How to export stems from Logic Pro (Logic Pro 11)

In Logic Pro, choose File › Export › All Tracks as Audio Files (Shift-Command-E). Pick WAV and 24-bit, turn Normalize off, include the audio tail and export into an empty folder. Logic leaves muted tracks out, so unmute every track you want first. Bounce the master separately with File › Bounce › Project or Section (Command-B).

Before you export

Unmute every track you want. Muted tracks are skipped by the export.
Check the end of the project. Stems start at the beginning of the project and run to its end, so they line up when imported at bar 1.
Name the tracks. The files take the track names. “Audio 3” means nothing to the person opening it.

Export every track

Choose File › Export › All Tracks as Audio Files (Shift-Command-E).
Save format: WAV. Bit depth: 24-bit.
Normalize: Off.
Include Audio Tail: on, so reverb and delay tails are not cut.
Include Volume/Pan Automation: on, unless your engineer asked for flat files.
Bypass Effect Plug-ins: off for printed stems, on if they asked for dry ones.
Choose an empty folder and export.

To export only some tracks, select them first. The menu item then reads “2 Tracks as Audio Files” (Command-E).

Bounce the master

Choose File › Bounce › Project or Section (Command-B).
Tick Uncompressed (older versions call it PCM). File type WAV, 24-bit.
Normalize: Off. Make sure Start and End cover the whole song.

Check before you send

One file for every track you meant to send.
No silent files, and nothing clipping above 0 dBFS.
Every file the same length, all starting at the same point.
The master is in the folder.
A note with the tempo, key and sample rate.

Common questions

Why are some tracks missing from my Logic export?

Logic leaves muted tracks out of File › Export › All Tracks as Audio Files. Unmute them and export again.

Should I normalize stems?

No. Normalizing changes each file’s level, so the stems no longer add up to your mix. Set Normalize to Off.

What format do mix engineers want?

WAV at the project’s sample rate, 24-bit, every file starting at the beginning of the project. Ask if they want 32-bit float.

Or let Lucid Lab do it

Lucid Lab runs these steps inside Logic for you: it unmutes and re-mutes tracks, exports every track and the master, checks each file for silence, clipping, length and loudness, and writes a report. It is free to read your project; export is part of Lucid Lab Pro. See Lucid Lab.