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How to Remove the Melody Line From a Backing Track & Save

Digital audio workstations such as Cubase, Logic and Pro Tools enable you to record, mix and edit music using a computer, effectively turning your computer into a mobile studio. You also can edit songs in your collection using these workstations. For example, you can convert a song into a karaoke mix by removing the melody line and leaving the backing track. The vocal typically carries the melody line in a song. Editing a song for which you have the multi-track files differs from editing a master file, such as a song from your music collection.

Things You'll Need

  • Computer with minimum 2GB RAM
  • Digital audio workstation
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Instructions

  1. Master File

    • 1
      Songs from your CD collection are master files.

      Double-click your preferred digital audio workstation.

    • 2

      Open a new session. The exact command process for this varies according to which program you use, but the command is typically located in the file menu. For example, if using Logic, click "File" and "Open New."

    • 3

      Click "Import Audio." Select the song from which you want to remove the melody line.

    • 4

      Open the equalizer interface. This is typically located under the tools or effects menu. An equalizer lets you mute certain frequencies in a sound file. Since you can't simply mute the individual melody line track, as you can with multitrack files, you need to zero in on the exact frequency.

    • 5

      Click "Play" to roll the track.

    • 6
      The human voice contains frequencies between 80Hz and 8kHz.

      Click on the equalizer curve and drag it around the spectrum analyzer grid. The vertical axis represents volume, and the horizontal axis represents frequency. As you drag the curve into different shapes, different frequencies become louder according to where on the grid your cursor is. When the melody is at its loudest, stop moving the curve. The specific frequency remains highlighted.

    • 7

      Drag the "Gain" slider dial to zero. Gain is the audio term for output level. The "Gain" slider dial applies to whichever frequency is highlighted. By sliding it to zero, you reduce the output level of the highlighted frequency. This process may not remove all of the melody in one go, because audio can contain a range of frequencies. Repeat the process until the melody is gone.

    • 8

      Click "Save."

    Multi-track Mix

    • 9

      Open your preferred digital audio workstation.

    • 10

      Select the multi-track mix from the file menu. The precise command process varies, but you typically click "File," "Open Recent" or "Recent Session" and select from the drop-down menu. This opens the work in progress as a multi-track session. Each audio channel can be individually edited, deleted or modified.

    • 11

      Identify the melody track. Click "S" on each audio channel to solo it. Soloing mutes everything else.

    • 12

      Click "M" on the audio channel when you identify the melody line audio. This mutes it, leaving only the backing track.

    • 13

      Click "Save" and quit.

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