Basically you need a parametric EQ, where you can select which frequency you want to adjust, and how much you want to adjust it. Completely cut the EQ, then sweep the frequency until most of the vocals are gone. Of course if there are other instruments in that frequency range they'll get cut too.

Try asking the guys in the production forum, they would probably know more.

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-tom

parametric EQs dont cut frequencies completely - they allow you to increase or decrease the presence of a frequency/frequency range by increasing or lowering the line level of that specific frequency/frequency range.

its important to note that for instance, a kick drum doesnt just sit between 50 and 500 hz. it actually consists of pretty much every audible frequency (and some inaudible too). on a spectrum analyser most of its presence is around 50 to 500 hz though. but theres bits of it way up to 20,000hz too. same with vocals, same with any synth. they have most of their presence is a specific range but they really occupy pretty much every audible frequency to some extent or other. completely cutting a frequency range (i.e. with a free filter) will, depending on the size of the range effect every other instrument in a song.

vocals generally have alot of mid range presence (because mid range is where most speech recognition occurs), alot of upper mid range presence, some top end and a little bit of bass end to it. completely cutting all of that that will seriously fuck up every other instrument in the rest of the track.

If all else fails, you can take a portion of the tune without vocals and simply edit it so it loops that portion constantly, where the vocals would otherwise be.

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NEW MIX [Feb/March 2008]

quote:

Originally posted by Luke Cartwright I have been trying to remove vocals from tracks and have downloaded a few programs and plug-ins along the way. None of them work too good atm though. I have read that it is impossible to fully remove vocals from some tracks due to the way they are structured and layered, I'm not too bothered about losing some of the main parts as I can work on that afterwards. I have downloaded a plug-in for sound forge called analogX vocal remover which is the best so far. But it seems like it is doing the process the other way around, removing the main part of the track and just then playing the vocals and bassline. Do I have some settings to change in soundforge or are there any other good programs/plug-ins that anyone has used to kill vocals. Also I have seen a seperate piece of kit called the alesis vocal zapper, anyone know anything about this and if it actually works.

sorry i cant help but just out of interest.. why do u want to do this?

so you can make instrumentals out of songs where you dont like the vocals or, even better, if you have the instrumental an the original song you can cancel phase and get an acapella. quite alot of the acapellas on the net are made using this method.