How to Remove Vocal from a Song in Audacity [For Windows & Mac]

Part 1: How to Remove Vocals from a Song in Audacity on Windows

Starting from version 3.5.0, the 'Vocal Reduction and Isolation' effect is no longer available. However, Windows users can achieve more accurate vocal removal by using the AI plugin (OpenVINO Music Separation), which provides enhanced precision for isolating vocals from songs.

Step 1: Download and Install the AI Plugin

Download the Intel OpenVINO Music Separation plugin from https://www.audacityteam.org/download/openvino/

Click to run the installer to install OpenVINO Music Separation AI plugin.

Step 2: Enable the Plugin in Audacity

Launch Audacity, then go to "Edit → Preferences → Modules".

Enable "mod-openvino", and save this preference.

Step 3: Import an Audio to Audacity

Restart Audacity and click "File → Import → Audio" to import an audio in Audacity.

Step 4: Start Removing Vocals using the AI Plugin

Double click the track, then go to "Effect → OpenVINO AI Effects → OpenVINO Music Separation".

From here, choose your desired separation mode to 2 stem or 4 stem.

2 stem: Extract only vocals and instruments;

4 stem: Extract vocals, drums, bass, and others.

Next, select either CPU or GPU from the OpenVINO Inference Device option. If your computer is equipped with a high-end GPU, choose GPU for faster processing.

Finally, click "Apply" to start processing. After about 20-30 seconds, you will get the instrumental version.

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Part 2: How to Remove Vocals from a Song in Audacity on Mac

For Mac users, the 'Vocal Reduction and Isolation' effect is no longer available, and the AI plugin is not yet supported. As a result, vocals must be manually separated from the song. However, this method is less reliable and accurate compared to using the AI plugin.

Step 1: Import an Audio File in Audacity on Mac

Click "File → Import → Audio" to import an audio file in Audacity.

Step 2: Split Stereo to Mono

Go to the three dots on the audio track, then select "Split Stereo to Mono" from the dropdown menu.

Step 3: Apply the Invert Effect

Now you've got two tracks. Simply double-click on the second track，then go to "Effect → Special → Invert" to invert one of the mono tracks.

Now, providing your vocals sit mostly in the center of your audio track, this track will work. If your vocals are stereo or they are backing vocals off and backing vocals are stereo, this won't work.

Step 4: Play back the Result

Let's play back from the start to see what you have got.

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Part 3: Alternatives to Audacity to Remove Vocals from a Song

While the Windows version of Audacity uses an AI plugin to effectively remove vocals from a song, this feature is unavailable for Mac users, leading to a subpar experience. To address this issue, we are exploring reliable alternatives to Audacity that offer better vocal removal functionality on Mac.

1. Any Video Converter Ultimate

Any Video Converter Ultimate provides users with essential AI-powered features, including vocal remover, speech-to-text, AI trimming, video enhancement, and more. These tools seamlessly integrate with additional functionalities like video downloading, video conversion, and other basic audio and video editing, empowering users to enhance their video production workflow.

Available: Windows, macOS

Pros:

• Up to 100% accuracy.
• It supports converting videos to various codecs.
• Very easy to use.

Cons:

• Does not support choosing a stem to extract the drums, bass, etc.

Best for: Those who want to download audio from YouTube, SoundCloud, and other sharing sites or platforms and remove vocals.

2. iZotope RX 11

iZotope RX 11 is a professional-grade audio editing software that includes an advanced vocal remover alongside a range of powerful features designed for audio repair and enhancement. The key functionalities include audio repair, noise reduction, music rebalance, and dialogue isolation.

Available: Windows, macOS

Pros:

• It is highly effective at removing vocals from mixed tracks.
• The audio repair is the industry-leading tool to fix damaged or problematic audio.

Cons:

• An extensive toolset can be overwhelming for beginners.
• It is demanding on system resources.

Best for: Music producers who are in need of professional audio editing tools, and those who want to perform both vocal remover and audio quality enhancer.

3. LALAL.AI

LALAL.AI is an AI-powered vocal remover that enables users to extract vocals and instruments from audio files. Using advanced deep learning models, it separates vocals, drums, bass, piano, and other instruments with high accuracy. Its precise separation and ease of use make it an ideal choice for anyone looking to manipulate or remix audio efficiently.

Available: Online, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

Pros:

• Separate vocals and instruments with high precision.
• Support GPU acceleration for fast processing.

Cons:

• Less precise separation when processing the complex audio tracks.
• Does not support fine-tuning or manual adjustments for the audio separation.

Best for: LALAL.AI is a specialized tool for extracting vocals or instruments from audio files, making it ideal for remixing, audio analysis, and other creative projects.

4. MazMazika

MazMazika is a free online vocal remover that allows users to remove vocals directly from YouTube and SoundCloud URLs. Simply paste the URL, and the tool will automatically process and remove the vocals from the linked track.

Available: Online

Pros:

• It is free to use.
• Support removing vocals from the link.

Cons:

• The file duration is limited to 10 minutes.
• The website contains ads.

Best for: It is the best tool for those who want to remove vocals directly from YouTube and SoundCloud links.

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Final Words

Removing vocals from a song is essential for various creative projects, such as music production, remixing, cover, or karaoke. While Audacity offers a free, open-source option, it requires additional plugins and manual adjustments, particularly for Mac users.

To remove vocals quickly with high precision, AI-powered tools like Any Video Converter Ultimate and LALAL.AI are the best options.

For professional audio editing, iZotope RX 11 offers advanced features that not only remove vocals but also enhance overall audio quality.

For those who want to remove vocals directly from a YouTube link, MazMazika is a great option.

Download Any Video Converter Ultimate right now to remove vocals with high accuracy: