Track Stems: What They Are and Why You Want Them
Last updated September 2026
The short answer
Stems are the separate instrument files of a beat — kick, snare, 808, melody and so on. They let you (or your engineer) shape the beat around your vocals instead of fighting a finished file.
Individual stems vs. group stems
Individual stems are one instrument per file: kick, snare, hi-hats, 808, piano, and so on. This is what producers mean by "tracked-out."
Group stems bundle a whole category — all drums in one file, all melodies in another. Handy for mastering and video, but less flexible for mixing.
It all comes down to control
With stems you can balance each element, clear frequencies so your vocal cuts through, and rearrange sections. A finished stereo file only lets you turn the whole beat up or down.
Even if you mix yourself, small tweaks to the drum or 808 level can make a huge difference.
Skip the MP3 for serious releases
MP3s are fine for writing and demos. For a record you're putting real money behind, send your engineer a WAV at minimum — and stems if you can.
Most single-file beats are already mastered by the producer, which leaves little room to mix around your vocals. Stems solve that.
Which Legion Beats licenses include stems
Our Premium ($99) and Unlimited ($199) licenses include the full tracked-out stems. You can upgrade from Basic or Professional any time.