Remixes have become an essential part of the music industry. Music itself is a derivative of inspiration; there’s a good chance you have always felt that a song could benefit from specific tweaks.
You may even participate in a remix contest, which can be an excellent opportunity for you to make your mark as a producer. So, here are few basics to get you started.
Picking the right song to remix is the first place to get you started. Pick something you really feel could be taken up a notch with some work, something that has instantly sparked your creative side.
Sound editing software is where you will do all your work and serve as your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). If you are on a budget, Audacity is free software that works pretty well. But if you can stretch, Ableton is a good one to help you with live performances as well.
Before you get started, do make sure you are not infringing upon any copyrights. You can always have a look at the United States Copyright law before you dive right in. Another way is to obtain permission from the original label/artist by getting in touch with them in a professional, non-intrusive way.
If specific ideas did come to your mind while you were listening to the original track, it always helps to note them because inspiration is volatile. You can also focus on what kind of audience you are targeting. If you are participating in a remix contest, think about what they are looking to give you ideas on getting started.
Train Your ears
Taking a good listen to the original track will give you a good headstart on finding gaps. If you are using Ableton, you can also check for warping. You should have good practice for all of these, so your ears can pick up the workable areas quickly.
Getting creative with the stems is a great place to get started with processing. If you are in a contest, they should have provided you with a folder of the stems. Even if you don’t have access to the stems, you can find them on websites that run official remix contests, such as SKIO, Indaba Music, and Meta Pop.
Once you have the stems, you will know how to isolate vocals, and which stems could be brought a little more to the foreground, what sounds you should mask. Use what you need.
If you are entering a remix contest, you should know that they will be receiving several entries. So, make sure your work should stand out. It should respect the original track and add your unique signature to it, giving the original more shelf life. That’s the kind of balance you need to find.
Create a blueprint first, and then add your signature elements to it by experimenting with different effects in your DAW and playing around with different styles. Again, this is where your ears are your best friends.
Once You have these basics in place, you can go about reconstructing your track. Once you are satisfied with it, export it to a WAV or AIFF file to normalize it to 99% and ensure all levels are at their highest point. Once you are done, you can encode an MP3 and wrap it up.
To the Moon and Back Soundland x Karla
Don’t let me be the last to know - Hex Hector Club Mix
Stayin Alive - Teddybears Remix
Heads will Roll - A-Trak Remix
Get Your Freak on - Jackknife Lee Remix