Mixing from stems.....

[CHuckmott]

Maybe someone can chime in, but how many folks do this regularly, to save resources and maybe for some sonic benefit (?).

Example: I am working on a project, kind of a Coldplay sort of thing, and use ampitube and guitar rig, along with addictve drums and an organ form the NI complete library. Not a ton of stuff - 1 rhythm guitar, the organ, 3 lead tracks (harmony guitars and a counterpoint kind if thing).

I'm finding I'm really taxing my system on my mac book pro, especially once I throw Ozone on my master fader.

SO I'm considering taking on the habit of just stripping any processing plugs, keeping the basic audio tracks ( keeping the amp sim sounds, etc) and just bouncing/reimporting the audio and just have straight audio tracks to mix with. I was wonderiing how many folks do this regularly, if there was sonic benefit to it (some folks believe there is, that stuff "sounds" better just by virtue of your processor having more energy available to process the stuff). Thinking it may make things more focused also: keep the "instrument/amp sims plugs in for the writing process, and is the processing plugs later on the imported or bounced stems.

Or maybe just bounce my master version and save the resource eating Ozone plug for just mastering the final versions?

Thoughts?

[guscave]

I always mix from stems. Once the song is fully written and arranged, I bounce down everything to audio. I'll start up a new project and mix from there.

This not only helps clear up memory on my PC but it's also a safe way to work in the event you need to come back to the song a few months (or years) later to do some additional work on it.

Too many times I've upgraded my PC or DAW only to find that those old plugins no longer work on the new system. With audio you don't get that problem.

[hummingbird]

What Guscave said.

[eeoo]

+1 what Gus said, can't go wrong that way and it's a safety version in case anything happens to your system.

[CBOHN]

Agreed. I always render a "mixing" version of the session, with all tracks post fx audio. I archive this for remixing, and then use it for my final mix. Nothing worse than being asked for an alternate edit of a cue, then opening up an old session that's missing plugins or samples.

[Paulie]

If you are happy with each track, that makes sense from a CPU/performance perspective. For me, I'm a perfectionist and often change tracks up until the last minute (stuff like start or release timings of notes, or maybe changing voices or removing mud/dissonance if I find it). So I usually pursue a hybrid approach and bounce in place some of the tracks while keeping those that I might change in their original format.

[TheElement]

I think I'm OCD cause I feel I might lose quality mixing with stems. So I run 32GB RAM. I have the option to freeze tracks in Cubase to free up memory but I prefer not to do that either.

I have had problems in the past doing it this way but since upgrading my RAM and making sure Crashplan and Dropbox is not running or anything else running in background things are running smoothly.

I also run a master chain while I produce. Also running 64bit.

Just purchased a 2T ext HD and moving files over to that to free up more space on my internal HD.

Faster the better for me.

[CHuckmott]

I want to take a closer listen what happens with my drums when I do that. That said, dead simple in logic, bounce and replace track. But first remove the processing plugs . I found also, don't ask me why, that plugs also mask performance issues are noticeable after they are taken off. Sounds like a good plan for the future.

[guscave]

I’ve had two situations where publishers have asked me to re-mix or edit an old song that was recorded on a program with out-dated plugins (mostly 3rd party vsti). On both occasions I’ve had to tell the publisher I couldn’t do it. It was embarrassing and I felt a bit unprofessional about the whole thing, so since then I always mix from stems.

As for quality, I don’t hear any difference. I bounce down to 24 bit wav and mix from there. I look at the process the same way we use to do it before computers and we use to record midi to analog. Everything always ended up on tape (aka audio).

[cassmcentee]

One of the nice things about working in Cubase...
When you upgrade to the latest version, Cubase still leaves the prior versions on your 'puter
So I can always open up my older mixes in their original format.
I don't stem till my mixes are done because of that.
Caveat...
Unless I am experimenting with LoopMash which can get buggy later on, Stem it right away....