Stems
AI separation of a track into its individual elements.
Detailed explanation
Stems is the AI-based separation of a track into individual instruments: bass, drums, vocals, melody. In rekordbox, Stems is a rekordbox+ feature (subscription). With stems a DJ can mute or bring out single elements of a track live — playing only the drums of a track, for instance, or removing the vocal. It opens up new creative options.
In practice
You want to lay only the vocal of one track over another instrumental, but you have no acapella. The stems function separates the track into parts live and you fade the rest out. It works surprisingly well and still sounds separated if you listen closely — on dense productions, residue remains. As an effect inside a transition that is no problem, as a substitute for a real acapella across a whole verse it is.
Assessment by the DJLearn editorial team — experience, not a sourced factual claim.
Related terms
Where to learn this
Using stems
The guide that covers this topic in depth.
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