MAELZER.DESIGN

About Stem Studio and FAQ

What are stems?

Stems are groups of audio tracks that make up a song, such as drums, bass, vocals, guitars, or synths. Unlike a finished stereo mix, stems allow you to adjust the balance, effects, and feel of individual parts while still working with professionally prepared audio.

Where can I find stems?

Stems are sometimes released officially by artists, labels, or game publishers for remixing and educational use. You can also find stems bundled with remix competitions, production tutorials, or included with certain albums and box sets.

There are also AI tools which can extract stem files from audio files. These vary in cost and effectiveness. The extracted files will not be as sonically pure as originally-produced stems, but can still be fun to listen to.

Why are there no stems on Stem Studio?

Stem Studio does not host or distribute audio files. This keeps things simple, fast, and legally clean. You bring your own stems, and everything happens locally in your browser.

Where can I find stems for [insert favourite band]?

Some artists release stems for remix competitions or special releases, while others do not. A good starting point is the artist’s official website, label, or remix platforms. If stems aren’t available, they may simply never have been released.

How do I upload stems?

Click the “Load Stems” button or drag and drop your audio files into the drop area. Stem Studio will load them directly into the session and create a track for each file.

Am I uploading these stems to Stem Studio’s server?

No. All audio stays on your computer. Stem Studio runs entirely in your browser and does not upload, store, or transmit your audio files anywhere.

What can I do with these stems?

You can rebalance levels, pan tracks, apply effects, solo and mute parts, and explore how a mix is constructed. Stem Studio is designed for learning, experimentation, and creative play rather than full-scale production.

Who is Stem Studio for?

Stem Studio is for musicians, producers, students, educators, and curious listeners who want to understand how songs are put together without the complexity of a full digital audio workstation.

Can I export my finished mix?

Yes. Stem Studio allows you to export a stereo mix of your session once you’re happy with the balance and effects.

Can I save my Stem Studio session?

Yes. You can export your session settings as a file, which lets you restore levels, effects, and other mix decisions later.

Why can’t I automatically re-load my Stem Studio session with one click?

For security reasons, web browsers do not allow websites to automatically access files on your computer. When reloading a session, you’ll be asked to reselect the audio files manually before your saved settings are applied.

Why doesn’t Stem Studio have editing, MIDI, envelopes, etc?

Stem Studio is intentionally focused on mixing and listening. By leaving out advanced production features, it stays fast, approachable, and easy to use — especially for learning and exploration.

If you feel limited by what Stem Studio can do for you, it is time to move onto a full-featured Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). There are many out there, ranging in price and features. Good luck on your journey.

What is the copyright situation with all of this?

You are responsible for the audio you load into Stem Studio. Only use stems you own or have permission to use. Stem Studio does not provide audio content and does not claim any rights over the material you work with.

What about cookies?

Stem Studio has no cookie functionality. You're safe.

Who designed / made Stem Studio?

Stem Studio was developed by Justin Maelzer and is hosted by maelzer.design.

Why did he do that?

As a fun project to showcase his design and development skills. And also, because he felt such a web app did not exist already.