV file, all from bar 1 to the end of the song. No normalising, no limiter on the master, clear names. Then every track sits in the right place in the mix straight away.

Checklist for exporting stems

WAV, 24 bit or 32-bit float, at the project’s sample rate (usually 44.1 or 48 kHz).
All tracks from bar 1 to the end, including reverb and delay tails.
Don’t normalise, don’t let anything clip. Peaks around −6 dBFS are ideal.
No limiter and no mastering plugins on the master bus.
Keep effects that are part of the sound. For vocals, add a dry version too.
Clear names like “Lead Vocal” or “808” instead of “Audio 12”.
Plus your rough mix as a stereo file.

Exporting stems in FL Studio

Route every instrument and vocal to its own mixer insert.
Switch to song mode or select the whole song.
File → Export → WAV file, choose an empty folder.
24 bit or 32-bit float, enable Split mixer tracks.
Under Tail choose “Leave remainder” and export.

Exporting stems in Ableton Live

Select bar 1 to the end in the arrangement, including tails.
File → Export Audio/Video (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + R).
Under Rendered Track choose “All Individual Tracks”.
WAV, 24 bit, sample rate as in the project, Normalize off.
Export.

Exporting stems in Logic Pro

Set the cycle range from bar 1 to the end of the song, including tails.
File → Export → All Tracks as Audio Files (Shift + Cmd + E).
WAV, 24 bit, Normalize set to “Off”.
Keep plugins that are part of the sound active and export.

Cubase, Studio One and Reaper

Cubase: locators around the whole song, File → Export → Audio Mixdown, “Channel Batch Export”.
Studio One: Song → Export Stems, range “Between Song Start/End Markers”.
Reaper: select the tracks, File → Render, Source “Stems (selected tracks)”.

Check before you send

The Stem-Check tests your tracks in the browser, without uploading.

Drag the folder into the free Stem-Check. It checks sample rate, length, clipping and format right in your browser. When everything is green, you can send the tracks via your client account or WeTransfer. What the mix costs is under Mixing & mastering.