Usually I would totally agree… Who ever makes the stems has made them a certain way for a reason. How ever in this case, the levels of each separate stem tracks are at a level which by industry standards are about right for the full track. So when the separate stem tracks are combined the levels are way too high to achieve a mix which doesn't damage the dynamics of the track when trying to stay within the accepted levels. This has nothing to do with taste but with the boundaries within the dynamic range of audio.

The clipping on these stems isn't extreme so it could well be on intended by who made the stems and by dropping the gains you can work with the stems just fine.

What might be an explanation of the high levels here is the processing when the stems where uploaded. Websites like Soundcloud, Beatport and the iTunes store have algorithms that automatically process uploaded audio to suit their standards. In a way this is similar to radio broadcasting where compression etc control the levels of output. If these stems would be treated as commercial tracks instead of stems when they're uploaded this would influence the levels. But this is just a theory of course.

 

NOISIA, huh? I had listened to the soundtrack for the latest Devil May Cry when it came out and I have to say that it was ridiculously loud, at least for my ears. I could hear everything distorting or ultra processed (Guess they haven't heard of the term "over-produced"). I'm talking about 0 dynamics here. Just couldn't listen to it at my typical gain, rather at about 60% of it... (Another reason being that I didn't really like it...)

So you are saying that maybe whomever made these stems made each separate track equal the loudness of the final track? That makes no sense.

But yes, keeping it at 32 bit float should allow you to bring it down without clipping. Also, if it gets reconverted (to lossy quality) it would be wise to export at about -1.1db.

This is a good read: https://www.apple.com/euro/itunes/mastered-for-itunes/docs/mastered_for_itunes.pdf (And this: http://www.amazon.com/iTunes-Music-Bob-Katz-ebook/dp/B00BYVEWWG#reader_B00BYVEWWG)

You could also benefit from reading on metering standards and tools like TTDR VST/offline tool (http://www.pleasurizemusic.com/es/es/download).

 

So this is an unusual case then? it was my first remix so i thought this may have been how stems always come. Lets see how the next one goes. The finished article here is definately too loud but its done now so i guess il take all the advise you guys have gave me an apply it to the next one i do

Thanks again for all the help guys

 

After your last post I've downloaded another stem pack from Beatport which was also that loud. I've seen a lot remix packs over the years made by professional producers of electronic music and it's safe to say levels this high aren't how they deliver the stems because it leaves no room in gain to work with in your mix (unless you drop the levels of all stem tracks off course).

If you like I could send you some packs so you can see the difference yourself and maybe use them as a reference for your future projects to get an idea of a proper level for stems to start your project with in case you come across something like this again.

Cheers