If you’re into music production, remixing, or simply want to isolate individual elements of a track (like vocals, drums, bass, etc.), separating a song into its components or “stems” can be incredibly helpful. Traditionally, this process was only accessible to those with expensive studio equipment or software separate vocals from music. However, with advancements in AI and online tools, you can now separate a track into stems for free. In this post, we’ll show you how to do it and recommend some of the best free tools available.
What Are Stems?
In music production, a stem refers to a group of related audio tracks that make up a part of a song. For example, stems could be:
- Vocals (lead vocals, background vocals)
- Drums (kick, snare, hi-hats)
- Bass
- Guitar
- Keys
- FX
Having stems allows you to manipulate individual elements of the song, which is essential for remixing, mastering, or even just understanding how the song was constructed.
Why Separate Tracks into Stems?
There are numerous reasons why you might want to split a track into its individual stems:
- Remixing: You can isolate different parts of the song to create your own version or remix.
- Music Production: You can take elements from the track and incorporate them into your own projects.
- Learning: Isolating individual parts of a song can help you understand how the song is structured and improve your production skills.
- Mastering: If you’re looking to master a song, having the individual stems allows for better control over each element during the mixing process.
How to Separate Any Track into Stems for Free
Now, let’s get into the practical side of things. Here are some tools and methods you can use to separate any track into stems for free.
1. Spleeter by Deezer
Spleeter is an open-source AI tool developed by Deezer, a popular music streaming service. It uses deep learning to separate audio tracks into multiple stems.
How to Use Spleeter:
- Step 1: Go to the Spleeter GitHub page and download the tool. You’ll need Python installed on your computer to use it.
- Step 2: Once you have Spleeter set up, run it through your command prompt or terminal, and simply input the track you want to separate.
- Step 3: Spleeter will process the track and give you the option to download the stems (typically separating vocals, drums, bass, and other instrumental elements).
While it may seem technical, there are several tutorials available online to guide you through the process.
2. Moises.ai
Moises.ai is an online platform that uses artificial intelligence to separate any song into its stems. It’s one of the most user-friendly options for beginners and professionals alike.
How to Use Moises.ai:
- Step 1: Go to Moises.ai and create a free account.
- Step 2: Upload the track you want to separate. The platform supports a wide variety of file types.
- Step 3: Moises.ai will automatically separate the track into individual stems, such as vocals, drums, bass, etc.
- Step 4: You can then download the separated stems and use them in your projects.
Moises offers a free tier with some limitations on how many tracks you can process per month, but it’s still an excellent tool for hobbyists and small-scale projects.
3. X-Minus.pro
X-Minus.pro is another free AI tool for separating tracks. It’s simple to use and can isolate vocals, instruments, and other elements of the song.
How to Use X-Minus.pro:
- Step 1: Visit the website and upload the track you want to separate.
- Step 2: Select the type of stems you want (vocals, drums, bass, etc.).
- Step 3: Download the stems once the process is completed.
While this tool is easy to use, it does have some limitations on the free plan in terms of the number of tracks you can process.
4. Audacity with Stem Separation Plugins
Audacity is a free, open-source audio editing software that’s widely used for basic to advanced audio editing. While Audacity doesn’t have built-in stem separation, there are plugins and third-party tools that can help.
How to Use Audacity for Stem Separation:
- Step 1: Install Audacity on your computer.
- Step 2: You can use plugins like Spleeter for Audacity or Isolation plugins that separate stems by isolating different frequencies in the track.
- Step 3: Once you’ve set it up, you can import the song into Audacity and begin the separation process.
While this method requires a bit more work and technical know-how, it can be a great solution if you’re comfortable with audio editing software.
5. AI Music Separation Tools on YouTube
There are also a number of AI-driven tools available directly on YouTube. These channels offer free services to split tracks into their stems. Some popular channels include:
- LALAL.AI – They have a YouTube page with tutorials and examples of stem separation.
- AI Vocal Remover – A tool that focuses mainly on vocal separation.
You simply upload your track and the AI does the rest.
Final Thoughts
Separating a track into its individual stems has never been easier, thanks to advances in AI and free software tools. Whether you’re working on a remix, mastering your track, or learning about music production, these tools can help you get the job done without needing expensive software.
While some of these methods may require a bit of technical setup or limitations in free access, they offer powerful capabilities for separating audio tracks into stems without breaking the bank.
Give It a Try!
Ready to start separating tracks? Choose one of the tools mentioned above and experiment with some of your favorite songs! The ability to manipulate individual stems opens up a world of creative possibilities, and with these free tools, the barrier to entry has never been lower. Happy music-making!
