how do I edit the drum sequence out of pre recorded songs?

Question

Need to take apart some songs for a show. Using a live drummer at the club and so I have to take the drums out of all the songs. Any idea how this could be done? Is there a music editor that has this function? Alternatively, is this function online somewhere?

Answer 1

You can only do this if you have the original recordings (tapes or computer files) with the instruments on different tracks, unless the drums are 100% centered and everything else is panned. This isn't likely though. But if it is, then you can download the free open-source audio recorder/mixer/editor program Audacity, import the file, split the stereo track, make each track mono, and invert one track. This will greatly reduce the volume of anything that is completely centered. But, once again, this will only work if the drums are centered and everything else is panned.

Another suggestion is to have the live drummer play along with the loops. Some drummers actually do this, I even recently read an article about it in Modern Drummer. the drummer can stick to the looped beat, and then add to it. Sounds neat.

Answer 2

I can not be done. Not on pre-recorded songs.
The ONLY way to do it, is to have the master tracks where each instrument is still on seperate tracks.
Otherwise... nope, can't do it.