Subject:Vocal Eraser--Why Grayed-Out?

Posted by: thirdnostril

Date:3/17/2009 8:20:51 AM

Do I need to download something else?

Subject:RE: Vocal Eraser--Why Grayed-Out?

Reply by: TLF

Date:3/18/2009 9:40:19 AM

You need to download the vocal eraser plugin and run the installer.

However, you DON'T get the Vocal Eraser with the version of SFAS that comes with Movie Studio Platinum. You have to upgrade to the 'full' version of SFAS.

Have a look at this knowledge base article: http://tinyurl.com/SFAS9

Subject:RE: Vocal Eraser--Why Grayed-Out?

Reply by: thirdnostril

Date:3/18/2009 11:17:02 AM

Thanks!

Subject:RE: Vocal Eraser--Why Grayed-Out?

Reply by: TLF

Date:3/18/2009 12:10:15 PM

It had me stumped for a while, too.

The great thing is, you can use the Vocal Eraser directly from within Vegas, too, which incredibly useful (for me, at least).

Subject:RE: Vocal Eraser--Why Grayed-Out?

Reply by: jumbuk

Date:3/18/2009 10:50:40 PM

Question: how good is Vocal Eraser? I am a SF Pro user (which doesn't include VE). On occasion, I have tried the standard trick of mixing Left channel with out-of-phase Right channel, without much success. Does VE really do what it says?

Subject:RE: Vocal Eraser--Why Grayed-Out?

Reply by: TLF

Date:3/19/2009 12:34:00 AM

It really depends on the source material. If the track is filled with reverb, then it won't do so well.

However, it's reasonably good for my needs. Not quite as configurable as I'd like, but nevertheless, it does the job. And you can invert its function such that the vocals remain, but the music is removed.

I first came across this type of tool when using Adobe Audition. Here it's the Center Channel Extractor, so I think it is looking for Dolby encoded surround sounds. The Adobe version has many more options, and gets marginally closer to full vocal removal when you start to tweak the settings. But make a mistake and you're damned! For the price, SFAS does an outstandingly good job.

However, I have Audition CS2; none of the CS2 applications much like Vista x64, and I can't afford to upgrade. So, with an entitlement to an upgrade to VMS9 AND the 35% discount, I was able to purchase Audio Studio (then upgrade SFAS to obtain the VE plug-in) at a stupidly low price.

So, yes, it does a good enough job for me. I tend to use the tracks as background music in my home videos, so perfect vocal removal isn't necessary.

Some songs I've recently butchered...

A Windmill in Old Amsterdam (children's song) - excellent removal of vocals.
Mirrors (Sally Oldfield) - very good
Don't Ask Me (Public Image Limited) - mediocre
Salisbury Hill (Peter Gabriel) - Excellent
Just can't get enough (Depeche Mode) - useless!

Subject:RE: Vocal Eraser--Why Grayed-Out?

Reply by: DaveM

Date:3/19/2009 3:21:04 AM

+1 for the Vocal Remover. Originally bought SFAS then upgraded, so now have it in SF and I've got to say I'm glad it's there.

I know it may not be considered "professional", but it has been very handy for some "non-professional" tasks like childrens concerts etc where the results are more than acceptable if you tweak it a bit - (again very much dependent on the original track).

I did a track recently for a friend who was trying to use the Audacity VR plugin but had no luck. Out of interest, I downloaded Audacity and had a go with it just for comparison. The Sony/iZotope plugin is way better IMO.

Subject:RE: Vocal Eraser--Why Grayed-Out?

Reply by: TLF

Date:3/19/2009 5:44:06 AM

I've compared the results from the Vocal Remover and Audacity. Although Audacity has more tweaks available, and better results can be achieved, I'm finding that the Male, female, Bass, Tenor, Alto etc settings make it easier for me to create a sound that I prefer.

Subject:RE: Vocal Eraser--Why Grayed-Out?

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:3/19/2009 1:05:43 PM

I find Sony Vocal Eraser to best the best combination of easy use and good results. I bought Voice Trap, which =has all sorts of controls that are not well explained, and no presets, and though possibly potentially better it a bugger to learn.

VE is far more sophisticated that a simple centre-removal. However it is not magic, and cannot do much to tracks with highly panned, effected, or otherwise spacially-treated main vocals. Nothing can - short of a remix !

geoff

Subject:RE: Vocal Eraser--Why Grayed-Out?

Reply by: thirdnostril

Date:3/24/2009 8:08:55 AM

So I have the serial from the free SFAS that cme with VMSP.

I also independently upgraded months ago. Should be available, right?

But no matter which serial I use, it stays grayed out.

Does anyone know a workaround?

Thanks in advance--Kevin

Subject:RE: Vocal Eraser--Why Grayed-Out?

Reply by: DaveM

Date:3/24/2009 11:00:03 AM

I could be wrong but I think the vocal eraser plugin isn't included in the SFAS version of VMSP.
What was your upgrade from/to?

Subject:RE: Vocal Eraser--Why Grayed-Out?

Reply by: thirdnostril

Date:3/24/2009 1:39:24 PM

Audio Studio 6 to Audio Studio 9. I should have this, shouldn't I?

Subject:RE: Vocal Eraser--Why Grayed-Out?

Reply by: DaveM

Date:3/28/2009 4:48:56 AM

Yeah, I imagine that if you uprgrade to a full retail version of SFAS, you should get the vocal eraser. When I bougt SFAS I got 2 serial numbers, one for SFAS and one for the voacal eraser plugin. If you didn't get 2 numbers then it's not the full version.
How did you get SFAS V9, did it come with VMSP? (I'm assuming you had SFAS V6 from some time previous.) If so, then it does not include the vocal eraser.

Subject:RE: Vocal Eraser--Why Grayed-Out?

Reply by: thirdnostril

Date:4/1/2009 11:22:38 AM

Firt I upgraded from Audio Studio 6. Then I purchased VMSP, so I have 2 Audio Studio 9 serials.

If a 6-to-9 upgrade isn't a "full" upgrade, what is?

Subject:RE: Vocal Eraser--Why Grayed-Out?

Reply by: Phylter

Date:4/1/2009 9:41:59 PM

It would seem to me that they would have given you a serial number for Vocal Eraser. They did me. Maybe you should contact customer service to find out for sure?

Subject:RE: Vocal Eraser--Why Grayed-Out?

Reply by: DaveM

Date:4/2/2009 8:18:14 AM

Yeah... regardless of your VMS purchase, you upgraded to SFAS 9 in which case you should have got the vocal eraser. Like Phylter says, contact CS and ask for the vocal eraser serial number.

Just a thought though. That means you have 2 SFAS V9's (one you bought as an upgrade, one you got free wih VMS). Correct?
Are you using the serial number for the 'full' upgrade version and are you sure you didn't get a serial numer for the vocal eraser when upgraded from SFAS V6 to V9?
Sorry if these seem stupid questions. Dave