Is there a way to compare two tracks?

[Facade&Intention]

Hi,

I'm relatively new to Audacity, and I was wondering if there is a way to compare two tracks and get the difference.

If you don't understand (Which is very understanable ), what I mean is if I had a full track of a song, and an instrumental track that is identical to the full track except it has no vocals, is there a way to compare the two tracks and get the difference (in this case the vocals)?

Thanks,

Facade & Intention.

[Irish]

In theory, yes,

BUT

The instrumental track and the instrumental part of the full track would have to be identical, and that means taken from the same master recording, not changed in any way, not mixed differently, no effects or equalisation added - absolutely bit-for-bit identical.

Otherwise it won't work.

PO'L

[Facade&Intention]

Right, well, I don't think that my tracks are bit-for-bit identical, so it won't work. But out of interest, how would one "compare" the tracks or whatever it might be called?

[Irish]

What you would do is this:

Import the full track and the instrumental track as separate tracks in Audacity.
Select the instrumental track and use Effect > invert. This turns the track upside-down so that what were positive peaks are now negative peaks and vice versa.
Select both tracks and use Project > Quick Mix (in 1.2) or Tracks > Mix and Render (in 1.3) to add the two tracks together. However, since you inverted the instrumental track, it adds the positive peaks of the instrumental part of the full track to the negative peaks of the instrumental track, so that they cancel out, leaving you with just the vocals.

... in theory.

PO'L

[Facade&Intention]

Hmm... I thought it might be something to do with inversion.

Thanks.