TraxDeck

Getting Started

Stem Director is a professional backing track playback application for live musicians. It replaces the patchwork of DAWs, media players, and show control software with a single application purpose-built for live performance.

What Stem Director does

  • Plays multi-stem audio — each stem (click, keys, pads, bass, etc.) is independently controllable in volume and mute
  • Routes audio to any number of outputs — IEM mixes, monitor wedges, front-of-house, recording
  • Responds to MIDI and OSC — control everything from a footswitch without touching the computer
  • Triggers video and lighting — frame-accurate NDI video output and DMX/Art-Net cue firing
  • Runs a backup machine in lockstep — automatic failover within one bar if the primary fails

Prerequisites

Before you install, check that your system meets the system requirements.

Quick start (5 minutes)

1. Download and install

Download the installer for your platform from your portal account. Run the installer and follow the on-screen steps. Stem Director does not require any additional runtimes.

2. Activate your licence

On first launch, Stem Director will ask you to sign in with your Stem Director account. Enter your credentials and your licence will activate automatically. An internet connection is required for this step only.

3. Create a show file

A show file (.sdshow) contains your entire production: stem library, set list, output routing, and mix presets.

  1. Click New Show from the welcome screen
  2. Give your show a name (e.g. "Arena Tour 2025")
  3. Click Add Track to begin importing your first track

4. Import your stems

Stem Director accepts any folder of audio files as a stem group. Name your stems clearly — Stem Director uses file names to auto-assign stems to outputs.

MyTrack/
  01_Click.wav
  02_Keys_L.wav
  02_Keys_R.wav
  03_Pads.wav
  04_Bass.wav

Drag the folder onto the track list, or click Import Stems and select the folder. Stem Director will detect all audio files and prompt you to confirm the assignment.

5. Assign outputs

In the Routing panel, drag stems to the output channels on your audio interface. Common setups:

| Output | Contents | |---|---| | 1–2 | Front-of-house mix (full stereo) | | 3–4 | MD/keys IEM (click + preferred stems) | | 5–6 | Drummer IEM (click + bass) | | 7 | Click (mono, to all IEMs via splitter) |

6. Play

Press Space or your mapped MIDI footswitch to play. Press again to stop. The track position and waveform display update in real time.

Next steps