STEP 1: Select your beat
The intro is probably the most important part of the mix. First, pick a popular beat with a tempo somewhere in the middle of all the vocal tracks in your main source. For this P. Diddy remix for BET’s 106 & Park, I started with Diddy’s "Been Around the World." I chose this song because it was one of his most popular and the tempo was 99 beats per minute (BPM). This is about the median BPM of the vocal clips used.
Tip: I use the top two audio tracks for my instrumentals. This allows me to mix into the next beat and match wave patterns. It also simplifies organization.
STEP 2: Choose your vocal samples
Start by identifying good catch phrases or verses from all the a cappellas you want to use in the mix. This process takes some time, but the more you have to choose from, the better the mix usually is. The best mixes usually have a theme or style that dictates the song clips you will use. In this instance, the theme was "the artist," so it was already chosen for me.
Tip: When dealing with a lot of source media, I recommend using the Take Active Name function in Vegas. This lets you see file names more easily via CTRL+SHIFT+I or under the view tab.
STEP 3: Get creative (it pays the bills)
Begin to place the vocal tracks where you see fit. This is where the real creativity comes in. Stretch and compress the tracks to match the rhythm of the beat you choose.
Tip: Hold CTRL + Hold left click and move left or right depending on whether you want to stretch or compress.
STEP 4" Add your sound
Add effects such as echoes, choruses, reverbs, etc. You may not realize it, but you can hear these effects in songs from just about every musical genre if you listen closely. We also like to add them to the beats as well as to the vocals, which not many producers do. This will help add a unique element to your mix.
Tip: Right click and choose Apply Non-Real-Time Event FX.
STEP 5: Fill in the gaps
Ad libs are great tools that move the piece and fill in gaps you have. Don’t be afraid to manually create your own effects if you don’t get the exact sound you have in mind. In the examples here, the blue border highlights the ad libs and the orange border highlights the manual echo effect.
STEP 6: Groupd and snap
To get exact and fluid timeline motion, click Quantize to Frames, which is the first item on the Options tab. This feature is one of the main reasons I find Vegas superior to other nonlinear editing programs. New in Vegas 7 is an advance snapping function that has proven to be a huge time saver for us. When you see the blue dotted line, the program is telling you two pieces of media are matching up on the timeline.
STEP 7: Match abd blend
The Quantize to Frame option makes Vegas the optimal tool for matching beats for smooth blends. When you match the wavelengths, the music will blend for smooth transitions. The same process can be used to match a cappellas to beats as well. Use the stretch and compress tool discussed earlier to get the desired result. Use the volume envelope or click the upper corner of either end of your media to create fade-ins and fade-outs.
STEP 8: Adjust volume levels
After the piece is finished, one final, critical step is to adjust the volume levels, since the various pieces of the remix usually come from different original sources. Sony’s Sound Forge software has a good normalizing tool that help gets your master volumes equal through the remix. Use the master volume (highlighted here) to make sure the audio levels are not peaking. Avoid anything with positive numeric values, as it will distort in certain speakers.
Tip: Use CTRL + V to see the volume envelope and double-click on the envelope to create a new point where you can adjust the volume easily.
Your Guide
Aundre Oldacre
Founder and CEO
VMIX
Aundre "Deluxe" Oldacre is the founder and CEO of VMIX, pioneers of the "complexed" remix, in which multiple songs are laid over one or more tracks. He has more than eight years of experience as a producer, entrepreneur and DJ. In 1998, he started C-10 Productions, a music production company, and formed VMIX in 2004. VMIX specializes in music and video production. Its growing client base now includes ESPN, Pepsi, Ebony, Interscope Records and Vibe.
Aundre Says Keep in Mind…
The remix has long been a vital part of the music industry. Record labels, producers and DJs remix songs to increase sales and, in many cases, extend the shelf life of the music. For the most part, these remixes have been altered with new artists, a new beat, fresh lyrics or all of these things. BET’s 106 & Park asked us to do a remix of P. Diddy’s latest CD, Press Play, so they could surprise him with the project. The excellent audio tools inside Sony Vegas made it easy.
VMIX
www.vmix.tv
163 William St.,
3rd Floor
New York, NY 10038
info@vmix.tv