acapella extraction

deisel

O.K here's a question for the serious audio brains on here!

the classic question I've always seen is the 'how do you extract vocals from a full tune?', and i've always believed that you couldn't, at least not effectively - some serious multiband eq maybe to reduce certain areas maybe, but not a 'strip'.

However a while back I saw on some board a technique a guy explained, which involves phase cancelation - i know the old favourite of phase inverting one channel of a stereo track in order to remove the centre (ie.vocal) material, but can this really be twisted in order to strip a clean(ish) vocal?

I can't do it! can anyone else?


D

Sen

"cleanish" is the operative word. The problem comes in when you have stuff that crosses the EQ frequencies of the vocals...depending on the pitch of the vocals, harmonics/frequencies etc. will be lost from the vocals as you EQ cut/phase cancel etc. etc. also, as you isolate vocal sounds, you will also likely include the top end of the bass and the bottom end of the high hats etc.

In the end, it's probably not worth the effort of doing it. Or of buying the gear necessary to get a "cleanish" sample that's illegal.

I've tried, failed, and given up

FatZed may have more to tell you about this, as might JJ <- but he's a tight lipped $$$$$$$ when it comes to studio secrets

deisel

Hey Sen.

yeah i know what your saying. the method that caught my eye was pure phase cancellation ie:

make 2 copies of track
remove centre info (ie vocal) from 1
somehow 'subtract' 1st from 2nd - further phase invertion and combination.

i dunno, maybe i just need to try and hook up with a vocalist

D

tnt

“	remove centre info (ie vocal) from 1	”

But how do you this?

I've never seen a convincing method of extracting vocals from a tune, but saying that you can just about hear the original backing tracks on some acapellas.

JDXrated

“	Originally posted by tnt but saying that you can just about hear the original backing tracks on some acapellas.	”

This is because of sound leakage from the cans. I nearly always get it when mixing down accapella's.

Ive been told that some producers intentionally put the backing track slightly in the accapella to help dj's when trying to do a live mix with an instrumental.

Sen

some percappellas have the percussion to help with timing...

And deisel, yeah...get a vocalist...I've heard your stuff - you've got a wealth of skill, shouldn't be hard to get a vocalist or MC with equal talent!

DJ Fat Zed

Removing everything but the central image will do what it says; leave the central image. Many other sounds reside in the center of the stereo field, hence you will get all these remaining and have to do your best to minimise them with eq. Using heavy eqs always leaves severe artefacts even when using high quality eqs.

Also such phase cancellation techniques are often hindered by the fact that compression on the master signal can leave uneven levels on left/right channels.

BREAKER

O.K

bionicbooty

I agree, you would be wasting your time.