I've got a question about audio editing, like isolating certain sounds...

[darkzero297]

I've got an audio file and I really like the theme in the background. After much extensive searching, I could not find the theme on its own. So now I have an audio file but there is talking and a few other sound effects too.

I wanted to know if it was possible to edit out the talking and the sound effects? I see some videos on youtube sometimes that are edited in ways where background music is changed while still preserving original speech and other similar edits. I just want to isolate the background theme of the audio file that I have.

Do such programs/techniques actually exist?

[guns1inger]

It is very difficult and often impossible to do it completely, if at all. It does depend on the source of the audio. A few options include

1. Working from 5.1 DVD source. In some cases the centre channel is only or primarily dialogue, with little dialogue in the left/right front or surrounds. This is the best source of dialogue only material.

2. For stereo recordings it may be possible to remove background music if it has been recorded evenly in both channels, however it is more than likely you will end up removing most of the as well. Look at AnalogX's vocal removal plugin for something to play with.

3. Lots of judicious editing. Often background music is lowered in volume behind dialogue. Very careful cutting can remove enough of it the new background music can hide the residue. This is slow going and needs care and time.

[painkiller]

Darkzero297,

Depending on the audio software you have, or can get, there are certain ways to minimize (almost eliminate) vocals from a soundtrack. Or certain instruments as well.
What you are looking for in audio software is a parametric equalizer.
Basically, you 'tune' it for the frequencies you want to inhibit/reduce from the audio source so you hear the rest of it (minus what you are dropping out).

I am not sure what free software may have this kind of equalizer, try Audacity and some others.
If you can afford it, and feel you will use it a lot in the future, I would suggest Sound Forge.
What this software, you could load in a DVD video with surround audio tracks (5.1, 6.1 or 7.1) in separate editable tracks.
You could easily copy one, or stereo tracks from this into a new file thereby separating from vocals and other effects.

Sound Forge also has different equalizer abilities, including parametric. But it is pricey.
I consider it the "PhotoShop" for audio.

[INFRATOM]

completely as mentioned is not possible, even with equalizer it will damp part of the music too, like voice is from lets say 1500 to 3000 hz if you lower it the music will also loose that part. Some themes repeat so maybe get pieces without voice and effects and cut and paste your theme. If you get the notes correctly it wouldn't be too bad. Professional studios can do it I have seen with some old music people talking and it was restored and it was hard to tell. I guess they hand paint part of the music or something.

[darkzero297]

Ok, I already have Audacity and I found an option in the effects tab called "Equalization". You have to select a portion of the audio though. I guess I'm just gonna have to test what to do. Thanks, any other tips would be helpful.

[AlanHK]

Ok, I already have Audacity

See http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php?title=Vocal_Removal

NB -- try the latest "Beta" 1.3.7 of Audacity. It has a lot of improvements over the "Stable" version 1.2.x. Unless of course it crashes, but in my experience it's pretty solid.

[painkiller]

darkzero297,

Infratom isn't entirely incorrect - but what he doesn't know is that I own and use Sound Forge.
It does a fine job.

Also, even back in High School (60's, 70's), our choral instructor had equipment (parametric equalizer) that did an outstanding job of removing vocals in real-time.

Somebody needs to do his homework.

[zoobie]

You'd probably be better off making a short audio clip and letting people identify the music at cd freaks or somesuch.

[guns1inger]

I also use Sound Forge, and have for years, and even with it's range of tools, removal of a single element always comes at a cost to surrounding audio. It is not a seamless removal.