Workflow
What Are Stems in Music? (And Why Everyone Asks for Them)
“Send me the stems” is music's most common request — and half the people saying it mean different things.
Stems vs multitracks
Stems are grouped bounces of a song: one stereo file per category — drums, bass, melodies, vocals, FX. Multitracks are every individual channel (each hat, each vocal take) separately. Mixers usually want multitracks; DJs, remixers and labels usually want stems.
Why they matter
- Remixes: a remixer rebuilds the track around your vocal/melody stems.
- Live & DJ sets: acapellas and instrumental stems enable live edits and mashups.
- Mixing/mastering: stem mastering is cheaper than a full mix but more flexible than a stereo master.
- Sync licensing: supervisors ask for an instrumental stem constantly.
Exporting stems in FL Studio
Route instrument groups to their own mixer tracks, then File → Export → and enable Split mixer tracks. FL bounces each mixer track as its own file, full song length. Name them clearly (140bpm-Amin-drums.wav — future you says thanks; check the key if unsure).
No stems? AI separation exists
When a song only exists as a stereo file, AI stem separation can pull vocals, drums and instruments back apart — imperfect but astonishing lately. Our AI Vocal Extractor (coming to members, 25 credits per track) does exactly this in the browser: split the acapella or instrumental out of any track. Details here.
AI Vocal Extractor — coming soon →Split vocals from any track, in your browser, for member credits.Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between stems and multitracks?
Stems are grouped category bounces (drums, bass, vocals…); multitracks are every individual channel separately. Remixers want stems, mix engineers want multitracks.
How do I export stems in FL Studio?
Route groups to separate mixer tracks, then File → Export with 'Split mixer tracks' enabled — each mixer track renders as its own full-length file.
Can I get stems from a finished MP3?
Yes, with AI stem separation — tools like the upcoming FL Tools Vocal Extractor split vocals and instruments out of a stereo file. Quality is impressive but not identical to original stems.