Beginner Looking for Stems

[This-Guy]

I'll be truthful, I'm new to the entire song making process. So new, that i thought I could take any old mp3 and convert it into a Rock Band song. Should've guessed it wouldn't be that easy.
I now know that it is necessary to have song stems in order to make a "complete" Rock Band song. This is not a problem for budding musicians who record their own music, but it is a nightmare for hobbyists like myself.
Let me put things into focus, I do NOT plan to market RBN songs. I simply wanted to make a couple custom songs from some of my favorite bands for personal use and enjoyment. But since I don't have stems, this is impossible.
So I guess I have two questions:
1. Are there any good sites that allow me to download song stems?
2. Is there any way to take a regular mp3 and convert it into individual stems?

I probably sound really stupid right now.

[wesjett08]

So I guess I have two questions:
1. Are there any good sites that allow me to download song stems?
2. Is there any way to take a regular mp3 and convert it into individual stems?

1: No and if you do find one it's probably illegal, though you might have good luck searching sites the run remix contests.
2. Can you break a cake back down to it's ingredients after it's been made? : ) ... Same applies for songs. You need the stems(ingredients) to make up the final mixed song(cake).

http://www.indabamusic.com is a good site that runs remix contests from time to time so you might have some luck there.

[kingtonyx]

the RBN site has stems for "Don't Let Me Down (Slowly)" by The Main Drag in the Downloads section

http://creators.rockband.com/reaper_...ample_Song.zip

[TubaDude49]

2. Can you break a cake back down to it's ingredients after it's been made? : ) ... Same applies for songs. You need the stems(ingredients) to make up the final mixed song(cake).

Actually with "Toast", I had to break it down from a single recording, as there was only one stem. That turned out fine but it's a extremely rare case

[Zemanator]

well, all the people who make customs? they do it off of the MP3 for the most part, and it is possible to make guitar/drum customs off of MP3s other instruments may be harder.

however, it is illegal to distribute anything you do create, and customs in general are frowned upon in this community..

[LiveHomeVideo]

Make your own song while making stems. That way you don't have to pay the artist. That's what I started out doing.

Or if it must be another artist, you will have to ask the artist, and you'll have to release them. But a lot of bigger artists are under labels that are against RBN, such as Road Runner, WMG, and more that I don't feel like making a long list of. Start locally or with internet-based artists.

[bwestplaysdrums]

A growing number of bands are releasing audio stems for some of their tracks, usually for fans to remix the song. There's a decent list available here but there's plenty more than that - just off the top of my head, Thrice and Protest The Hero have both done similar contests in the past, and Lamb of God actually released stems for an entire album.

So, while you can't just obtain stems for any song you like, there's plenty of artists that have (legally!) available stems for you to practice with.

Or better yet, write your own music, or find a talented and aspiring band in your area and take the plunge getting involved with RBN in an official manner.

[HMXLachesis]

I'll be truthful, I'm new to the entire song making process. So new, that i thought I could take any old mp3 and convert it into a Rock Band song.

The Rock Band Network (and the associated tools) are specifically designed and licensed for rights holders putting their music out for sale in Rock Band (whether it's through an authoring house, or by authoring the music themselves). Any other use is a violation of the terms and conditions, and, consequently, further discussion isn't appropriate here.

Closing this thread now.