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How to make a remix from audio CD

First you'll need some basic items:

You should be able to find several shareware or freeware versions of editing and ripping software on the Internet. Try the Shareware Music Machine site.

Okay, now that you have your basics and have browsed the Help files of your software to get a quick idea of how to use it...

Simply choose a song from your CD collection that you want to remix. Don't obsess over which song. Just pick one you like. Your first remix probably won't be that good anyway? Right now your just having fun. See which track it is on the CD and using your ripping software extract a copy of that track to your hard drive. Now open the copy in your editing software.

Look for a short section of music without any vocals, this will be your starting loop. Select (highlight) a small portion of the song and Loop Play the selection. Not what your wanting? Then select different portions of the song until you find something you like.

Does it sound right, if there's a beat, is it steady? If not you need to be a bit more particular in selection your sample. Zoom in to be more accurate in your selecting.

When you find something you like, Copy it. Now open a second new window of your editing software for your remix file and Paste your selection into it. If you wish to save this as a sample do so now, then Paste it as many times as you want it to repeat.

Now play it. Do you like it? If not it's often easier, at this point, to start a new file rather than try to fix it. When you get something you like, Save it before you do anything else.

Okay, go back to the song, find and select your next section. Then Copy and Paste it to the end of your remix.

Next, see if your software can Mix Paste, most audio editors can. Look in it's Help file to see if and how to do this.

Find a section of vocals, or sound effects, where there is no music, or at least no beat. Copy and Mix Paste it on top of your remix. You'll probably need to experiment a few times.

Now, have some fun. Play with the different effect functions, your editor probably has at least a few. Apply different effects to different areas of your remix. Apply two or three effects on top of each other. You can, if you like, do this until you won't even recognize the song or singer.

All right, now your on your way. Happy remixing. Have fun.

Remember pre-recorded audio is copyrighted and should never be used commercially, or in its original entirety, without the permission of the copyright holder.


Creating samples

What is a sample?

It's simply a small piece of recorded sound, often called a sound bite.
You can find many around the Internet in WAV, MP3 and other formats.


How do I make a sample?

For me, the easiest way is to rip audio from a pre-recorded CD, but you can record any sound into your computer using a microphone or direct input from a sound device such as a synthesizer keyboard, tape deck, stereo, etc. Be sure to read the owner's manuals for the proper hookup procedure.

Once you have the sound digitized as a file in your computer you can open it in your audio editing software and manipulate it in whatever way your software is capable.

If I'm playing with CD audio my favorite samples are the portions of the song with the singer and no music, or at least no beat. If you can find CD singles with acapella versions by your favorite singers, your really in luck. Don't overlook the interview CD's either.


What I use:

Hardware:


Software: