A Few Notes on Stem-based Composition: A Case Study.

Stem-based multichannel compositions promise greater flexibility in different listening situations and therefore improve the chances of a rewarding listening experience. The idea in stems is to separate materials or spatial layers into a collection of sound files which can be reproduced in various ways depending on the situation's needs. Also, splitting musical layers into separate sound files could result in higher spatial depth and improved off-centre listening. However, composing and performing stem-based compositions poses its own challenges which shall be laid out in the paper. The discussion will focus on the benefits, limitations and compositional methodology of spatial stems.