Short answer: save the project under a new name, name every track clearly, bypass master bus processing, then use File > Render with stems as the source, 24-bit WAV, session sample rate, and the bounds set to the full project. Every stem should start at the same point and peak below -6 dBFS.
You are working with your multitrack in Reaper. Render multiple tracks, exporting them to a set of audio files for sending them to a mixing engineer, or for mixing in another DAW.
Use these simple steps:
1. Save a new version of your project.
Go to File > Save Project As, and add “for mixing” to the file name. Save it in the same folder. This helps preserve your original project intact.
2. Name all your tracks clearly.
Make sure each track has a descriptive name like “Kick”, “Bass”, “Guitar_1”, “Lead_Vocal”. Avoid default names like “Track 01” or “Audio_03”.
3. Clean up and consolidate tracks.
If you have multiple takes or layers of the same part (like doubles or harmonies), consolidate or group them logically. For lead vocals, it’s better to split them by section: “Lead_Verse”, “Lead_Chorus”, “Lead_Bridge”.
4. Make sure everything is prepared musically.
Ensure that all vocals are properly tuned and instruments are in time. If you’re unsure or need professional help, Major Mixing also offers vocal tuning, timing, sample replacement, and instrument re-recording.
5. Bypass unnecessary effects.
Turn off all EQ, compression, and reverb plugins unless they are crucial to the sound. If any effect is essential (e.g. amp sim, special delay), duplicate the track and export both a dry and a wet version. Name them clearly: “Guitar_1_Dry” and “Guitar_1_Wet”.
6. Check your levels and prevent clipping.
Select all tracks (hold Shift and click from the top to the bottom track), press Play, and check the master output on the mixer. Make sure it doesn’t clip and peaks around -6 dB to leave enough headroom.
7. Set a time range for export.
Use the time selection tool to set a locator that covers the entire song from beginning to end.
8. Open the render window.
Go to File > Render.
9. Adjust export settings:
- In the Source field, choose Stems (selected tracks).
- In the Bounds field, choose Time selection (or Entire project if you prefer).
- In the Directory field, click Browse, create a new folder with your song name and BPM (e.g. “MySong_120BPM”).
- In the File name field, click Wildcards and select $track — this will name each file based on its track name.
- Set Sample Rate to 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz.
- Set Format to WAV, and Bit Depth to 24-bit PCM.
- In Large files, choose Auto WAV/Wave64.
10. Hit “Render”.
Your tracks will now be exported one by one into the folder you selected.
11. Verify your export.
Create a new project, drag the exported files into it, and play them back to make sure everything is in sync and sounds as expected.
12. Zip your files.
Right-click your export folder and choose Compress to ZIP. Upload the ZIP file when placing your order at MajorMixing.
| Setting | What to send | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| File format | WAV or AIFF | Never MP3. Lossy files are already missing information a mix engineer would otherwise have to work around. |
| Bit depth | 24-bit | Gives plenty of resolution below the noise floor. Going to 16-bit throws that away for no benefit. |
| Sample rate | Same as your session | 44.1 or 48 kHz is fine — just don’t convert. Resampling on export adds artefacts nobody asked for. |
| Start point | Bar 1 / timeline zero | Every stem the same length from the same start, so the whole set drops in and lines up without editing. |
| Peak level | Below -6 dBFS | Leaves headroom to work with. Clipped stems cannot be repaired later. |
| Master bus | Bypassed | Any limiter or compressor on the 2-bus prints onto every stem and cannot be undone. |
| Track effects | Bypassed unless integral | Amp sims, special delays and tuned effects are part of the sound — send those as both a dry and a wet version. |
| Naming | Descriptive | “Kick”, “Lead_Verse”, “Gtr_1_Dry”. Not “Audio_07”. Clear names save hours on a large session. |
| Also include | Tempo and key | A one-line text file with BPM, key and any tempo changes prevents a lot of guesswork. |
This is the spec our engineers ask for on every project. Getting it right the first time is usually the difference between a mix starting today and a mix starting after a round of re-exports.
Exporting this session for a mix? Send it to us instead of fighting it yourself: professional mixing and mastering from $133 per song, 2–3 days per song, 6 revision rounds included. Full prices are on the pricing page.
Exporting stems from Reaper — FAQ
How do I render individual tracks in Reaper?
Use File > Render and set the source to stems rather than the master mix, so each track becomes its own file. Set the bounds to the full project length so every stem starts at the same point and runs the same duration.
Should I send stems or the whole Reaper project?
Stems, in almost every case. Audio files open anywhere, on any system, with no missing plugins and no version mismatch. A project file only helps if the engineer happens to run the same DAW with the same plugin set, and even then it slows the start of the work.
What do I do with virtual instruments and MIDI?
Print them to audio before you export. A MIDI track is not a stem — it’s an instruction for a plugin that may not exist on the other end. Render each instrument to its own audio track, then export that.
Should volume automation be rendered into the stems?
Yes. The rides you’ve already made are part of the performance, not a mistake to be undone, so we ask for them printed. What should stay off is master bus processing and anything you added just to make the rough mix listenable.
My session is 96 kHz. Should I convert it down first?
No. Export at the session rate and leave the conversion to the end of the chain. Sample rate conversion is one more process between your recording and the finished master, and there’s no reason to spend it before mixing has even started.
How do I send the files once they’re exported?
Zip the folder and upload it with your order. Name the folder with the song title and BPM — for example “MySong_92BPM”. If the archive is large, a cloud link works just as well; what matters is that all the stems arrive together.
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