Free Multitracks For Mixing Practice!

[triviul]

I recently noticed that there's a shortage of freely downloadable multitrack projects on the net for people to use for mixing practice. Yes, I’ve seen the NineInchNails/Radiohead multitracks, the Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix files, the Real World downloads, and various other well-publicised sources of multitrack projects, but I’ve noticed that the files usually suffer from one of three problems:

• they’re actually processed/effected stems, which means you can't properly work from scratch.
• they’re low-quality or data-compressed audio, which doesn’t respond well to further processing.
• they’re actually ‘remix packs’, in other words chunks of the multitrack which can’t properly be reassembled into a time-line.
• you can't tell what the song sounds like before you download it.

So I decided to do something about it, and over the past few months I've been building up an online library of more than 50 downloadable multitrack projects in a variety of different musical styles. These are provided as simple ZIP archives containing unprocessed WAV files at 24-bit/44.1kHz resolution, and there's an MP3 preview for each so that you can quickly browse through to find something that suits your tastes. And everything is free to download and use for mixing-practice purposes. Here's the link:

Library of Multitrack Downloads for Mixing Practice

I'm continuing to add further projects on a rolling basis, so contributions are always welcome -- if you're interested in donating something to the library, then just contact me via the site.

[Dan Worley]

What a wonderful resource for those who need it. Great job getting all that together and offering it up to people for free. Wow!!!

I just received your book today from Amazon. I'm looking forward to reading it from cover to cover. I never want to stop learning.

c-ya,

Dan Worley

[FMiguelez]

Thank you for that! It looks very interesting.

What kind of contributors are you looking for?

I am buying the book too. But the book is by Mike Senior. I take it you are you him?

[triviul]

What kind of contributors are you looking for?

Pretty much anyone who has unprocessed multitracks -- the stylistic range is very broad.

But the book is by Mike Senior. I take it you are you him?

That's right. Rubbish disguise, eh?

[FMiguelez]

But the book is by Mike Senior. I take it you are you him?

That's right. Rubbish disguise, eh?

In that case, welcome to the forum, Mike.

I must say I've learnt a LOT with your Mix Rescue columns. It looks like Dan and I will be mixing even better soon

I'll see if I have something interesting to contribute to your project.

[mjc]

Many thanks to Mike Senior for posting these resources. I'll certainly be giving them a go.

I'd also commend http://www.mixoff.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. Mike has had some involvement there.

I've had some fun with "Mixing The Hits Of Country", a book and DVDs by Dave Martin which includes multitracks and the final mixes. The book takes you through each track showing how the final mix was built up.

Mike

[Dark Goob]

Awesome. It's almost like you read my mind; I just logged in to ask if anyone knew a good place to find example projects.

Which brings me to this question: do you also have example DP project files available for these -- either online or on disc with your book?

Thanks!

[AnthonyS]

What kind of contributors are you looking for?

Pretty much anyone who has unprocessed multitracks -- the stylistic range is very broad.

But the book is by Mike Senior. I take it you are you him?

That's right. Rubbish disguise, eh?

Welcome to the board, Mike! Long time SOS subscriber here, and I look forward to each month's Mix Rescue and Studio SOS.

Recently bought your Mixing Secrets book, and have learned quite a bit from it. Thanks!

[triviul]

Glad that people are enjoying the multitracks, and thanks for all the kind words about the book!

Which brings me to this question: do you also have example DP project files available for these -- either online or on disc with your book?

Nothing DP specific, I'm afraid. I'm on a PC myself, so it's not really an option for me to put anything like this together. That said, I don't actually provide session files for any other specific DAWs with the book either -- it's designed to be pretty much platform-neutral, and the raw multitracks should import into practically any system pretty easily. (I know that some people have complained about the lack of DP in Mix Rescue too, and again, that's as much because I happen to use PC as anything. I'd be quite keen to do a DP Mix Rescue, in fact, if I could get hold of a loan system to do it on, simply because it's nice to vary the platform in Mix Rescue.)

[mjc]

Mike

I'd be happy to offer the use of my studio-based DP system if you like. I'm about 1hr 20mins from Cambridge. I'm running DP 7.24 on a fairly recent Mac Pro, which also has Logic 9.15, MachFive 3 and BFD2 installed.

Studio has plenty of space, and can easily accomodate any gear you care to bring.

You can PM me if interested.

Mike

[triviul]

I'd be happy to offer the use of my studio-based DP system if you like. I'm about 1hr 20mins from Cambridge. I'm running DP 7.24 on a fairly recent Mac Pro, which also has Logic 9.15, MachFive 3 and BFD2 installed.

Studio has plenty of space, and can easily accomodate any gear you care to bring.

That's really kind of you to offer, and were I still based in Cambridge I'd certainly try to take you up on that offer. However, I'm afraid I've recently moved to Munich in Germany, so I'm a bit far afield now!

If anyone from Munich is game, though, I am. Always fun to push the boundaries a bit!

[SixStringGeek]

Oh sweet! Thanks for this. BTW I also just ordered your book from amazon without realizing you are you. I don't have it yet, (couple days I think) but I'm looking forward to getting it.