HOW TO EXPORT STEMS FOR YOUR MIXING ENGINEER | Quick Tip Cubase 13

Introduction

This tutorial provides a step-by-step guide on how to export stems from your project in Cubase 13. Exporting stems correctly is crucial for sending your tracks to a mixing engineer, ensuring they have all the necessary elements to create a polished final mix.

Step 1: Prepare Your Project for Export

Before exporting stems, ensure your project is well-organized and all tracks are properly labeled. Follow these tips:

• Organize Tracks: Make sure each track is named according to its content (e.g., "Vocals," "Guitar," "Drums").
• Check Track Levels: Adjust the volume levels to avoid clipping during export.
• Remove Unnecessary Effects: Consider bypassing or removing any effects you don’t want on the individual stems.
• Set the Project Tempo: Ensure that the project tempo is set correctly, as this affects how the stems will be exported.

Step 2: Select the Tracks to Export

Choose which tracks you want to export as stems. Here’s how:

• Highlight Tracks: Click on the tracks you want to export in the project window.
• Use Shift or Ctrl: Hold down the Shift or Ctrl key to select multiple tracks at once.

Step 3: Open the Export Window

Access the export window to set your export preferences:

• Go to File Menu: Click on the 'File' menu in the top menu bar.
• Select Export: Choose 'Export' and then 'Audio Mixdown' from the dropdown menu.

Step 4: Configure Export Settings

In the export window, configure your settings for the best results:

• Select Stems: In the export dialog, choose the option to export selected tracks.
• File Format: Choose your desired file format (WAV is commonly used for mixing).
• Bit Depth and Sample Rate: Set the bit depth (24-bit recommended) and sample rate (44.1 kHz or higher depending on your project).
• Naming Convention: Ensure that the naming convention reflects the track names for easy identification.

Step 5: Choose the Export Location

Select where you want to save the exported stems:

• Browse for Folder: Click on 'Browse' to choose a folder on your computer.
• Create a New Folder: It can be helpful to create a new folder specifically for this export to keep everything organized.

Step 6: Execute the Export

Now it’s time to export your stems:

• Click Export: Once all settings are confirmed, click the 'Export' button to begin the exporting process.
• Monitor Progress: Keep an eye on the export progress bar to ensure everything is processing correctly.

Conclusion

Exporting stems in Cubase 13 is a straightforward process that ensures your mixing engineer has everything needed to create a great mix. By following these steps—preparing your project, selecting tracks, configuring settings, and executing the export—you'll be on your way to delivering high-quality stems.

As a next step, consider reviewing the exported stems to ensure they meet your expectations before sending them off for mixing. For further resources and equipment recommendations, check the links provided in the video description.