Establish the backing
Play B’s instrumental. If you loop an eight-beat passage, it repeats four times across these eight bars. Set the level before introducing the voice.
Creative mixing & performance
How to make a mashup on your phone
Combine a vocal from one track with the instrumental from another. Use Stemz, loops and the two decks in edjing Mix.
What is a mashup?
A mashup combines recognisable parts of different songs. A remix reworks a song’s arrangement or sound. This guide covers a live vocal-and-instrumental mashup.
Start with one vocal phrase over a new backing track before extending the arrangement.
Track AThe vocal
Track BA new instrumental
Choose compatible tracks
Use supported audio files and check access to Stemz and recording in your app. Spotify tracks cannot be used for stem separation or recording.
- Vocal: choose a clear phrase with space between the lines.
- Instrumental: choose a steady groove. Mute its vocal with Stemz if needed.
- Tempo and key: start with similar BPM and check that the vocal fits the instrumental’s harmony.
Build your mashup
Load the two tracks
Load the vocal track on deck A and the backing track on deck B. Locate the vocal’s entry point and the start of the instrumental passage.
Separate with Stemz
On A, keep the vocal and mute or lower the other elements. On B, mute the vocal to leave the instrumental. Check each deck separately; stem controls vary by version.
Match tempo and phrasing
Match tempos with Sync or the tempo controls. Play B, then start A so the vocal fits the instrumental phrase. Listen to the timing and rehearse the entrance.
Balance the vocal and backing
Adjust the deck levels so the vocal stays clear. If the instrumental passage is too short, loop it and check that the repeat stays in time.
Finish the phrase
Let the vocal phrase end, then fade A while B continues. Try a brief effect for the exit and switch it off afterwards.
Perform a 32-bar mashup
For this exercise, choose a 16-bar vocal passage on A and a steady backing on B, both in 4/4 at a shared tempo. Audition the harmonic fit before building the routine.
Introduce the vocal
Trigger A so its 16-bar vocal passage fits this section. Allow for any pickup before bar 9. Keep the voice clear without pushing the combined level higher.
Resolve the phrase
Let the vocal finish and fade A. Continue B, releasing its loop at a rehearsed boundary if you want the arrangement to move forward.
Use the first take to check timing. On the next, vary the backing under one vocal phrase: reduce its drums, then restore them at a section change. Keep the entrance and ending fixed so you can compare the arrangement.
Shape the arrangement
Balance the vocal and backing first, then experiment with the arrangement.
Give the vocal more room
Lower the backing when the vocal enters. Try removing the drums for a phrase, then restore them at the next section.
Loop a rhythmic passage
Repeat a passage with a loop. Check that the length suits the vocal phrase, then release it at a section change.
Refine the result
The melody clashes
Matching BPM does not guarantee compatible keys. Try another backing track or a passage with fewer melodic parts.
The vocal has separation artifacts
Separation quality depends on the source recording. Check the vocal within the mix and try another passage if artifacts remain distracting.
The mix sounds crowded
Mute any competing lead vocal. Lower the backing and remove unnecessary effects to give the main vocal space.
Record your mashup
Return to your starting points and start audio recording. Perform the mashup, then stop and save. Recording requires supported files and access to the feature.
The saved file contains the combined performance, not separate editable stems. Listen back to check the vocal entrance, levels and ending.
Place the mashup in your set
Choose the role of the routine: introduce a familiar vocal, change the texture or create the high point. Rehearse the transition into it and the track that follows, so the mashup connects to the rest of the performance.
Questions & answers
Frequently asked
Can I make a mashup on iPhone or Android?
Yes. edjing Mix includes Stemz on both platforms. Access and controls depend on your version and offer.
Do I need an acapella file?
No. Stemz can isolate the vocal from a supported track. Separation quality depends on the original recording.
Can I use Spotify tracks?
No. Spotify tracks cannot be used for stem separation or recording. Check the music sources page for alternatives.
How is a mashup different from a transition?
A transition moves between tracks. A mashup combines their musical parts into a new arrangement, which can be performed within a DJ set.