Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Hi -

Does anyone know of a preferrably inexpensive software that will 
allow me to take an mp3 or wav file, remove the drum tracks and then 
save it back again as a mp3 or wav? The full blown MIDI sofware 
packages out there seem like overkill given I only want to remove 
drum tracks. 
Just wondering if anyone had any good solutions?

Thanks for your time,
David

Hi David,

We were just talking about that recently on the board. Though 
members have various methods of minimizing the distraction of 
prerecorded drums when they play along with MP3s, CDs, et al., no 
real method of removing embedded tracks is possible, short of 
getting your hands on the master tapes used to create the final 
mixdown and eliminating all of the tracks with drums on them. The 
only ready to hand method that I can think of is to take some of the 
early stereo recordings (the Beatles qualify sometimes), in which 
the drums were panned all the way to the left or right channel, mute 
that channel on your playback system, and play along with what's 
left, maybe by panning the drums through the module to the muted 
channel.

Ed


--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "tempdir" <tempdir@y...> wrote:
> Hi -
> 
> Does anyone know of a preferrably inexpensive software that will 
> allow me to take an mp3 or wav file, remove the drum tracks and 
then 

> save it back again as a mp3 or wav? The full blown MIDI sofware 
> packages out there seem like overkill given I only want to remove 
> drum tracks. 
> Just wondering if anyone had any good solutions?
> 
> Thanks for your time,
> David

Hi Ed
Thanks for the info. I did some search key words but couldnt find 
any posts related to the specific topic. Perhaps if we end up moving 
our discussion list off of Yahoo, we can put in some more robust 
searching capabilities!

I guess my next course of action will be taking an MP3 and 
converting it to MIDI and removing tracks that way. Ideally, Id like 
to convert it back again to MP3 so that I can play it through an MP3 
player I have hooked into the DTXpress. Unfortunately, my PC is 
located so far away from my drums that looking at a PC-DTXpress 
connection isnt really an option.

I know that Cakewalk is a popular software. Do you happen to know if 
it can import from and export to mp3 format ?

Thanks,
David

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "liberatusvirus" 
<liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> Hi David,
> 
> We were just talking about that recently on the board. Though 
> members have various methods of minimizing the distraction of 
> prerecorded drums when they play along with MP3s, CDs, et al., no 
> real method of removing embedded tracks is possible, short of 
> getting your hands on the master tapes used to create the final 
> mixdown and eliminating all of the tracks with drums on them. The 
> only ready to hand method that I can think of is to take some of 
the 
> early stereo recordings (the Beatles qualify sometimes), in which 
> the drums were panned all the way to the left or right channel, 
mute 
> that channel on your playback system, and play along with what's 
> left, maybe by panning the drums through the module to the muted 
> channel.
> 
> Ed
> 
> 
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "tempdir" <tempdir@y...> wrote:
> > Hi -
> > 
> > Does anyone know of a preferrably inexpensive software that will 
> > allow me to take an mp3 or wav file, remove the drum tracks and 
> then 
> > save it back again as a mp3 or wav? The full blown MIDI sofware 
> > packages out there seem like overkill given I only want to 
remove 

> > drum tracks. 
> > Just wondering if anyone had any good solutions?
> > 
> > Thanks for your time,
> > David

Hi David,

First of all, mp3 and midi are like apples and oranges. Midi is a 
set of musical commands that can be sent along channels as digits, 
or numbers, to all sorts of compatible devices, at least one of 
which can eventually translate those commands into voice, pitch, 
tempo, level, etc., that you can hear as music (or a reasonable 
facsimile). A midi track is not an audio track--at least not until 
the actual musical information is translated into a concrete musical 
event either played live or converted into an instrumental audio 
file (like wav or mp3) to be recorded. In other words, you can 
convert something originally created as a midi file into an audio 
file, but a particular audio file cannot become a midi file, because 
midi material derives only from midi commands not yet translated 
into music, not from intrumental material already completed.

All of the Cakewalk products, as far as I know, will accept tracks 
from both midi and audio/instrument sources and eventually allow 
them to be mixed together into an audio format (like wav or mp3) to 
be burned onto disk or tape, but only after the midi tracks have 
been attached to an audio-ready instrument. But this is not the 
process that you are driving at. You can't delete any drums that 
appear on the recorded tracks in your software unless you recorded 
them independently yourself via audio input or midi input.

For what you want to do, you'll either have to find midi-based 
material that you like and mute the drum tracks on channel 10 
(traditionally, the midi channel that contains percussion) so that 
you can play along with it through the module, or get one of those 
instructional CDs without drums that you can run through the aux 
input or a mixer. I used to play along with them when I was learning 
another instrument in my . . . ahem, youth. They still make the 
Music Minus One series, but I believe that members of this group 
have used newer, more dedicated DTX products.

Ed

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "tempdir" <tempdir@y...> wrote:
> Hi Ed
> Thanks for the info. I did some search key words but couldnt find 
> any posts related to the specific topic. Perhaps if we end up 
moving 
> our discussion list off of Yahoo, we can put in some more robust 
> searching capabilities!
> 
> I guess my next course of action will be taking an MP3 and 
> converting it to MIDI and removing tracks that way. Ideally, Id 
like 
> to convert it back again to MP3 so that I can play it through an 
MP3 
> player I have hooked into the DTXpress. Unfortunately, my PC is 
> located so far away from my drums that looking at a PC-DTXpress 
> connection isnt really an option.
> 
> I know that Cakewalk is a popular software. Do you happen to know 
if 
> it can import from and export to mp3 format ?
> 
> Thanks,
> David
> 
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "liberatusvirus" 
> <liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> > Hi David,
> > 
> > We were just talking about that recently on the board. Though 
> > members have various methods of minimizing the distraction of 
> > prerecorded drums when they play along with MP3s, CDs, et al., 
no 
> > real method of removing embedded tracks is possible, short of 
> > getting your hands on the master tapes used to create the final 
> > mixdown and eliminating all of the tracks with drums on them. 
The 
> > only ready to hand method that I can think of is to take some of 
> the 
> > early stereo recordings (the Beatles qualify sometimes), in 
which 
> > the drums were panned all the way to the left or right channel, 
> mute 
> > that channel on your playback system, and play along with what's 
> > left, maybe by panning the drums through the module to the muted 
> > channel.
> > 
> > Ed
> > 
> > 
> > --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "tempdir" <tempdir@y...> wrote:
> > > Hi -
> > > 
> > > Does anyone know of a preferrably inexpensive software that 
will 
> > > allow me to take an mp3 or wav file, remove the drum tracks 
and 
> > then 
> > > save it back again as a mp3 or wav? The full blown MIDI 
sofware 
> > > packages out there seem like overkill given I only want to 
> remove 
> > > drum tracks. 
> > > Just wondering if anyone had any good solutions?
> > > 
> > > Thanks for your time,
> > > David

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "tempdir" <tempdir@y...> wrote:
> Hi Ed
> Thanks for the info. I did some search key words but couldnt find 
> any posts related to the specific topic. Perhaps if we end up 
moving 
> our discussion list off of Yahoo, we can put in some more robust 
> searching capabilities!
> 
> I guess my next course of action will be taking an MP3 and 
> converting it to MIDI and removing tracks that way. Ideally, Id 
like 
> to convert it back again to MP3 so that I can play it through an 
MP3 
> player I have hooked into the DTXpress. Unfortunately, my PC is 
> located so far away from my drums that looking at a PC-DTXpress 
> connection isnt really an option.
> 
> I know that Cakewalk is a popular software. Do you happen to know 
if 
> it can import from and export to mp3 format ?
> 
> Thanks,
> David
> 
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "liberatusvirus" 
> <liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> > Hi David,
> > 
> > We were just talking about that recently on the board. Though 
> > members have various methods of minimizing the distraction of 
> > prerecorded drums when they play along with MP3s, CDs, et al., 
no 
> > real method of removing embedded tracks is possible, short of 
> > getting your hands on the master tapes used to create the final 
> > mixdown and eliminating all of the tracks with drums on them. 
The 
> > only ready to hand method that I can think of is to take some of 
> the 
> > early stereo recordings (the Beatles qualify sometimes), in 
which 
> > the drums were panned all the way to the left or right channel, 
> mute 
> > that channel on your playback system, and play along with what's 
> > left, maybe by panning the drums through the module to the muted 
> > channel.
> > 
> > Ed
> > 
> > 
> > --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "tempdir" <tempdir@y...> wrote:
> > > Hi -
> > > 
> > > Does anyone know of a preferrably inexpensive software that 
will 
> > > allow me to take an mp3 or wav file, remove the drum tracks 
and 
> > then 
> > > save it back again as a mp3 or wav? The full blown MIDI 
sofware 

> > > packages out there seem like overkill given I only want to 
> remove 
> > > drum tracks. 
> > > Just wondering if anyone had any good solutions?
> > > 
> > > Thanks for your time,
> > > David

Tempdir:

I think my wife (who sitting beside me as I read your post) said it best:

"It's like he wants to export eggs and milk from a cake" :) (there's a
cakewalk pun in there somewhere but I'm too lazy to dig it out!)

In effect, the MIDI data records the *gestures* (drum strokes, guitar
finger motions, keyboard fingerings, mouth, breath and finger/arm
positions on wind instruments etc) that will then be used to operate the
instruments. The MP3 file contains the RESULT. There is no way to
"export" an MP3 file to MIDI short of listening to it and then composing
a new performance in a MIDI sequencer that replicates your interpretation
of the gestures that created the sound. :) Does this help shed some light
on the topic? :)

Also, it is possible in many cases to find repositories of contemporary
music as MIDI files online. Do some searches and see for yourself! :)

Vern
-- 
Vern Graner CNE/CNA/SSE     | "If the network is down, then you're
Senior Systems Engineer     | obviously incompetent so why are we
Texas Information Services  | paying you? Of course, if the network
vern@... www.txis.com  | is up, then we obviously don't need
Cell 507-7851 Desk 328-8947 | you, so why are we paying you?" VLG



tempdir said:

> Hi Ed
> Thanks for the info. I did some search key words but couldnt find  any
> posts related to the specific topic. Perhaps if we end up moving  our
> discussion list off of Yahoo, we can put in some more robust
> searching capabilities!
>
> I guess my next course of action will be taking an MP3 and
> converting it to MIDI and removing tracks that way. Ideally, Id like
> to convert it back again to MP3 so that I can play it through an MP3
> player I have hooked into the DTXpress. Unfortunately, my PC is
> located so far away from my drums that looking at a PC-DTXpress
> connection isnt really an option.
>
> I know that Cakewalk is a popular software. Do you happen to know if
> it can import from and export to mp3 format ?
>
> Thanks,
> David
>
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "liberatusvirus"
> <liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
>> Hi David,
>>
>> We were just talking about that recently on the board. Though
>> members have various methods of minimizing the distraction of
>> prerecorded drums when they play along with MP3s, CDs, et al., no
>> real method of removing embedded tracks is possible, short of
>> getting your hands on the master tapes used to create the final
>> mixdown and eliminating all of the tracks with drums on them. The
>> only ready to hand method that I can think of is to take some of
> the
>> early stereo recordings (the Beatles qualify sometimes), in which
>> the drums were panned all the way to the left or right channel,
> mute
>> that channel on your playback system, and play along with what's
>> left, maybe by panning the drums through the module to the muted
>> channel.
>>
>> Ed
>>
>>
>> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "tempdir" <tempdir@y...> wrote:
>> > Hi -
>> >
>> > Does anyone know of a preferrably inexpensive software that will
>> allow me to take an mp3 or wav file, remove the drum tracks and
>> then
>> > save it back again as a mp3 or wav? The full blown MIDI sofware
>> packages out there seem like overkill given I only want to
> remove
>> > drum tracks.
>> > Just wondering if anyone had any good solutions?
>> >
>> > Thanks for your time,
>> > David
>
>
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Hi Vern
Thanks for the input. I will be the first to admit that I know 
nothing about how music is recorded and then 'processed' (for lack of 
a better term) into the final version that ships on CDs, etc.  
However, I have found your post and the others extremely helpful in 
understanding what exactly a MIDI file is and why what Im trying to 
doesnt make sense. I appreciate your help!
My ultimate goal is to be able to play the drums to popular songs 
that I like without hearing the drums in the music - but I still want 
to hear the singers and other instruments. So far, I havent had much 
luck in finding MIDI files that will help me do this --- but I havent 
really searched thoroughly, I admit!
Thanks for everyones help on this!
=David

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Vernon Graner" <vern@t...> wrote:
> Tempdir:
> 
> I think my wife (who sitting beside me as I read your post) said it 
best:
> 
> "It's like he wants to export eggs and milk from a cake" :) 
(there's a
> cakewalk pun in there somewhere but I'm too lazy to dig it out!)
> 
> In effect, the MIDI data records the *gestures* (drum strokes, 
guitar
> finger motions, keyboard fingerings, mouth, breath and finger/arm
> positions on wind instruments etc) that will then be used to 
operate the
> instruments. The MP3 file contains the RESULT. There is no way to
> "export" an MP3 file to MIDI short of listening to it and then 
composing
> a new performance in a MIDI sequencer that replicates your 
interpretation
> of the gestures that created the sound. :) Does this help shed some 
light
> on the topic? :)
> 
> Also, it is possible in many cases to find repositories of 
contemporary
> music as MIDI files online. Do some searches and see for 
yourself! :)
> 
> Vern
> -- 
> Vern Graner CNE/CNA/SSE     | "If the network is down, then you're
> Senior Systems Engineer     | obviously incompetent so why are we
> Texas Information Services  | paying you? Of course, if the network
> vern@t... www.txis.com  | is up, then we obviously don't need
> Cell 507-7851 Desk 328-8947 | you, so why are we paying you?" VLG
> 
> 
> 
> tempdir said:
> > Hi Ed
> > Thanks for the info. I did some search key words but couldnt 
find  any
> > posts related to the specific topic. Perhaps if we end up moving  
our
> > discussion list off of Yahoo, we can put in some more robust
> > searching capabilities!
> >
> > I guess my next course of action will be taking an MP3 and
> > converting it to MIDI and removing tracks that way. Ideally, Id 
like
> > to convert it back again to MP3 so that I can play it through an 
MP3
> > player I have hooked into the DTXpress. Unfortunately, my PC is
> > located so far away from my drums that looking at a PC-DTXpress
> > connection isnt really an option.
> >
> > I know that Cakewalk is a popular software. Do you happen to know 
if
> > it can import from and export to mp3 format ?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > David
> >
> > --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "liberatusvirus"
> > <liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> >> Hi David,
> >>
> >> We were just talking about that recently on the board. Though
> >> members have various methods of minimizing the distraction of
> >> prerecorded drums when they play along with MP3s, CDs, et al., no
> >> real method of removing embedded tracks is possible, short of
> >> getting your hands on the master tapes used to create the final
> >> mixdown and eliminating all of the tracks with drums on them. The
> >> only ready to hand method that I can think of is to take some of
> > the
> >> early stereo recordings (the Beatles qualify sometimes), in which
> >> the drums were panned all the way to the left or right channel,
> > mute
> >> that channel on your playback system, and play along with what's
> >> left, maybe by panning the drums through the module to the muted
> >> channel.
> >>
> >> Ed
> >>
> >>
> >> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "tempdir" <tempdir@y...> wrote:
> >> > Hi -
> >> >
> >> > Does anyone know of a preferrably inexpensive software that 
will
> >> allow me to take an mp3 or wav file, remove the drum tracks and
> >> then
> >> > save it back again as a mp3 or wav? The full blown MIDI sofware
> >> packages out there seem like overkill given I only want to
> > remove
> >> > drum tracks.
> >> > Just wondering if anyone had any good solutions?
> >> >
> >> > Thanks for your time,
> >> > David
> >
> >
> > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> > ---------------------~--> New Yahoo! Mail Plus. More flexibility. 
More
> > control. More power.
> > Get POP access, more storage, more filters, and more.
> > http://us.click.yahoo.com/Hcb0iA/P.iFAA/46VHAA/kkLolB/TM
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------
---~->

> >
> > Community email addresses:
> >   Post message: DTXpress@onelist.com
> >   Subscribe:    DTXpress-subscribe@onelist.com
> >   Unsubscribe:  DTXpress-unsubscribe@onelist.com
> >   List owner:   DTXpress-owner@onelist.com
> >
> > Shortcut URL to this page:
> >   http://www.onelist.com/community/DTXpress
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Hi David,

Cibermidi.com is a place to start, but as pointed out
- there are other places as well. 

Walt
--- tempdir <tempdir@...> wrote:
> Hi Vern
> Thanks for the input. I will be the first to admit
> that I know 
> nothing about how music is recorded and then
> 'processed' (for lack of 
> a better term) into the final version that ships on
> CDs, etc.  
> However, I have found your post and the others
> extremely helpful in 
> understanding what exactly a MIDI file is and why
> what Im trying to 
> doesnt make sense. I appreciate your help!
> My ultimate goal is to be able to play the drums to
> popular songs 
> that I like without hearing the drums in the music -
> but I still want 
> to hear the singers and other instruments. So far, I
> havent had much 
> luck in finding MIDI files that will help me do this
> --- but I havent 
> really searched thoroughly, I admit!
> Thanks for everyones help on this!
> =David
> 
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Vernon Graner"
> <vern@t...> wrote:
> > Tempdir:
> > 
> > I think my wife (who sitting beside me as I read
> your post) said it 
> best:
> > 
> > "It's like he wants to export eggs and milk from a
> cake" :) 
> (there's a
> > cakewalk pun in there somewhere but I'm too lazy
> to dig it out!)
> > 
> > In effect, the MIDI data records the *gestures*
> (drum strokes, 
> guitar
> > finger motions, keyboard fingerings, mouth, breath
> and finger/arm
> > positions on wind instruments etc) that will then
> be used to 
> operate the
> > instruments. The MP3 file contains the RESULT.
> There is no way to
> > "export" an MP3 file to MIDI short of listening to
> it and then 
> composing
> > a new performance in a MIDI sequencer that
> replicates your 
> interpretation
> > of the gestures that created the sound. :) Does
> this help shed some 
> light
> > on the topic? :)
> > 
> > Also, it is possible in many cases to find
> repositories of 
> contemporary
> > music as MIDI files online. Do some searches and
> see for 
> yourself! :)
> > 
> > Vern
> > -- 
> > Vern Graner CNE/CNA/SSE     | "If the network is
> down, then you're
> > Senior Systems Engineer     | obviously
> incompetent so why are we
> > Texas Information Services  | paying you? Of
> course, if the network
> > vern@t... www.txis.com  | is up, then we obviously
> don't need
> > Cell 507-7851 Desk 328-8947 | you, so why are we
> paying you?" VLG
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > tempdir said:
> > > Hi Ed
> > > Thanks for the info. I did some search key words
> but couldnt 
> find  any
> > > posts related to the specific topic. Perhaps if
> we end up moving  
> our
> > > discussion list off of Yahoo, we can put in some
> more robust
> > > searching capabilities!
> > >
> > > I guess my next course of action will be taking
> an MP3 and
> > > converting it to MIDI and removing tracks that
> way. Ideally, Id 
> like
> > > to convert it back again to MP3 so that I can
> play it through an 
> MP3
> > > player I have hooked into the DTXpress.
> Unfortunately, my PC is
> > > located so far away from my drums that looking
> at a PC-DTXpress
> > > connection isnt really an option.
> > >
> > > I know that Cakewalk is a popular software. Do
> you happen to know 
> if
> > > it can import from and export to mp3 format ?
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > David
> > >
> > > --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com,
> "liberatusvirus"
> > > <liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> > >> Hi David,
> > >>
> > >> We were just talking about that recently on the
> board. Though
> > >> members have various methods of minimizing the
> distraction of
> > >> prerecorded drums when they play along with
> MP3s, CDs, et al., no
> > >> real method of removing embedded tracks is
> possible, short of
> > >> getting your hands on the master tapes used to
> create the final
> > >> mixdown and eliminating all of the tracks with
> drums on them. The
> > >> only ready to hand method that I can think of
> is to take some of
> > > the
> > >> early stereo recordings (the Beatles qualify
> sometimes), in which
> > >> the drums were panned all the way to the left
> or right channel,
> > > mute
> > >> that channel on your playback system, and play
> along with what's
> > >> left, maybe by panning the drums through the
> module to the muted
> > >> channel.
> > >>
> > >> Ed
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "tempdir"
> <tempdir@y...> wrote:
> > >> > Hi -
> > >> >
> > >> > Does anyone know of a preferrably inexpensive
> software that 
> will
> > >> allow me to take an mp3 or wav file, remove the
> drum tracks and
> > >> then
> > >> > save it back again as a mp3 or wav? The full
> blown MIDI sofware
> > >> packages out there seem like overkill given I
> only want to
> > > remove
> > >> > drum tracks.
> > >> > Just wondering if anyone had any good
> solutions?
> > >> >
> > >> > Thanks for your time,
> > >> > David
> > >
> > >
> > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> > > ---------------------~--> New Yahoo! Mail Plus.
> More flexibility. 
> More
> > > control. More power.
> > > Get POP access, more storage, more filters, and
> more.
> > >
>
http://us.click.yahoo.com/Hcb0iA/P.iFAA/46VHAA/kkLolB/TM
> > >
>
------------------------------------------------------------------
> ---~->
> > >
> > > Community email addresses:
> > >   Post message: DTXpress@onelist.com
> > >   Subscribe:    DTXpress-subscribe@onelist.com
> > >   Unsubscribe:  DTXpress-unsubscribe@onelist.com
> > >   List owner:   DTXpress-owner@onelist.com
> > >
> > > Shortcut URL to this page:
> > >   http://www.onelist.com/community/DTXpress
> > >
> > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> > > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> 
> 


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I gathered up a bunch of my MIDI files and stuffed them in an archive if
you're looking for practice fodder. ;) Most all in general MIDI format so
you can mute the drum parts if you like. All here:

http://www.notepad.org/offer/karaoke_midi.zip

Vern

-- 
Vern Graner CNE/CNA/SSE     | "If the network is down, then you're
Senior Systems Engineer     | obviously incompetent so why are we
Texas Information Services  | paying you? Of course, if the network
vern@... www.txis.com  | is up, then we obviously don't need
Cell 507-7851 Desk 328-8947 | you, so why are we paying you?" VLG


tempdir said:
So far, I havent had much  luck
> in finding MIDI files that will help me do this --- but I havent
> really searched thoroughly, I admit!