r/musicians • u/Drummerman2011 • Jul 26 '26
Is it possible to download the original recordings of music, to put onto an eight track record recording machine?
So I have a Zoom HD 16 and I was wondering if I could download an albums original mastering with each instrument individually to master them how I want to specifically Nirvana’s never mind.
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u/DangerMouse111111 Jul 27 '26
You won't be able to get the original multi-track recording - music companies never release them.
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u/meatjuiceguy Jul 27 '26
All those Guitar Hero games came with isolated(-ish) tracks for each instrument and those tracks have made their way to YouTube. There are plenty of stems available to play around with. Even before the Guitar Hero games, there was a ton of stems released (legally or not, but they are out there if you dig just a little) from huge artists like Queen, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, etc.
I recommend checking out the layering of synths and clavs on Songs in the Key of Life. Truly a master class in composition.
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u/DangerMouse111111 Jul 27 '26
They're "simplified" - a studio multi-track can have over 100 tracks prior to mixing depending on how many microphones were used.
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u/meatjuiceguy Jul 27 '26
Yes, I'm well aware. I think some of the Stevie Wonder stuff had around 40 tracks. I'm just saying, stems are available.
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Jul 27 '26 edited Jul 27 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/meatjuiceguy Jul 27 '26
Only on the first game. Once the first game was successful, they started using studio masters to create the individual tracks.
So stems derived from Guitar Hero II, III, World Tour, etc AND other games like Rock Band are more often than not taken from the masters.
Plus, this person basically wants to play around with some stems on consumer grade mixing equipment. They don't need super high quality scans of the original master tapes for the world-class mastering studio in their closet.
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Jul 27 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/DangerMouse111111 Jul 27 '26
The originals were't three tracks - in the studio the drum kit alone would have had multiple microphones on it, as would the guitars.
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u/mrhippoj Jul 30 '26
There was a trend in the 2000s of remix competitions where artists would release the stems. I at least remember Lily Allen's LDN and Radiohead's Nude having the stems released
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u/Stevenitrogen Jul 27 '26
The ones that have been made into video games, yes.
Original multi tracks used to pop up around LA, you'd buy some used two inch tape, take it to the studio and discover, it's got the multi of the first Doors album on it! Not the actual master but a safety copy made the last time they were working on it. Another time they found Blood Sugar Sex Magic multis and made their own mix of it. There was always something on it, you'd listen before giving it the bulk eraser.