New Wave Outpost Forum

This is a techie question here. Anyone here know of a software or equipment that does a great job of removing the vocal tracks from songs. I'm not talking about Karaoke style vocal removal but something a little more advance.

I always assumed this was fundamentally impossible with mixed-down digital files? There are no "tracks" anymore like on multi-track tapes. What's to distinguish a vocal waveform from any other waveform occupying overlapping spectrums?

A couple of the audio restoration packages I use have things like Stereo Solo vocal reduction, but they don't do a very good job of removing vocals. The end result is usually a hollowing out of the center of the soundstage with muffled vocals still present, but less loud. Pointless really.




[b]Rest in peace, Living In Shadow. Wherever I went, you were there...you completed me.[/b]

A pair of rusty sheers will do the job on male singers... [:D]



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Thanks guys. [:D] I didn't think it was possible either. Someone did mention to me a few years ago that there was such an item but it was around $10,000. I was hoping that by now, that item's price has substantially gone down so I can give it a try. Still, with the tracks all recorded together, I don't know how it can just distinguish the vocal track and remove it.

[quote][i]Originally posted by Sean[/i]
<br>Thanks guys. [:D] I didn't think it was possible either. Someone did mention to me a few years ago that there was such an item but it was around $10,000. I was hoping that by now, that item's price has substantially gone down so I can give it a try. Still, with the tracks all recorded together, I don't know how it can just distinguish the vocal track and remove it.
[/quote]

I think most of them depend on the assumption that the lead vocals are usually located at the middle of the soundstage. Hence the hollowed out sound one gets when trying to remove vocals from a stereo source. It wouldn't surprise me if there is something available out there...it would be surprising if it were affordable by average consumers.




[b]Rest in peace, Living In Shadow. Wherever I went, you were there...you completed me.[/b]

[quote][i]Originally posted by eight6[/i]
<br>A couple of the audio restoration packages I use have things like Stereo Solo vocal reduction, but they don't do a very good job of removing vocals. The end result is usually a hollowing out of the center of the soundstage with muffled vocals still present, but less loud. Pointless really.
[/quote]
This is exactly what I've heard as well. Most of these types of programs are actually vocal "reduction", and you get this weird, hollow or tinny-sounding muffled sound.

Hi Sean,
The technical term is called "Center Canceller". On stereo recordings, the vocals are usually placed in the center of the mix. And so through phase manipulation, the Center Canceller will MOSTLY remove the center image of the mix. But since effects like reverb and such are usually placed in stereo, they WON'T be removed. So you'll still hear phantom images of the original vocal. These units also mess with the bass end of the recordings not in a good way, dulling the sound.
I've used them on occassion and was less than pleased but sometimes they work okay. But understand they should be called "Vocal Reducer" not "Vocal Remover".
I believe Alesis makes one for around $100.
Jimmi

Cool, thanks for the info Jimmi.

Hmmmm, I thought for sure that obs would have given his opinion:

"Nope. You can't really edit MP3s (as I've had to explain in another thread)."

It applies to this thread because I'm sure that you are referring to mp3's that you want the vocals removed from.


I kid....