Getting Started With Stems & Traktor, Part 2: Using Vocals

Stems is an immensely exciting format, and with the Traktor Kontrol S5, Native Instruments has a nice, accessible controller for “the masses” to get involved. And so we carry on this series of mini-tutorials on Stems with that model. From the feedback you are giving us, you’d like some advice on what to do with Stems… and the controller most of you are asking for that help on is the Kontrol S5.

About the series

In the last tutorial, we picked half a dozen tracks from those currently commercially available that have a nice contrast (different genres, keys, different types of vocal, and so on), to use throughout the rest of the course.

Today we’re looking at isolating vocals in Stems tracks for creative mixing. Along the way we’ll look at volume, filters, FX, a technique for keeping your set flowing while using stems, and touch on the importance of key and harmony when mixing with vocals.

Tutorial video

Note: You don’t have to buy the same Stems files I bought, just go for contrast, a range of genres, and obviously get a few vocals in there too – and try and buy some in the same or harmonically compatible keys.

Check out the other videos in this Stems series:

• Getting Started With Stems & Traktor, Part 1: Choosing Stems
• Getting Started With Stems & Traktor, Part 3: Kontrol D2 & DVS
• Getting Started With Stems & Traktor, Part 4: Using With The Kontrol S4

Got any questions about shopping for Stems, or getting them onto your machine, into Traktor and mixing with them? Ask away, we’ll be more than happy to help you out.