Stemcell 2: Game-Changing Spectral Multichannel Ducking Plugin (Unless You Use Reaper)

In today's video, I take a look at Stemcell 2, a multi-channel stem processor plugin from The Cargo Cult that has recently been updated to support VST3 and Audio Unit formats alongside its original AAX version. While the plugin offers impressive features like per-channel processing and a unique spectral ducking capability that allows individual channel ducking with sidechain support, I encountered a significant limitation when testing it in Reaper. Due to the plugin's automatic channel layout detection and lack of manual override options, the sidechain functionality becomes completely unusable in Reaper, though it works well in other DAWs like Studio One.

After demonstrating both the basic features and the advanced spectral ducking capabilities, I share my final verdict on StemCell 2. While it's a powerful tool with unique features, particularly for those working in film and television audio post-production, its relatively high price point and compatibility issues in Reaper make it hard to recommend universally. I suggest thoroughly testing the plugin in your specific workflow before purchasing, and consider alternatives from Waves or PSP AudioWare if you're just looking to expand your plugin collection for potential future use. This is particularly important for Reaper users, who won't be able to access the plugin's full feature set until the developers implement manual channel layout selection.