[Bigdyno]

I have been asked to play something at a friend's wedding. The easiest way I can think of doing this would be to remove the vocals from the song he requested and then play along. I found software that claims to be able to do this for about 50.00 but don't know if it will actually work. Anybody have experience with this stuff? Thanks.

 

[Bill Mecca]

most times this is a filter that removes either certain frequencies or a portion of the stereo field, so a lot depends upon how the vocals are panned and where they sit in the mix.

Might be better to find midi files, or lead sheets for the requested songs and create backing tracks with a program like Band in a Box, or check ebay for some backing track CDs.

or name that tune and maybe someone here can help directly.

 

[Bigdyno]

The music is Bach. "Jesu, joy of man's desiring" as recorded by Josh Groban.

 

[hangman]

Try http://www.jazzbacks.com/cgi-bin/online-store or get some aeberold tracks converted to mp3 and shorten them to the appropriate length with Audacity Freeware (since I imagine you don't want to solo for 8 times on each song) and then play them with an ipod connected to the PA Machine at the wedding. There is a Pretty Good wedding album for sax with backing track I bought last and I will try to find the link. You might also check out http://www.jazzpianotracks.com/

 

[hangman]

If you have Band In a Box (BIAB), check out this link http://www.pgmusic.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=127468&an=0&page=4.

 

[stefank]

Many examples of this type of software rely on the fact that the solo voice is panned exactly in the middle of the stereo image.

The software reverses the polarity of either the left or right channel and then adds the two (left and right) together. Phase cancellation should then get rid of anything that was exactly "in the middle".

It can have some fairly deleterious effects on the rest of the track as well!

Sometimes you can get a fairly acceptable result, but nothing is guaranteed. I wouldn't pay $50 though - I've seen freeware examples of software like this.

Stefan

 

[Giganova]

You will find the "vocal removal software" in the aisle right next to the Midi->XLR cables.

 

[hakukani]

You will find the "vocal removal software" in the aisle right next to the Midi->XLR cables.

:sign5:
Funniest post of the day--maybe the week.

 

[Carl H.]

You will find the "vocal removal software" in the aisle right next to the Midi->XLR cables.

Do you need Phantom power to remove the voices?

 

[jazzbluescat]

Only the Shadow knows.

 

[hakukani]

No, the Phantom: the 'Ghost who Walks'.

 

[RegSopAlto]

Hangman,

Thanks for sharing the jazzbacks site . I just downloaded three tracks that I really wanted.

 

[hangman]

Cool, which ones did you like.

 

[vermontsax]

I think there's an "Audacity" freeware free patch that will do this too. Kind of a moot point now that RegSopalto has found his solution but I'll post it all the same. For those who have used Audacity, I wonder if there's a way to manually do this - record Left and Right channels as mono tracks, reverse the polarity on one and then do a "quick mix" to sum them up. I'll have to look at this later.

- Mike

 

[hakukani]

I think there's an "Audacity" freeware free patch that will do this too. Kind of a moot point now that RegSopalto has found his solution but I'll post it all the same. For those who have used Audacity, I wonder if there's a way to manually do this - record Left and Right channels as mono tracks, reverse the polarity on one and then do a "quick mix" to sum them up. I'll have to look at this later.

- Mike

This sort of works, but generally the vocal reverb is panned right and left and its not in the center, so still have the 'ghost' of the reverb (referred to above). So, if your interpretation is 'different' from the original, the reverb does not match your interpretation. This is why, when asked if vocals can be removed, to say NO.

...of course, people still use that crappy 'autotune' stuff, too.

 

[kavala]

I dunno about 'vocal removing' software, but a good useful piece of
hardware for removing vocals is a baseball bat.

 

[Bill Mecca]

If you have Band In a Box (BIAB), check out this link http://www.pgmusic.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=127468&an=0&page=4.

thanks Hangman, that was an interesting read.