Stem Studio

Browser-based stem player

Personal project

2026

UI/UX design, Graphic design, Full-stack development
Tools: Photoshop, Illustrator, HTML, CSS, Javascript

Explore Stem Studio here.

Watch a 2-minute demonstration video on Youtube.

Introduction

Stems are audio files of different tracks from a recording, isolating different instruments such as vocals, bass and drums. For a few years now, some artists including Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, Steven Wilson and Chvrches, have made stem files available to their fans for remixing. This can be great fun and you can hear my own effort here.

Although the release of these files is aimed at producers and remixers, I think many others can enjoy them, especially music afficionados who simply wish to explore the songs, unpicking the production and analysing the performances. The current tool for this kind of job is a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), which can come with a barrier to entry in the form of overwhelming options and complex workflow. I wanted to create a simple, intuitive and quick way to play stems which beginners could get to grips with instantly.

Design Approach

As well as creating a clean, intuitive interface, I also wanted users to have fun with the studio. I considered a minimalist modern design, but felt a retro skeuomorphic look would be more engaging for the user. I looked to classic audio hardware for inspiration. Rather than model my studio on a particular console, I cherry-picked elements for a modular interface that reflects the array of gear available to producers.

Channel strips and controls: Cleanly laid out EQ knobs, volume faders, and mute/solo buttons, with clear visual hierarchy. The look and feel of these elements was inspired by Neve consoles.
Meters and visualization: Early designs used modern graphic meters, but I developed a classic VU meter look that has a very nostalgic vibe and also gives useful visual feedback.
Effects modules: Reverb and delay are controlled from, their own dedicated modules. The reverb model was inspired by the Lexicon 480L; the delay by TC Electronic's 2290.
Transport and timing: The transport section and digital clock was inspired by Tascam's early 4-track machines.

Development

While design was the primary focus, the interface is fully functional thanks to careful front-end development. Features include:

Web Audio API integration for real-time audio processing.
Dynamic channel strip creation for arbitrary stem counts.
Session export/import and audio rendering allows users to export their finished mixes.
Responsive layout handling, ensuring the studio works across screen sizes.

Outcome

Stem Studio is a full functioning, albeit light-weight DAW. Users can quickly engage with the intuitive workflow and interface and start listening to music almost instantly. I have already identified potential users:

Producers and remixers who want the quickest way to preview new stem files without having to initialise their DAW.
Students wishing to learn about DAWs and music production can use Stem Studio as a first step.
Musicians who want to learn songs by isolating parts and hearing them in context.
Performers who want to create accompaniment tracks by removing any instrument, for either rehearsal or live performance.
Music fans who just want to explore their favourite music in more depth than was ever possible before.

So, why not dive in? Get some stems and explore them here.