Slicing and Mixing

[Winter Solstice 12]

Okay so I can't seem the correct way to slice, mix, and blend any vocals from MLP into my music the correct way. I use Ableton Live 9 Suite and have plenty of ideas but I can't seem to make any of it work when it comes to vocals or remixing. Basically I want to make remixes like Jay B, Aftermath, ect ect but can't quite figure out how. Anyone out there willing to help me or give me a few pointers because that would help a ton. Maybe share some ideas also. 

[Ansollis 7]

I am very, VERY new to making music and adding vocals (I should end it there), but I have dabbled a bit. Unfortunately for this conversation, I have FL Studio11 so I can't help DIRECTLY, but I will assist as much as my late-night-non-alcoholic-drink-infused-brain can! 

 

Now, I don't know if what you want is something like this?:

 

(I did not put that up there to get publicity, just what came to mind) Or if you want something else. Is it more Techno or another genre? Is it like Alex S. or another artist?

 

If it is not at all like Techno, then I'm sorry and this is pointless. NEVERTHELESS!!!!

 

Now, right off the bat, I remembered two other threads that were on MyLittleRemix.

This one talks about vocal chopping (in FL Studios but it's transferable) and gives some good tips: http://mylittleremix.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=6406

This one talks about Ableton Live directly so you should be in luck, although they may talk of using Audacity: http://mylittleremix.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=7345

 

What I have done is load an acapella song into a slicing program, cut parts that I liked (A LOT more than I used, for experimenting), and put them into a piano roll sequencer type of plugin. I did not pitch correct in a program. I have heard that it is essentially necessary, but I liked how the vocals were. Some replies were that it should have been corrected while others liked the vocals as is. I would try to correct the pitch to be on the safe side (I think they mentioned autotuning it).

 

For adding it into my song, I added it in like any other synth. Played around with the arranging while looping some parts of the song and eventually (LOTS of experimenting) I found a 4 measure progression that worked. It wasn't too fast, but just right. Then I modified it for the other parts that would need less, more, or glitched versions of that progression. Again, I don't have a lot of experience, but this is what I have done, AS THERE IS NO TUTORIAL THAT DEFINITIVELY DEFINES HOW THE PROS DO IT!

 

I hope I helped as much as I could, sorry about the length and psychotic tendency of late-night me, and I hope this helps! 

Edited February 26, 2014 by Ansollis

[Winter Solstice 12]

Thanks! Every little bit of info provided helps me out. There is a built in instrument called Sampler in Ableton that you can load .wav files into and use that file in a piano roll but the issue is that the higher you go or vice/versa the tempo and pitch changes. I want to eliminate the tempo change in the piano roll and only keep the pitch change like what you have in your song. I can load in a sample and directly change the tempo and pitch manually but it can take hours just to pitch and tempo change a 2 minute clip if that. I'm not looking for a shortcut but I'm going to go check out that Ableton Live thread and see if there's a more effective way to change those particular settings in an Acapella. Again thanks a ton for the info dude.

[Ansollis 7]

@Winter Solstice of course! Love helping. With my vocals, I did not raise the pitch. I had different samples that had different pitches and I used them in the song. Each key in the piano roll would apply to different areas that I had marked. I am still not very good at the different pitches. You could google something like "Vocals like skrillex" and there may be some about changing the pitch and samples using the piano roll. IDK. Anyways, I hope the threads help! (Now I'm thinking about starting a tutorial on vocal chopping eventually).

[Winter Solstice 12]

Cool. I think I also might start a Skype group for beginners in music as sort of an information swap type deal. Thinking maybe for those who are new can possibly help each other out with ideas, tips, and help in areas others are having problems like my problem with vocals. I'm going to take your advice and do some YouTube and Google research on how to properly slice and mix vocals into a song. If you're interested and anyone else interested in this little idea feel more than welcome to contact me through Skype (Trixie-Lulamoon). I would love to get something productive started.

[Ansollis 7]

That sounds awesome, I would join that and I know some friends that would probably like that too. I will try to search for you on Skype. It may be something like "samholman". But I have a lot of school stuff and scholarship essays going on right now, so I don't know how much I would help right now. How long have you been making music?

Edited February 26, 2014 by Ansollis

[Winter Solstice 12]

I started making music (attempting) about 6 months ago when I bought Ableton Intro version, messed around for a bit and found that even though I was no good at it I fell in love with it so I bought the Suite edition because why not. I figured if I was going to be serious about this newfound passion then I might as well take it seriously. I bought a launchpad and a 61 key MIDI piano controller and been working on it every since. When you search up my skype name Trixie-Lulamoon it should show up as Winter Solstice or you can try my other account Anthrodragon1 (shows up as Anthrodragon). Both accounts have the same pic as my current one here so I should be pretty easy to find. I look up the name you provided for me real quick.