Checklist
Stem Delivery Checklist
A final check for professional handoffs — covering content, timing, format, naming, and packaging, with clear responsibilities for whoever exports and whoever receives.
7 sections
By Stem CheckerUpdated
Keep this open while reviewing a delivery. The aim isn’t perfection for its own sake; it’s to catch expensive problems before they interrupt a mix. Work top to bottom — each group builds on the one before it.
1. Project specification
The recipient has confirmed whether they need individual tracks, grouped stems or both.
The required file format, sample rate and bit depth are documented.
The common timeline start and end points are agreed.
Dry, processed, tuned, edited or alternate versions are clearly specified.
Any required reference mix, instrumental, TV mix or acapella is included.
2. Content and musical accuracy
Every expected instrument, vocal and effect group is present.
No file is silent, empty or routed from the wrong source.
No two differently named files contain the same audio unintentionally.
Edits, comps, tuning and arrangement changes match the approved version.
Automation and fades are printed where expected.
Reverb, delay and modulation tails are complete.
3. Timing and alignment
All files begin from the exact same session marker.
Intentional silence before the first event has been preserved.
No stem has a constant offset or progressive timing drift.
Tempo maps, warp settings and varispeed are printed consistently.
The final song ending is complete and no stem is accidentally truncated.
4. Technical format
All stems use the requested WAV or AIFF format unless otherwise agreed.
Sample rates match the project and one another.
Bit depths match the delivery specification.
Mono sources are delivered as mono unless stereo processing is intentional.
There is no unintended normalization, clipping or lossy encoding.
Dither has only been applied when intentionally reducing bit depth.
5. Naming and organisation
File names describe the musical content clearly.
Names use a consistent order and separator style.
Version numbers and dates identify the approved delivery.
Old drafts and unused alternatives have been removed from the final folder.
Folder names include the song, artist and delivery version where appropriate.
6. Reference and notes
The approved reference mix is included and labelled clearly.
BPM, key, time signature and sample rate are supplied where relevant.
Any intentional exceptions are documented in a short readme.
Processing notes distinguish printed effects from dry alternatives.
Contact details or a preferred route for replacement files are included.
7. Final playback test
All stems have been loaded together in a clean checking session.
The full arrangement plays from start to finish without obvious errors.
Every stem has been soloed briefly to confirm identity and content.
The combined stems have been compared with the approved reference.
The final archive has been reopened after compression to confirm it is intact.
QC your stems in seconds — no DAW needed
Stem Checker loads and plays your stems in sample-accurate sync and flags length issues in your exports — mismatches, missing audio, duplicates, clipping, dual mono and more. A faster, more reliable way to review and organise your stems and multitracks.
Save time. Deliver with confidence.