Library wants mixed-down stems - what to include FX-wise?

[mwb2]

Hi all,

A library I'm working with wants both WAVs of the final mix for the cues, plus mixdowns of "3-4 stems" per track. I'm actually pretty new to this still and have not done this before.

Should I bounce my subgroup mixdowns (e.g. all Synths) WITH final plugins (e.g. Ozone)? Or will any FX on the master bus not "sum" in the same way on subgroup exports as when they're applied to all tracks at once?

Hopefully I've explained the question clearly enough...

Thanks,
Mike

[superkons]

So far, I have always left all plugins in a track untouched, whether it is a full mix, stems, or alt mixes, and nobody has complained.

I know some libraries explicitly ask to remove plugins from the master buss.

[gitanosoy]

If you are getting to be Mastered then usually the plugin include check box is unticked when sending the stems for the mastering engineer..if you have already mixed and mastered then I assuming they would want to recieve the final track as it should sound...I use Logic pro x so just to clearify what I meant unchecking the the box...

I have always sent the final master to libraries so far so not sure if specific ones ask for a dry mix.

[mwb2]

Yeah, they already have the fully mastered tracks, but also want 3-4 stems apiece, I guess mix downs of different subgroups.

The biggest technical question I have is: if you bounce just a subgroup (say all pad synths), and you send it through the final mastering chain, and you do that w/ 3 other subgroups, will then combining those bounces in a new file with no effects sound the same as if you'd just bounced a stereo file of the whole thing?

At any rate, I'll send the submixes with the mastering chain on them just so sound levels more or less match the full stereo file, even if it's not exactly the same as if it's rendered all together.

Thanks,
Mike

[mwb2]

So far, I have always left all plugins in a track untouched, whether it is a full mix, stems, or alt mixes, and nobody has complained.

I know some libraries explicitly ask to remove plugins from the master buss.

Good to know, thanks Marco! I'll just do that.

[superkons]

So far, I have always left all plugins in a track untouched, whether it is a full mix, stems, or alt mixes, and nobody has complained.

I know some libraries explicitly ask to remove plugins from the master buss.

Good to know, thanks Marco! I'll just do that.

Let us know how it pans out!

[cosmicdolphin]

The biggest technical question I have is: if you bounce just a subgroup (say all pad synths), and you send it through the final mastering chain, and you do that w/ 3 other subgroups, will then combining those bounces in a new file with no effects sound the same as if you'd just bounced a stereo file of the whole thing?

Depending on what type of track it is I would send something like :

Drums & Bass - Guitars - Keys/Synths - Percs

Just leave all your FX, mastering plugins etc EXACTLY as they are. The combined stems should come in a little 'hotter' when combined but they can easily drop the level a couple of Db if they want to. Once combined and level matched the stems mix should be pretty indistinguishable from your stereo master.