Is it possible to extract vocals from a song?

[Jono-60]

When I say extract vocals, I don't mean remove them. I want the vocals without the background music.

I've tried searching for acapella samples but can't find it.

[EdC]

I don't know if there is a software or plugin that do this but in a complete stereo mix the only things you can do is to play with filters and phase.
The best method is to find an instrumental version of your song (it must be exactly the same song, same mix and same mastering..) and sum it to the song with vocals but phase reversed; this method should give you the best results.
Otherwise you could play with your L and R channels but I don't know how much technical I can go.. I try giving you an extreme example to understand: if you take a classic rock song you have vocals in center and guitars panned completely to sides; if you reverse the phase of one channel you'll erase the voice (the mono component of your mix). To obtain the opposite (keep vocals) you should create a MS setup (you need a mixer with busses or a good DAW); in this way you can separate mono and stereo components from your song. In our example if you mute the S element of your mix (side) you cancel out guitars and keep vocals. If there are other instruments in the center of your song (bass, bass drum and alike) you can filter them with hipass EQs and sidechain compressors
If the song is mono or has a lot of things in the center there is a little you can do..

[EdC]

PS: you can find a lot of documentation on MS recording in the net. It's used basically as a stereo mic recording setup but the decoding process can be used to separate part of your mix based on space rather than frequencies.

[MA-Simon]

If you are after acapella samples you should also check out this: http://www.soundprovocation.com/creative-tools.html

[thecontrolcentre]

Have a look at MashTactic ...
http://www.quikquak.com/Prod_MashTactic.html

[DrApostropheX]

Melodyne can be used to extract and isolate vocals, but it's not something you do quickly:

http://www.celemony.com/cms/index.php?i ... el.php#top

And then click on the "De- and Re-mixing a Vocal Phrase" tutorial.

[lingyai]

Have a look at MashTactic ...
http://www.quikquak.com/Prod_MashTactic.html

+1

[osiris]

There is, but it's hit and miss and VERY hard. What you end up with is a highly filtered vocal that sounds like a radio signal from Mars played through a drainpipe.

[lingyai]

There is, but it's hit and miss and VERY hard. What you end up with is a highly filtered vocal that sounds like a radio signal from Mars played through a drainpipe.

[EdC]

....played through a drainpipe.

of this kind:

[osiris]

Oh my. That has to be Barcelona. God, I loved Barcelona.

[EdC]

This is Dresden, Germany. Agreed on Barcellona

sorry for the little OT

[Doug1978]

When I say extract vocals, I don't mean remove them. I want the vocals without the background music.

I've tried searching for acapella samples but can't find it.

Not yet (as least not to any great, clean degree). Give it a few years though and I think someone like Celemony etc might nail it perfectly.
It's pretty much the holy grail.

[risome]

No

[Krakatau]

Sonicwork isolate, though it is very expensive and still far from perfect IMO, IS anyway clearly designed for sound extraction :

http://www.sonicworx.com/sonicWORX/About.html

some sound examples :

http://soundcloud.com/user7421656

...but mac only i'm afraid