What is the purpose of stems in music production?

Stems in music production refer to individual tracks that are separated into various elements of a song, such as vocals, drums, bass, and instruments. The purpose of having stems is to allow for more precise mixing and manipulation during the audio production process. This means that each stem can be adjusted in volume, panned, or altered with effects independently of one another, enabling a more controlled and creative mixing environment.

The ability to work with stems gives producers the flexibility to emphasize certain elements of the music or to create different variations of a track without needing to re-record any parts. This differentiates stems from the final master track, which is a completed mix, and distinguishes them from elements meant solely for live performances or storage. Therefore, stems play a crucial role in the mixing phase of music production.