Question, maybe for Phase... but I welcome all hel

[Donaldito]

Okay, I'm new to the world of home recording. Actually, I can't even quite say I'm new; but I know it's something I'll be doing soon. I have a question about using samples.
Let's say, for instance, I want to create a song using one of Damon's drum tracks from any old song (I don't want to, I'm just creating an example). If I feed a section of the song into my editing software (again, keep in mind I've never tried this, I just want to know how it's done), how would I then be able to split out JUST that drum track? Is this possible? Is this question so obvious I shouldn't be asking it? Seriously though, be nice as I am curious about this.
I suppose I could guess that it has to do with what software I use. Maybe some software has this capability and some does not? Anyhow, any help/advice would be appreciated...

[brikelly]

Are you asking specifically about a drum track that has other instruments playing over it too? In that case, you're pretty much out of luck, unless you can somehow get your hands on the original unmixed master tapes.

Sound separation algorithms are improving, but isolation of an entire drum track involves separating many different frequencies, some of which coincide with the frequencies created by the guitars.

My friend is currently working on a really cool separation algorithm called "Azimuth Discrimination" which does sound separation based on the panned position of the sound in the stereo field, but since drums tend to be composed of multiple signals panned across from L to R, it would be tough to get anything out of it for drums IMO.

Hope that answers your question...

[ShawnPhase]

yeah..what brian said.

unless you can get into damons house, feed him drugs, and have him beat on the drums/pots and pans/tables (which he used to do a lot around here at mica when he used to wear a trench coat and carry drumsticks in his pockets) you will probably be out of luck...but you CAN isolate out enough of the things if you eq it just right. you probably wont be able to get everything out of it though...guitarwise that is.

phase

[doodle87]

I've actually always wondered the same thing.

[brikelly]

BTW, I'm soon to be coding up a VST plugin based on my friend's sound separation algorithm. I'll post a link here when it's done (early next year most likely).

As for this general problem - there are plenty of Don Cab songs where the drums are doing something on their own, with perhaps some minimal background noise. Load a track into a sound editor, chop out the exact hits you need and load 'em up as samples which you can trigger with MIDI. I've heard this done with Todd Trainer's drums and it sounded top notch!