Sync Vocals With Instrumentals?

[Trackdownproductions]

I'm on a remix project right now, and I'm currently syncing vocals with my instrumentals live by matching the tempo from my Triton keyboard and recording directly to a CD, *which if I don't do correctly results in a bad mix for the overall product* Even though I've completed some tracks successfully with this technique I'm looking for a more "clean" way to do this by means of computer software. Does anyone have a set of instructions they wouldn't mind lending me to get the desired effect? Thx in Advance

DAVO

[Trackdownproductions]

Oh come on. I know that someone here can help me with this issue. So plz I really need the NG community's help

[PERVOK]

um, theres only a very small amount of artists on here that have worked with vocals...

[Khuskan]

At 8/8/05 11:44 AM, Theblackhawk wrote: um, theres only a very small amount of artists on here that have worked with vocals...

*sigh*

Time to get involved. This is my personal meathod of adding vocals.

-Live recording

Right, first of, record ALL the backing music and finalize it as a wav file or whatever filetype is most basic with you. Open up your audio recording software (i use soundforge 8 ^^. STFU goldweave), get microphone set up, lyrics on screen, set it to record at the same bitrate as the backing track. This is IMPORTANT, especialy if you cant be bothered to resample. Now, put on some good quality headphones, plug em in, play the backing track and record the vocals. Its important to use headphones as then the backing track dosnt get recorded along with the vocals. If you are having more than one vocalist, either split the headphone output (you need a special jack m-f spliter which i always have trouble finding) or just record both sets seporatly.

>>SKIP TO HERE IF THE VOCALS ARE ALREADY RECORDED<<

Delete any 'silence' before the start of the audio using editing tools, so when you press play, it starts on the first bit of the first word. Open up the backing track in another window in the same editor, (soundforge meathod) select all the vocals, go to the backing track and position the cursor at the point you want the vocals to come in. (the point at which the first word is starting to be sung). Then right click and hit mix, then OK. Viola. done.

Its always eaisier to do it inside the same program that you did the music in itself, (Cubasis SX and Reason are quite good for that. Fruityloops less so) because then you can balance and image the sound as you see fit to go along with the track.

Right, now thats over with, have fun with your track(s) and i hope to see them on the AP soon ;).

[B0UNC3]

I know how and i do work with vocals, but then i thought a man that is so "PWNAGE" would know how to do

[Trackdownproductions]

I've already apologized to the community for coming off as arrogant, but I came to NG as humble as I could with this thread asking for help. If you're still gonna be hostile towards me even after I've apologized then its on you. For now I'd just like some instructions so if you can help plz do.

[B0UNC3]

Sorry then, I left that thread kinda early since i can't stand big egos.Sorry for that.
WEll a basic beat finder program could help, ill see if i find the links.

[randomkarmagenerator]

Just use Ableton Live and timestretch the vox. That or ACID Pro... most remixers use one of these two.

[LJCoffee]

At 8/8/05 02:21 PM, Trackdownproductions wrote: I've already apologized to the community

Olive branch anyone?

May I ask what software that you own or are considering for these purposes? If you already have software then I may be able to give more specifics about various techniques - If you don't yet have software then we can figure out what would be the best (or cheapest depending on your needs) to use.

Randomkarmagenerator mentioned Ableton Live and AcidPro. I personally don't know much about Ableton but I can definitely help with AcidPro if you have that. Another great application is SoundForge - you should be able to do everything that you need with that as well.

Regardless of your software though - I would recommend cutting the lyrics into smaller chunks - they'll be much easier to work with in smaller parts. - And depending on the style of the music you may not need to worry so much about timestretching or beatmapping.

post back or drop me an email and I'll try to help as much as I am able.

-and as for winning the AP back- I wouldn't worry too much about a minor transgression here and there - as long as your not too cocky about the whole thing then most of us are pretty forgiving ... Well... most of us... :)

[GleamingOcean]

wad u say botu my momma

[Trackdownproductions]

Yeah I'm taking what you guys are telling me into consideration, I have a demo of the Ableton software right now and a list of instructions to get the desired effect would be nice, but if someone knows how to do it with AcidPro that may be better cuz my brother has that stuff on a CD somewhere so I appreciate the help just give me some specific instructions cuz mixin is hard :-/

[randomkarmagenerator]

A list of instructions to get the "desired effect," eh? I'm not sure what effect you're going for... there are many ways to remix.
As for synching the vox in Live, that's easy to do, but not necessarily so to explain in plain text. Also, I'm not sure how much detail you need.
The basic synching process in Live is this:
1) Tap the beat (top left button) with the original song playing in a 3rd party player, unless you already know the tempo. Find and set the time sig while you're at it.
2) Import the 'pella into an audio track (if necessary, convert it to wav or aif first).
3) Set a simple Impulse loop, electronic kick/snare is easiest for me. Usually 1 bar will suffice, but if it has a phrasing anomaly at the end of each verse or chorus, make the loop however long you need. Nothing fancy here, it's just to beatmatch.
4) Move slice 1 to the downbeat of the 'pella.
5) Set a 4 bar loop (or whatever works best) then activate and move the slices accordingly while in play. Move the loop forward and continue this process until you're out of 'pella.
6) Copy to corresponding arrange mode audio track and rearrange however you see fit.
7) Make music.
That's what I do and it works for me, but as you know, there are many techniques you can use to synch your vox. G'luck and have fun.

[Trackdownproductions]

I appreciate the detailed instructions, but I produce music and some of the terms you used for mixing confused the hell out of me! Its a hard process I know but I'd really like to learn it so If someone could break it ALL THE WAY DOWN for me that'd be great also, I'm open to any suggestions about what software to use to remix with ease.