The Top 3 Tools That Let You Remix Any Song: Our Favorite Software For Flips, Bootlegs, Mashups, And More

Creating unofficial remixes and bootlegs is one of the oldest ways producers and DJs have gotten their first bit of notoriety in the music industry. And while we are far separated from the wild-west days of SoundCloud’s peak, where you could upload anything and instantly have a bootleg go viral, it’s still a completely viable way to get your name out there and have unique music to play in your sets.

This is not to say that the golden days of remixing are behind us; I’d argue the complete opposite. With AI becoming more powerful than ever and music production becoming equally more accessible, we are experiencing a massive cultural shift in our perspective and notions of sampling and remixing.

The canary in the coal mine here is the massive number of companies creating their AI-driven stem separation tools left, right, and center. It seems like a new one is on the market almost every day (and most of them stink).

While we could make this a massive list with 15 different options for you to wade through when trying to decide what software you want to invest in for creating remixes, mashups, edits, and bootlegs, I wanted to take a different approach and break down the best three. No fuss, no BS, just high-quality software for you to start making amazing remixes with high-quality stems, regardless of genre.

So, let’s dive in.

DJ.Studio

DJ.Studio launched just over a year ago, at least when writing this article, and it’s truly wild to see just how far the software has come in that time. What started as a vision to create a DAW-like ecosystem for DJs and producers to create seamless DJ mixes has quickly evolved into one of the most powerful content creation tools aspiring artists can tap into.

Their latest update rolled out stem separation functionality, which I’ve found to be one of the best in the game. It separates the stems cleanly and quickly and leverages the software’s exporting options to export the tempo-synced stems directly into an Ableton project so you can start making a bootleg, edit, mashup, or unofficial remix. 

It’s better to think of this as the Swiff Army Knife tool that helps you make any stem-related content you need and then include it in a seamless DJ mix! 

While it’s easy to consider this predominantly focused on dance music and DJ mixes, stem separation can be used for any genre. I’ve used it to extract from Bon Iver, Novo Amor, and more to make unofficial edits and other random production stuff I was toying around with. 

And seeing as they offer a 14-day free trial period, you can stack up a massive library of stems you want to separate and remix, download the free trial, and extract all the stems to download whenever you find the time. However, I think you should look into investing in the full software, as I am serious about it being one of the more impressive pieces of software to hit the music industry in years (we did give it an editor’s choice award, after all – check that out in the full review below).

Learn More About DJ.Studio Here

RipX DAW PRO

RipX DAW PRO is the best on the market if you want to manipulate the stems for your remix or bootleg beyond the conventional means. RipX DAW PRO offers obscene levels of stem manipulation, adjusting pitch slides, noting changes in individual chords of the stems separated for you, a suite of FX to add more movement and space to the stems, and so much more. 

Not to hyperbolize it, but it does allow for the deepest and most integrated stem manipulation functionality on the market and completley upends the modern definition of sampling. 

Sure, it does have a little bit of a learning curve. Still, once you’ve mastered this software, you can take your favorite song, regardless of genre, separate the stems, manipulate just the given stems beyond recognition, and create an entirely new track. It’s legit that powerful.  

A few months ago, I invested in snagging the most premium version of RipX DAW PRO, and it’s one of the best investments I’ve made in my studio work in years. 

Not only does all the functionality mentioned above allow you to remix any song, but you can also pull out individual stems, atmosphere, and textures from your favorite tracks and affect them all within the software so heavily that they are completley new melodic and textural content to use in my original productions, which has yielded some of the coolest and more unique sounding tones and samples I’ve ever encountered and is my secret sauce for atmospheres in my tracks. 

Learn More About RipX DAW PRO Here

LALAL.AI

LALAL.AI primarily bills itself as a vocal removing software, but they’re an entirely browser-based stem separation tool software. The quality of the stems is pretty top-notch, but that’s not the real X-Factor that earned them the spot on this list. 

The real benefit of LALAL.AI is its shallow barrier of entry. Where the other software mentioned on this list requires an upfront investment, LALAL.AI requires you to pay as you go and buy time and credits to use on your needs. This is a massive benefit; you can get the stems for whatever song you want for just a couple of pennies. 

Another new benefit is that they recently rolled out vocal cloning technology that can help elevate your remixes of the stems you use to separate. Imagine working on a remix and having the singer create custom ad-libs and vocal shots to help support the isolated vocals you’re building the track around. That’s a pretty cool feature you can do entirely within their browser-based software. 

I’ve been a massive fan of this software for quick and easy stem separation without having to worry about busting out a third-party app or software. This can often throw me out of the creative zone when producing, and I want to snag a quick vocal or stem for a remix or bootleg I’m working on for my new gig. 

Learn More About LALAL.AI Here

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Bonus (Tools For Making Better Remixes)

Let’s do a quick rundown of some of the best creative tools for making remixes even better. These five tools are focused on flipping and manipulating audio in new and innovative ways, allowing you to get more mileage out of the stems you’ve isolated using the software and apps above. 

Shoutout to Enamour for these recommendations; check out his full interview through the link at the bottom of this section, and check out one of my favorite remixes he’s done, likely using many, if not all, of the tools mentioned in this section.

M4L GRANULATOR II

The Granulator II Max4Live device is popular among music producers for remixing. It is great for transforming audio samples, especially vocal chops and melodies. Users can stretch, pitch, and morph these elements easily. Producers often use the “FilePos” feature for precise tracking and adjust grain size randomly. This lets them explore vocal chops across the keyboard range. 

The Granulator II Max4Live is versatile and offers robust functionality in music production.

CECILIA5

Cecilia5 is a software known for its advanced sound processing capabilities. It is popular among music producers for transforming standard track elements into unique outputs. The software uses granular, spectral, and other advanced algorithms to create ambient drones or lead elements that differ significantly from the original material. In the production community, Cecilia5 is recognized for its ability to redefine sounds in a mix. 

ABLETON SAMPLER

Ableton’s Sampler is a powerful tool for music producers, often underestimated in remixing. It allows users to modify samples extensively by adjusting pitch, timing, shape, modulation, and filtering. The modulation panel offers many creative options. The Sampler also includes features like crossfading between samples and modulating the sample start point and loop length. Exploring Sampler can inspire producers with new ways to design sounds and experiment creatively.

ABLETON BEATREPEAT

Ableton’s BeatRepeat is popular among music producers for its remixing abilities. It can create variations and stutters in loops and rhythmic elements. This tool allows real-time audio manipulation by looping, scrambling, or repeating segments. It breathes new life into the original track’s loops, a common technique in remixing. BeatRepeat’s functionality provides a dynamic approach to remixing. It lets producers creatively alter and enhance a track’s rhythmic foundation, making it essential in the digital audio workstation of remix artists.

M4L GRANULATOR II

Tantra 2 is a multi-effect plugin music producers value for infusing creativity into sounds. It offers various effects like distortion, flanger, bit crushing, and delay. A key feature is creating rhythmic patterns with custom shapes and an FX sequencer. Tantra 2 is great for turning static elements into dynamic ones. It enhances sounds and is popular among producers aiming to improve their music production.

FAQ

Is it legal to remix a song?

Remixing is a common way for DJs and producers to gain attention and attract new listeners. However, following the law is crucial because the original music belongs to someone else.

To release a remix legally, you need permission from the owners of the original song, including the music recording and the lyrics. This involves contacting the artist, record label, or music publisher for approval. Sometimes, you may need to share profits with them.

To start a legal remix, identify the song’s owners, who are often found on music platforms like Spotify. Then, contact them via email to request permission. Be clear and respectful in your message. If they agree, they will provide guidelines, which may involve payment. Following these steps, you can share and sell your remix without legal issues.

What is the best DAW for remixing?

When choosing a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) suitable for beginners interested in remixing and producing original music, consider the following options, each with its unique strengths:

• Ableton Live: Known for its flexibility, it supports live performances and studio production. Its session view allows for intuitive clip launching and real-time arrangement, making it great for those interested in DJing. Ableton Live facilitates a wide range of audio manipulation and has an approachable learning curve.
• FL Studio: Celebrated for its user-friendly interface, FL Studio is ideal for beginners due to its straightforward layout and ease of use. It is particularly effective for creating electronic music and offers extensive tools and plugins that help newcomers achieve professional sounds quickly.
• Reaper: An affordable yet powerful alternative, Reaper is highly customizable and lightweight. It supports a vast range of plugins and is flexible enough to handle simple and complex projects, allowing users to tailor the software to their needs.

For those also interested in DJing, integrating a DAW like Ableton with hardware such as the Vestax VCI100 and a Novation Launchpad can provide a seamless experience suitable for performing live or creating mixes for personal enjoyment and small gatherings. Dedicated DJ software like Traktor can also be a good choice for purely DJing, especially for live audio manipulation and track blending.

Is it easy to remix a song?

Remixing songs is a unique form of art compared to creating original music. While it may seem more straightforward at times, the challenge lies in interpreting and transforming the original track, which can be overwhelming without the right approach. Unlike starting with a blank slate, remixing involves working with pre-existing materials, adding your flair without losing the essence of the original.

Here’s why you might choose to remix:

• Access to Professional Tracks: Remixing provides access to professionally produced material, offering a valuable learning experience in music composition.
• Career Opportunities: Winning a remix contest can significantly boost your reputation, open doors to label releases, and increase your visibility in the music community.
• Creative Expression: Remixes allow you to experiment and express creativity, potentially leading to unique versions that stand out and get noticed.

To succeed in remixing, consider these tips:

• Source Quality Material: Start with high-quality stems to ensure the best sound. Websites like SKIO and Indaba Music offer remix opportunities.
• Understand the Original: Knowing the BPM and key of the original track can help you align your remix correctly and maintain musical coherence.
• Be Yourself: Incorporate your unique sound and style to make the remix distinctively yours. Use personal presets and samples to give your remix a signature touch.

Remember, the goal of a remix is to bring something new to the table while respecting the original piece. Whether you aim to keep it similar or take it in a completely different direction, the key is to blend your creative instincts with technical skills to produce a remix that resonates with both new listeners and fans of the original.

Is it worth it to release unofficial remixes and bootlegs? 

Releasing unofficial remixes and bootlegs can help emerging artists gain exposure in the music industry. However, it’s important to be cautious due to potential copyright issues. Unofficial remixes are versions of songs made without permission. While they can boost recognition, they also risk copyright infringement, leading to removal from platforms like SoundCloud or YouTube.

To avoid legal issues, seek approval from original artists or labels. Changing the song significantly can sometimes prevent detection by automated systems. However, it doesn’t guarantee protection if copyright holders find out.

Despite risks, creating bootlegs and remixes can be rewarding. They showcase creativity and help build a following. Using them as a starting point and focusing on original work is wise. Remixes can also help new artists develop skills and define their unique sound.