# Stems and mixing

A stem is an isolated part of a mix, such as the vocal or instrumental. RVC is easiest to control with a clean vocal on its own. If you have the original microphone recording or an official isolated vocal, use it as your source.

## Separate and inspect

1. Start with a recording you have permission to process. Keep the original file and work on a copy.
2. When the only source is a mix, try a stem separator such as [Ultimate Vocal Remover](https://github.com/Anjok07/ultimatevocalremovergui).
3. Listen to the entire vocal stem. Check for percussion bleed, missing syllables, backing vocals and long reverb tails. Compare separators on the hardest ten seconds before processing a whole track.
4. If harmonies or doubled vocals bleed heavily into the lead stem, convert a cleaner take. When separate tracks are available, process each part individually.

## Convert and mix

1. Convert a short verse or chorus and compare it with the isolated source at a similar listening level.
2. Export a lossless result and align it with the instrumental in your audio editor. Keep the instrumental on its own track so balance and timing can be adjusted independently.
3. Apply EQ, level changes and placement in the mix after conversion. Keep a dry copy so you can return to it.
4. Listen on headphones and speakers. Check quiet syllables, the switch between verse and chorus and the ending. Avoid clipping at export.

Noise, reverb and other performers in the stem can affect pitch tracking and intelligibility. Heavy cleanup can also damage a useful take. Save alternatives and compare by ear before committing to a whole song. For one-clip experiments, see [Voice conversion](voice-conversion.md).