Ok...for many years I have actually wondered about this.

How do DJ's actually "remix" songs? What I am mean is, how are they able to use parts that are actual cuts off the original and then use self created material to re-create the song.

To me, to get an isolated track from a major artist means they would almost have to score the master track and breakdown each channel.
Then use there own material from keyboards, samples, etc.

Back in the day, I know that is probably how they did it. But now days I am hearing so many remixes from certain artists that contain original pieces from a song they create

Either you get the parts from the original artist (or label) or you sample a piece of the finished track and use it.

Right, thats what I thought. But it seems that now days that is a thing of the past.
As I mentioned, I am hearing remixes of songs that include way to much to be a sample and from Dj's that dont have enough recognition toland them a master.
I have heard that software like Acid or Soundforge can eliminate vocals,but...I thought that was impossible to do,especially if vocals are recorded on a center channel. In essence, this is what I am talking about. These remixes are essentially taking songs without vocals and doing some altering and I am curious as to how they are doing so.

Alot of places run remix competitions quite frequently.

Often you get the stems for the song or bits of it.

Crap thing is alot of the time these days they expect you to pay for the stems for the opportunity to do it(glares at beatport).

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Stems and shit?

Really?

I'd have though almost all remixes these days were done from midi only?

I actually fail to see why you'd want the original parts at all, apart from maybe the odd really cool effect or something that is impossible to emulate and you wanted to include (I'm thinking of that delayed percussive bit in Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar for example)

Other than that building your own sounds is the remix no?

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You know, William Blake said... uh, nothing is lost. Nothing is lost and I... I really believe that, we only move on...

I guess Im a purist at heart.
If a song standing alone is a great piece of work I believe that I should keep the integrity of the original work.

IE: DJ Ztrip's work on Tom Sawyer from Rush. He used every single element that Rush used in creating Tom Sawyer, but merely re worked the composition and arrangement.

Today, I heard 7 mixes of Neyo's Beautiful Monster. All of those were re worked in some manner and the pieces they used were straight from a master reel of some sort.Had to of been as the samples [if they were] were way to long to not have been.
And these mixes are from unknown DJ's, at least...I had never heard of them.

So, it got me thinking and wanted to get your guys opinions

quote:

Originally posted by Lunar Phase 7 Stems and shit? Really? I'd have though almost all remixes these days were done from midi only? I actually fail to see why you'd want the original parts at all, apart from maybe the odd really cool effect or something that is impossible to emulate and you wanted to include (I'm thinking of that delayed percussive bit in Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar for example) Other than that building your own sounds is the remix no?

facepalm.

ofcourse everyone has a different style when remixing(thats what makes you, you), personally i always like to use some stems included, always. ultimately atleast some stems fit because im focused in the same genre of the original more-or-less. not a fan of using remix midi, unless to check out chords.

op. all labels will send you a remix pack if you're doing this legitimately. well at-least every single artist i have dealt with, and some colleagues. its normal. like pagan said, there are plenty of remix competitions around, you could try those to get a good feel at what remix packs usually contain.

also, someone correct me if im wrong, but if you're home-sampling a released track, its technically called a "bootleg".

Last edited by MSZ on Nov-02-2010 at 07:49

quote:

Originally posted by MSZ op. all labels will send you a remix pack if you're doing this legitimately. well at-least every single artist i have dealt with, and some colleagues. its normal. like pagan said, there are plenty of remix competitions around, you could try those to get a good feel at what remix packs usually contain.

This about sums up every experience I've had with remixes.

I've also worked with just vocals too.

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what i've experienced is that big names give you less stems and midis than the unknown guys, if you make a remix for a small label they give you every single part of the track if you want it.

Personally i don't like very much when they only give you the main lead and some fx's i feel very limited as you need to get the melody and chords on the piano if you want to make some variation when for the producer is easy to export a midi...

quote:

Originally posted by Rodri Santos what i've experienced is that big names give you less stems and midis than the unknown guys, if you make a remix for a small label they give you every single part of the track if you want it. Personally i don't like very much when they only give you the main lead and some fx's i feel very limited as you need to get the melody and chords on the piano if you want to make some variation when for the producer is easy to export a midi...

The only issue with that is every remix ends up sounding exactly the same.

I recently started a remix of a track that I tried to make different, and then I heard all the other entries and they all sounded identical. So I didn't bother in the end.

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quote:

Originally posted by tehlord The only issue with that is every remix ends up sounding exactly the same. I recently started a remix of a track that I tried to make different, and then I heard all the other entries and they all sounded identical. So I didn't bother in the end.

Exactly, why the fuck bother with stems?

Getting the main lead? Really? Why not just Ejay the fucking song too?

Midi file for melody and then if its a vocal tune, the accapella. That's it really isn't it?

___________________
Nothing lasts, nothing lasts, everything is changing into something else. Nothing is wrong, nothing is wrong, everything is on track...

You know, William Blake said... uh, nothing is lost. Nothing is lost and I... I really believe that, we only move on...

I think in this day it's not too much to ask for the midi's but I could work from just stems if needed.

The only thing with stems is that they are designed to allow only a small amount of alteration of the elements - in the true sense of stems, they only allow a different mixdown.

Yes, you can get creative with chopping them up etc but it's never going to be as easy as with the midis or audiofile packs.

I think any label or artist only giving stems is either being too controlling or lazy. The only valid excuse I can see is that they don't want an acapella ripped off but seriously, they could just get someone else to sing it if they wanted it that badly.