Have You Tried Remixing Software?

[normvork]

I have been reading about remixing software and was wondering if anybody here has experimented with it. Apparently you can do all sorts of fantastic manipulations to recordings...remove the vocals to get instrumental passages, add additional percussion, overlay synthesizer loops, and mix the whole thing around by electronic splicing. It seems about the only thing you can't do is get an acapella pulled out from the mix of a song.

Have any of you guys messed around with this software? Sounds like a lot of fun. Also would be great for finally making one's own long versions of too-short tracks that never got an extended mix release. I also imagine taking some non-disco pop tunes and making them into disco or hi NRG remixes.

Anyone care to make reccomendations for product choices?

[Disco Funk]

Originally Posted by normvork

I have been reading about remixing software and was wondering if anybody here has experimented with it. Apparently you can do all sorts of fantastic manipulations to recordings...remove the vocals to get instrumental passages,

Is there really software out there that can remove just the vocals? I assumed the only way to do that was the use a technique where you paste the invert of one channel over the other channel, resulting in a mono track where the common, middle area of the recording is remove. The middle is usually where the vocals are mixed, but that's also where the drums and bass are mixed. I'd love to know if there was software out there that can remove vocals but preserve the stereo separation as well as the drums and bass.

Disco Funk

[Graham_Start]

Originally Posted by Disco Funk

Is there really software out there that can remove just the vocals? I assumed the only way to do that was the use a technique where you paste the invert of one channel over the other channel, resulting in a mono track where the common, middle area of the recording is remove. The middle is usually where the vocals are mixed, but that's also where the drums and bass are mixed. I'd love to know if there was software out there that can remove vocals but preserve the stereo separation as well as the drums and bass.

Disco Funk

Adobe Audition has a center channel filter that can do the same trick but leave the remainder in stereo, however it leaves noticeable artifacts and of course also kills anything else that's panned center.

Please, let's not use the term "remix" here, since without access to the multi-track masters, it is not possible to re-mix anything. All that is being done is editing and putting additional material on top. And while apps like Logic Pro make that quite easy (perhaps too easy), people have been doing it for ages.

[needlefingers]

If you are interested in begining, and don't want to spend a lot of money, you might want to try the UMIXIT audio CD's.

UMIXIT is a cutdown version of Cakewalk. You pay a couple of dollars more for a UMIXIT CD, but the software is in the package. For 20 dollars more, that you pay online, you get a more expanded version(up to 64 tracks and more effects).

UMIXIT CD's break it down to 8 - 16 tracks, breaking up vocals, back-up vocals, bass, percussion, lead quitar,.....etc. In effect, you can remix and/or add other beats, sounds, vocals,...etc. You can also use it to record lp's into your computer.

UMIXIT CD's out there include the last Aerosmith and U2 lp's, Bob Sinclair's Love Generation, Kristine W's I'll Be You Light and others. Look that it says UMIXIT on the package.

But I agree, you can't remove vocals without losing out or level dropping of other frequencies. (With UMIXIT CD's you can, because vocals are a seperate track)

It's a good and very inexpensive way to begin if you have an interest in audio editing and remixing(total investment, with $20 online upgrade, $25-30). Tons cheaper than Logic, CuBase, Pro-Tools or any of the other professional or even semi-pro, consumer friendly software programs.

[normvork]

Okay, so if what I want to do is to take out vocals to make an instrumental passage, I may lose some other stuff too. If I lose some of the percussion I would suppose I could put a substitute drum loop in to "replace" what was lost, maybe?
Let me create a two real scenarios and then you guys suggest if it can be done, and how to do it.
1.) I have a vinyl copy of Freedom to Express Yourself by Denise La Salle. It's short and I want to create an extended version. There are clicks and pops to be removed. There are no instrumental interludes or rhythm breaks in this song. I want to rework the song by taking a long sample of the melody, remove the vocals from that sample and insert that new "instrumental" into the middle of the song. Then put back in some kind of a drum loop if the drums got too compromised by vocal removal process.
Is this possible? What software would I use?
2.) I have a copy on vinyl of I've Had It by Fanny, a girl-group rock tune from 1974. I think adding some hi NRG synthesizer loops over into the background could make it really fun. The drums are dancey but could use some more "disco" steady Boom-Boom added to the mix. What do you think? Is there software to help me with this?

[discokicks]

Originally Posted by normvork

Okay, so if what I want to do is to take out vocals to make an instrumental passage, I may lose some other stuff too. If I lose some of the percussion I would suppose I could put a substitute drum loop in to "replace" what was lost, maybe?

What do you think? Is there software to help me with this?

I've been using Sound Forge. At first I was a bit intimidated by it, but once I caught on, I loved it! I needed something to correct and shorten the tedious mixes of today's dance music plus take out the floor-clearing drop-outs (exactly what does one do on the dancefloor when the beat and music totally disappear then quietly builds for two minutes? )

I haven't used the audio restoration tools on it but they're there (I use Diamond Cut Audio for that). If I want to eliminate a section of the song, I first of all copy the section right after it and then paste it at the start of the part I want omitted. If you want to extend a break, you copy that section and paste it after it. Of course it's not quite that simple as you need to manipulate the cursor for a smooth splice....so it's paste, listen, undo, move cursor (by one-thousandth of a second if you want), paste, listen, undo, etc.....just like we used to do with a cassette tape player!

There might be easier tricks within Sound Forge that I haven't discovered yet but I'm still learning (it keeps me busy and out of trouble ) I'm not sure if it removes vocals very well though.

[thommy2458]

Originally Posted by Graham_Start

Adobe Audition has a center channel filter that can do the same trick but leave the remainder in stereo, however it leaves noticeable artifacts and of course also kills anything else that's panned center.

Please, let's not use the term "remix" here, since without access to the multi-track masters, it is not possible to re-mix anything. All that is being done is editing and putting additional material on top. And while apps like Logic Pro make that quite easy (perhaps too easy), people have been doing it for ages.

Graham-Have you used Logic Pro? The last time
I tried fooling around with this stuff I was using
something called DJ Pro tools(I think?) When
my old computor crashed I never re-installed
the software.That was at least 4 years ago,so I'm wondering what the easiest program to look into if I wanted to try again.Thanks
Thom

[Graham_Start]

Originally Posted by thommy2458

Graham-Have you used Logic Pro?

Yes, it's my main music-making application and the reason why I got a Mac . Apple killed the Windows version when they bought eMagic, and it's such a deep, powerful, and complicated application that it was easier for me to learn OS X and shell out for a Mac rather than learn Cubase or Ableton Live on Windows.

[normvork]

Originally Posted by normvork

Okay, so if what I want to do is to take out vocals to make an instrumental passage, I may lose some other stuff too. If I lose some of the percussion I would suppose I could put a substitute drum loop in to "replace" what was lost, maybe?
Let me create a two real scenarios and then you guys suggest if it can be done, and how to do it.
1.) I have a vinyl copy of Freedom to Express Yourself by Denise La Salle. It's short and I want to create an extended version. There are clicks and pops to be removed. There are no instrumental interludes or rhythm breaks in this song. I want to rework the song by taking a long sample of the melody, remove the vocals from that sample and insert that new "instrumental" into the middle of the song. Then put back in some kind of a drum loop if the drums got too compromised by vocal removal process.
Is this possible? What software would I use?
2.) I have a copy on vinyl of I've Had It by Fanny, a girl-group rock tune from 1974. I think adding some hi NRG synthesizer loops over into the background could make it really fun. The drums are dancey but could use some more "disco" steady Boom-Boom added to the mix. What do you think? Is there software to help me with this?

I hope to be upgrading in summer of 2007 to a new computer but it will be a windows system. Looking at what I hope to be able to do, should I invest in an Acid Product, Sound Forge or some other product?

[Energyguy]

Can anyone tell me if the software by MAJIX is any good ?? I am thinking of buying one of their MUSIC STUDIO packages so I can start creating my own dance music..

[Graham_Start]

Originally Posted by Energyguy

Can anyone tell me if the software by MAJIX is any good ?? I am thinking of buying one of their MUSIC STUDIO packages so I can start creating my own dance music..

If you're referring to Magix, it's not widely regarded as a serious music production tool. Then again, the price is quite affordable.

I hope they've been able to update it... it was originally based on Logic 4, but that ended when Apple bought eMagic back in 2002.

[thommy2458]

I guess I still have the same question as
Norm-what audio software is affordable and
simple for doing edit's only? I don't want to
produce new music just make clean edits
of older tracks without spending more than
100 dollars.Anyone? Norm,have you decided
on anything yet?

Thom

[Energyguy]

Originally Posted by Graham_Start

If you're referring to Magix, it's not widely regarded as a serious music production tool. Then again, the price is quite affordable.

I hope they've been able to update it... it was originally based on Logic 4, but that ended when Apple bought eMagic back in 2002.

Thank you. I may shop around.

[Graham_Start]

Originally Posted by thommy2458

I guess I still have the same question as
Norm-what audio software is affordable and
simple for doing edit's only? I don't want to
produce new music just make clean edits
of older tracks without spending more than
100 dollars.Anyone? Norm,have you decided
on anything yet?

Thom

Audacity is free.

[thommy2458]

Originally Posted by Graham_Start

Audacity is free.

Thanks Graham-I'm going to try this and see
if I like it.

Thom