Experts are using AI to pick apart classic recordings from the 50s and 60s, isolate the instruments, and stitch them back together in crisp, bold ways.
How Audio Pros ‘Upmix’ Vintage Tracks and Give Them New Life
James Clarke, initially a software programmer at Abbey Road Studios, embarked on a quest in 2009 to isolate individual instruments from old tape recordings. Despite skepticism from veteran engineers, Clarke's determination led him to the forefront of upmixing—a field employing machine learning to "demix" voices and instruments into separate tracks, known as stems. This challenging task resembles unswirling paint rather than using scissors. Once stems are obtained, engineers can "upmix" them, enhancing elements like drum tracks or creating a capella versions of songs, showcasing the transformative possibilities of upmixing in the realm of audio engineering.
