I hate the idea of stems. Hell, even MIDIs are kind of a turn off for me, unless it's a track with a part I can't figure out by ear. People have enough flexibility in electronica to emulate sounds where necessary and come up with new parts on their own equipment instead of relying on pieces of the original track.

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Originally posted by DJ RANN ...they could just get someone else to sing it if they wanted it that badly.

That seems to be occurring more and more frequently lately. I've noticed a lot of popular tracks from yesteryear being re-recorded with new vocalists. Similar elements, same lyrics and vocal style, but totally re-recorded and redone. Really these are more akin to a traditional "cover" than a remix, but still combine elements of both.

Some examples:

Redone version of "BT - Mercury & Solace" and originally sung by Jan Johnston:
Avatar One feat. Alexandra Greene - Mercury & Solace (Original Mix) 2010 HQ FULL Version Trance

Redone version of Roger Sanchez classic track "Another Chance"
Pilgrim - Another Chance (Passenger 10 Remix)

And of course our version of Not Over Yet, a re-sung version of Grace - Not Over Yet. We tried to pay homage to the original by reusing a lot of the same melodic themes. This version cuts off the intro and outro a bit, but you get the idea. No idea who did the video, but it wasn't us.
Kristine Grundmane - Not Over Yet (Mario & Eric J Remix)

And a great example of a classic non dance track redone by BT. BT doing a "dance" version of Dreams by Fleetwood Mac. Can't find this on YouTube, but its the first track in our Perfecto Collection mixed CD.
Mario & Eric J - The Perfecto Collection

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Originally posted by Lunar Phase 7 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?

untrue, sounds like its coming from someone who is uncreative enough to utilize them in a more different way. ofcourse like i said, everyone is different, but to disregard it is pretty ignorant. how many tracks have you remixed? can i hear them?

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Originally posted by Eric J That seems to be occurring more and more frequently lately. I've noticed a lot of popular tracks from yesteryear being re-recorded with new vocalists. Similar elements, same lyrics and vocal style, but totally re-recorded and redone. Really these are more akin to a traditional "cover" than a remix, but still combine elements of both. Some examples: Redone version of "BT - Mercury & Solace" and originally sung by Jan Johnston: Avatar One feat. Alexandra Greene - Mercury & Solace (Original Mix) 2010 HQ FULL Version Trance Redone version of Roger Sanchez classic track "Another Chance" Pilgrim - Another Chance (Passenger 10 Remix) And of course our version of Not Over Yet, a re-sung version of Grace - Not Over Yet. We tried to pay homage to the original by reusing a lot of the same melodic themes. This version cuts off the intro and outro a bit, but you get the idea. No idea who did the video, but it wasn't us. Kristine Grundmane - Not Over Yet (Mario & Eric J Remix) And a great example of a classic non dance track redone by BT. BT doing a "dance" version of Dreams by Fleetwood Mac. Can't find this on YouTube, but its the first track in our Perfecto Collection mixed CD. Mario & Eric J - The Perfecto Collection

I noticed that too (however I do like the new version of mercury and solace).

I think some of it has to do with money though - some artists ask for stupid sums for the rights of the original vocals, and in some cases the original vocalist won't allow their work to be reused.

I know with the track Black Legend "trouble with me" it was orignally a sample of Barry White. When the promo track started doing well they approached Barry White and asked for permission. He wanted $100,000 just to use his vocal.

They said hell no, re-recorded it with a impersonator and just paid the publisher $10,000 to use the lyrics.

I'm not sure, but I think that was the same case with Not over yet for Stephen's release. In fact, the remix that was really big in 1999 was even a vocal rerecord of the 1994 original. I don't actually think there's been a major commercial release of it that ever used the same vocal as the previous version.

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Originally posted by MSZ untrue, sounds like its coming from someone who is uncreative enough to utilize them in a more different way. ofcourse like i said, everyone is different, but to disregard it is pretty ignorant. how many tracks have you remixed? can i hear them?

I think a MIDI file is pointless, and I agree that you can and maybe should take some actual audio from the origianl track and make something different with it.

The thing about the remix I started was that everybody pretty much took the track as it was, sped it up a tiny amount and put trance pads over the top.

That ain't a fucking remix you slags. That's a DJ mix.

I won't spam mine here, but I should have won it should I have entered

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ya but thats their inability to do something creative with it, to blame the actual process of sampling some stems altogether is so wrong. i have a hunch this guy is one of those who are uncreative. lol i ramble too much xD

WoW! Nice feedback all, I do appreciate all of your insight to my question. It for sure answers what I was looking for.

I would say for me, like I previously mentioned,it is about preservation and integrity of the original piece.
Stems to me, if they are nearly a full set, stems that make up the song given are important due to the fact that no matter how big or small the length is, I can transform that in some fashion. Again, I dont want to re create a piece, just alter it to sound ...cooler =O)

Samples imo are limited to the actual composition you are working with.
Sure, you can change or alter it, but you are working sometimes with already composites of an arrangement. In essence, you arent really re mixing, your re arranging

After all, it is in my opinion that DJ's remix a song for one of two reasons.
1: They were either moved and influenced enough to do so
2: They felt the song lacked something,whether dynamics or ambient textures or just plain lackluster

So. in a nutshell, I am beginning to see that these songs I have been hearing could be given by the artist. Whether samples or stems.
But how in the world these no name dj's are getting them are beyond me.

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Originally posted by DJ RANN I noticed that too (however I do like the new version of mercury and solace).

Agreed. I heard it first on Matt Darey's Nocturnal podcast, and when it came in, I was like "Wait, this sounds familiar..." At least if they are going to do this stuff, they do a decent job.

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Originally posted by MSZ ya but thats their inability to do something creative with it, to blame the actual process of sampling some stems altogether is so wrong. i have a hunch this guy is one of those who are uncreative. lol i ramble too much xD

I think a remix competion should be vreated where the prize goes to the person who makes it sound the least like the original, while still being a chesive and listenable track.

Where's Brad? He can fund the prizes.

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Originally posted by tehlord I think a remix competion should be vreated where the prize goes to the person who makes it sound the least like the original, while still being a chesive and listenable track. Where's Brad? He can fund the prizes.

if only he paid in love

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Originally posted by DJ RANN I know with the track Black Legend "trouble with me" it was orignally a sample of Barry White. When the promo track started doing well they approached Barry White and asked for permission. He wanted $100,000 just to use his vocal. They said hell no, re-recorded it with a impersonator and just paid the publisher $10,000 to use the lyrics.

I believe its the same story for LMC vs U2 "take me to the clouds above". The promo had Whitney Houston's vocals on it but was redone for commercial release.

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Originally posted by Eric J Agreed. I heard it first on Matt Darey's Nocturnal podcast, and when it came in, I was like "Wait, this sounds familiar..." At least if they are going to do this stuff, they do a decent job.

No shit - Me too! about two weeks ago. I was driving and heard it and thought "Hang On...". They did a really good interpretation of a classic without overdoing it or trying to change it far too much. It took me a second because the bassline on the original is so distinctive.

Still waiting for your instrumental version of Not over Yet