Mixing vocals over an existing song may seem like a convenient and affordable solution for singers who want to record their favorite songs. However, this approach often leads to disappointing results, and many artists wonder why their voice doesn’t sound as good as they expected. The reason lies in the technical limitations of pre-mixed karaoke tracks compared to the flexibility of producing a song from scratch.
Why Mixing Vocals Over an Existing Song Can Sound weird
When you buy or download a backing track, it usually comes as a closed, pre-mixed product. This means the instruments have already been blended, equalized, and mastered to sound complete on their own. The problem arises when you try to add vocals on top of this finished mix.
Unlike a professional studio session where each instrument is recorded separately, a closed backing track leaves no room to adjust frequencies to make space for the voice. As a result:
The vocals can sound muffled or buried in the mix.
Low frequencies often clash with the singer’s recording.
The voice may feel detached from the music, almost like karaoke.
The overall sound quality is limited because the engineer can’t rework the track’s arrangement.
In other words, no matter how much mixing skill is applied, the final product will never reach the clarity and polish of a custom-made track.
Why a Custom backing track From Scratch Is Always Better
Producing a custom backing track from scratch ensures that the instrumental and vocals are designed to complement each other from the very beginning. Every element such as drums, bass, guitars, keyboards, and effects, is arranged with the singer’s style, tone, and dynamics in mind.
Some of the main benefits of custom productions include:
Perfect balance between voice and instruments.
Creative flexibility to adapt the arrangement to your vocal range and preferences.
Professional studio quality, with each instrument recorded and mixed separately.
A unique sound that feels personal, not just another karaoke version.
This approach guarantees that the singer’s voice shines as the central element of the mix, supported by an instrumental that enhances rather than competes with it.
When to Use an Existing Backing Track
Of course, mixing vocals over an existing backing track is not always a bad idea. It can work well for:
Quick demos to share ideas.
Casual recordings for fun or practice.
Budget-friendly projects where high-end quality is not essential.
However, if the goal is to create a professional production that truly represents the artist, investing in a full custom track is always the best choice.
Final Thoughts
While it may seem easier to rely on pre-mixed karaoke tracks, the reality is that mixing vocals over an existing backing track often leads to limited results. The voice struggles to fit into a space that was never designed for it, which reduces the overall quality of the song.
If you want your music to sound professional, powerful, and unique, the best solution is to create a custom track from scratch. That way, every detail of the arrangement and mix is tailored to your voice—delivering a final product you can be proud of.
If you’re coming from Superbackings.com, and you’re wondering if you can have instruments removed from our backing tracks, the answer is yes! We can remove instruments from any of our custom backing tracks. Read the article and if you have any doubt just send me an email.
“Some people prefer this approach over a full studio recording because it’s less expensive. Keep in mind, though, that removing an instrument doesn’t compare to recording everything from scratch. For practice sessions or just enjoying the song, however, it’s a perfectly suitable option.“
Have you ever wished you could practice with your favorite custom backing track but without certain instruments? Whether it’s removing the vocals to make a karaoke version, or taking out the guitar, sax, piano, bass, drums so you can play along, I offer a professional service to have instruments removed with the best quality possible.
No matter where you purchased the song — from our store or elsewhere — I’ll deliver the same high-quality work.
How I Remove Instruments Step by Step
1. Powered Stem Separation
I start by using advanced technology to separate the stems of your track. This step breaks down the song into different layers such as vocals, drums, bass, guitar, and other instruments.
2. Removing the Unwanted Instruments
Once the stems are separated, I carefully remove the non-desired instruments from the track. This is much more precise than standard online tools that often leave unwanted noise or artifacts.
3. Rebuilding the Sound from Scratch
AI separation sometimes removes small details from the music. To make sure your track sounds natural, I rebuild the missing elements using EQ, compression, reverb, and other professional studio effects.
4. Professional Remixing
Finally, I remix the entire song from scratch so the track doesn’t just sound “edited”, it sounds like a complete, polished mix. This ensures the final version is clean, powerful, and ready to use.
Price
You can place your order right now, and at a very affordable price! Simply use the link below, and if you have more than one song, just select the quantity. After completing your PayPal payment, send me an email with your music, and I’ll deliver your custom track within 24 hours.
I”m a professional audio engineer with more than 25 years of experience working in studios and live sound. Unlike cheap automatic tools, I’m an expert human mixing to deliver a result that feels natural and professional. If you’re a singer, musician, or just someone who loves music, this is the perfect way to get a custom version of your favorite song.
Many musicians, singers, and producers often ask me how to remove instruments from a song without damaging the quality of the original track. The truth is, removing instruments is not as simple as pressing a button, it requires the right tools, experience, and a detailed mixing process. Let me share a recent example that illustrates how I handle these projects.
The Challenge: Removing the Saxophone from the song
A customer recently asked me to remove the saxophone from a few original songs he sent me. He wanted clean versions to use as backing tracks. At first glance, it looked like a straightforward job, use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to separate the instruments and mute the sax.
But here’s the problem: when using AI, the software doesn’t just remove the instrument, it also removes part of the reverb and harmonics of the other instruments. This made the songs sound dry, unbalanced, and far from professional. Simply removing the instrument was not enough to make them sound fantastic.
The Solution: Mixing from the Ground Up
To achieve a professional result, I went further. I opened the stems (separated audio files) of the original song in my DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) and worked on each track individually.
Here’s what I did step by step:
Rebalanced each instrument to make sure the mix was even.
Restored harmonics and reverb that were lost during the AI removal process.
Applied EQ and compression to give clarity and depth.
Cleaned up unwanted noises and fixed minor sound issues.
Delivered a polished, professional mix that was ready to be used as a backing track.
The Result
By combining AI separation with professional mixing techniques, I was able to remove the saxophone while keeping the richness of the original song intact. The customer was very satisfied with the final product, it wasn’t just a track with the sax muted, it was a professional quality backing track that sounded natural and well-produced.
Final Thoughts
If you’re wondering how to remove instruments from a song, the answer is that AI tools alone are not enough. They are a great starting point, but achieving a high-quality result requires human expertise in audio mixing and production. Every song is unique, and sometimes restoring what the AI takes away is just as important as removing the instrument itself.
Some customers prefer this method instead of making the song from scratch because it’s cheaper. I just want to be clear: removing an instrument has no comparison with the real thing, which is recording everything from scratch. However, I completely understand that when it’s just for fun or practice purposes, this solution can be a great option.
If you’d like me to create a custom backing track from scratch or remove instruments from your favorite song, feel free to get in touch or visit my download store.
People often ask how much it cost making a custom backing track. It’s a fair question! But the price isn’t just about “getting an audio file.” You’re investing in years of skill, a finely tuned ear, professional equipment, and the time it takes to shape a track that’s truly yours. Below I’ll walk you through what goes into every project so you can understand the value behind the music.
It’s not just a product — it’s a craft
Every custom track is a mini-production: research, arranging, recording, editing, mixing, and mastering. That process is powered by seven pillars of expertise and investment.
1) Knowing all styles and genres (authenticity over “generic”)
Great backing tracks sound like the real thing. That means understanding the language of each genre:
Rock needs tight drums, crunchy guitars, and punchy bass.
Funk lives in the pocket syncopation, ghost notes, and groove.
Jazz calls for tasteful voicings, swing feel, and dynamics.
Latin, EDM, Pop, Gospel, Metal, Orchestral each has its own arrangement rules, sound palette, and performance nuances.
Genre fluency ensures your track feels authentic, not like a one size-fits-all template. That research and stylistic accuracy takes time, and it’s a big part of what you’re paying for.
2) Deep harmony knowledge (why every chord matters)
Harmony is the architecture of the song. Knowing diatonic and modal harmony, secondary dominants, borrowed chords, modulations, and voice-leading lets me:
Rebuild complex progressions accurately.
Choose voicings that support the melody.
Arrange parts so instruments fit together instead of fighting for space.
This is how your track feels rich, musical, and emotionally right whether it’s a simple four-chord groove or a dense orchestral progression.
3) The gift of listening and replicating (ear training + feel)
Replicating a reference isn’t just about the notes. It’s about:
A trained ear catches those tiny details that make your track sit right next to the original in energy and character. That ear isn’t an overnight skill—it’s cultivated over thousands of hours.
4) Professional equipment (the invisible investment)
Behind a clean, professional sound is a studio’s worth of gear:
Re-amping & signal flow (capturing DI, then shaping tone afterward).
Session organization (naming, color coding, bussing, gain staging).
Backup & versioning (so nothing gets lost and revisions are smooth).
Tech fluency keeps your project efficient and lets creativity move fast without sacrificing quality.
6) Premium plugins & virtual instruments (the modern sound palette)
Pro results rely on pro tools: compressors, EQs, reverbs, limiters, saturators, mastering suites, drum libraries, orchestral libraries, amp sims, synths, and specialty FX. These aren’t free, and keeping them updated and legit is part of professional standards.
Why it matters: Better tools mean cleaner mixes, more realistic instruments, and competitive loudness without distortion.
Your benefit: A track that can stand next to major releases in sheen and impact.
7) 25+ years of mixing & mastering experience
Experience is the difference between “pretty good” and “wow.” After a decade or more, you learn to:
Balance frequencies so vocals and instruments don’t mask each other.
Control dynamics so the track feels powerful but never harsh.
Make mixes that translate on phones, laptops, big speakers, and PAs.
Master tracks to consistent loudness while preserving punch and clarity.
This is where your song goes from a pile of sounds to a polished, inspiring performance bed.
You might wonder if ordering several songs lowers the price per track. Sometimes there’s room to streamline (shared templates, similar instrumentation), but ultimately you’re not buying something that’s already made “files”, you’re investing in time, skill, and a bespoke process for each song. Quality takes focused hours, and that’s what ensures your music sounds right every time.
What actually affects the quote
If you’re trying to estimate how much does it cost to make a custom backing track for your project, here are the biggest variables:
Song complexity & length (simple groove vs. intricate arrangement).
Instrumentation (live guitars/bass vs. full orchestration & sound design).
Vocal guides or backing vocals (if needed).
Turnaround time (rush deliveries require extra hours).
Number of revisions (I include fair revisions to get it perfect).
Stems on request for live mixing and extra flexibility.
Consistent naming & organization for easy use in your sessions.
Friendly communication to make sure the track matches your vision.
So, how much does it cost to make a custom backing track?
Every project is unique. Share a few details (style, references, key/tempo if known, length, deadline), and I’ll give you a clear, personalized quote.
Ready to talk about your project?
If you’re asking how much does it cost to make a custom backing track for your specific song, the best next step is simple: tell me what you need and I’ll tailor a quote to match the scope, timeline, and deliverables, no surprises, just great music.
