Step-by-Step Guide: How to Remove Vocals from a Song in Audacity

Have you ever thought about converting your preferred songs into karaoke or jamming instrumentals? Well, welcome to the world of Audacity. It is a petite bonus and free open-source audio application which has changed the language of working with audio files. Audacity, which works on the Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems, comes with an incredible pack of tools for recording, editing, and mixing sound which makes it suitable for novices and veterans alike.

On this blog, we are going to explore the broader universe of audio editing, focusing on how one can remove vocals from a song using Audacity. In this guide, which includes simple step-by-step walkthroughs, any up-and-coming DJ, a musician who is looking to create backing tracks, or a karaoke lover will learn how to edit any song down to just its instrumentals.

Are you itching to take part in this audio experience? Get ready to maximize what Audacity can offer and express yourself!

Part 1. Getting to Know Audacity

What is Audacity?

Audacity is a great audio editing software and also a recorder that is completely free and open source, and it works on different operating systems, including Windows, macOS and Linux. The many different features offered by the application have made it very popular among both amateur and professional audio users. Audacity allows users to record, edit and even mix sounds, making it useful to anyone who has a passion for sound production.

Why Remove Vocals?

You may have multiple reasons for wanting to take the vocals out of a particular song. Be it for creating backing tracks that you can sing over, or simply wanting to concentrate on mixing or sampling the instrumental parts of a song without any vocal interruptions, removing vocals can be very helpful. It is usually on the off chance that the creative urge arises that the instrumental track is good enough to want to listen to the music without the singing. You may even customize some of your favorite songs and enjoy the music even more.

Key Features of Audacity

1. Multi-Track Editing

Multi-track editing feature is one of the numerous things that distinguish Audacity from other audio editing software. It means users can work on several audio tracks at the same time, which makes it easier to come up with advanced audio projects that have various sections of sound.

2. Plugin Support

Audacity has the ability to support multiple audio plugins in the form of VST3, Nyquist and others that allows users to enhance and manipulate audio output in numerous ways.

3. Cloud Saving

Following the inclusion of Audacity Audio.com, users can publish and save their works online. The option of cloud saving ensures that your projects are safe and can be accessed on any device, which enhances the ease of use and adds protection to your audio projects.

4. Real-Time Effects

Audacity offers the possibility of applying real-time effects as though multiband compression was already active while recording. This has helped in making the quality of the recordings done better, which makes it very useful for live recording sessions.

5. Deep Audio Analysis

Audacity includes advanced audio analysis capabilities for users who want to examine their sound in detail. The frequency can be displayed in a window using a spectrogram, and users can apply Vamp analyzers to investigate the specifics of their soundtrack.

6. Format Support

Audacity supports a range of audio formats with astonishing functionality. Users are able to transform and save sound files in numerous formats such as WAV, MP3, FLAC, Ogg, and a host of others. This ease of use allows for all manner of audio file types.

7. Recording Capabilities

With Audacity, users can record new audio using a microphone or a mixer, as well as convert audio recorded in other media to digital form. This capability makes it perfect for any podcasters, musicians, and any other people who need to make high-quality audio recordings.

8. Import and Export

The application facilitates the functionality of importing, modifying and merging of audio files, along with the various formats for exporting the recordings. Further, most of these functions allow exporting more than one file at the same time, making it easier for the users to manage their work in the case of major projects.

9. Editing Features

Audacity encompasses an extensive range of capabilities when it comes to editing audio as users can operate with cutting, copying, splicing, and mixing sounds together. The software also incorporates unlimited undo functionality, enabling users to play and make changes into the program without the fear of losing the previous work done.

10. Built-In Effects

Audacity includes a number of built-in effects, including the ability to alter the tempo or pitch of a recording, and the ability to clean out static, hiss, hum, and other unwanted sounds. These effects are beneficial in enhancing and completing audio projects.

11. Accessibility

Audacity has numerous features incorporated within it that make it user-friendly for even the blind. There are keyboard shortcuts and, more importantly, screen reader compatibility. This way, everyone will be able to enjoy the benefits of this software in every possible way.

Part 2. Step-by-Step Guide to Removing Vocals

The removal of vocals from a song in Audacity is an easy exercise as long as the appropriate tools are available. This is why the following procedural recommendations for effective vocal suppression are offered:

1. Download and Install Audacity

1. Head to the official website of Audacity.

2. Download the appropriate version suitable for your operating system (Windows, macOS or Linux).

3. Once you have downloaded the Audacity, install the program and open it.

2. Install the OpenVino AI Plugin

1. Get the OpenVino AI add-on from this link. At the moment, this add-on is offered only to Window users.

2. Open Audacity, then navigate to **Edit > Preferences > Modules.

3. Search for mod-openvino and mark it as enabled.

4. Close the software and launch it again for the changes to take effect.

3. Import the Audio File

1. On Audacity, go to the File option and click on Open.

2. Locate and choose the audio file that you would wish to edit, then click on the open button. The file will be displayed in the workspace of Audacity.

4. Select the Audio Track

1.Within Audacity, click on the audio track to make a selection. This step is crucial as it guarantees that the effects will be applied to the selected track only.

5. Apply Vocal Separation

1. Navigate to Effects > OpenVino AI Effects > OpenVino Music Separation.

2. Within the separation mode, select (2 stem) Instrumental, Vocals. Press on the Apply button.

3. Audacity will take care of the audio and split it into three tracks i.e. the original, the vocals, and the instrumental. The duration of this process will vary depending on the size of your audio content.

6. Delete the Unwanted Tracks

In order to maintain just the instrumental part, delete the original, and vocal parts by clicking on the cross located at the top left of each undesired track.

7. Export the Instrumental Track

1. Choose the instrumental piece by clicking on it.

2. Then, go to the menu File > Export Audio.

3. While exporting, select the desired audio file type for the edit done (like MP3, WAV or FLAC).

4. Make sure "current selection" (or "entire project" has been selected if only the instrument track is visible).

5. Select Export and wait for the rendering to process so that you would have an audio without vocals.

Part 3. Tips and Tricks

Although Audacity simplifies the process of eliminating vocals, mastering the technique requires a few tips and tricks that can help you in overcoming the challenges faced:

1. Choose High-Quality Audio Files

It’s important to commence the process with a good quality audio file. The better the source recording, the more efficient the vocal removal process is likely to be. Seek out audio files that have significantly less compression and higher bit rates.

2. Use the Best Plugin Available

Although the OpenVino AI plugin is a highly efficient tool, it is important to look out for other updates or plugins that may enhance the results. Keep visiting the Audacity website or forums to search for recent plugins and enhancements.

3. Be Patient with Processing Times

The isolation of vocals from ambience and instrumental may vary in time and effectiveness based on the length and complexity of the audio file in question. One should also be patient and allow the software to finish working on the file to get the best results.

4. Clean Up Remaining Artifacts

Once the vocals have been isolated, you will perhaps see some unwanted background noise or artifacts that might be left behind. You can improve the quality of the other tracks as well as remove the remnants of the tracks, by applying the effects found in Audacity, such as noise removal or equalization.

5. Leverage Audacity’s Community

The Audacity community is resourceful in many ways. You can discuss any problems or seek advice in the forums or user groups. There are many advanced users willing to assist and help you obtain maximum effectiveness.

6. Understand Limitations

Vocal removal is a process which may not be overly successful, more so for songs with excessive reverb and backing effects. Adjust your expectations appropriately and use the process as a growing and improving phase of your audio editing abilities.

Use the above tips and tricks to increase the quality of your vocal removal projects and make the best of Audacity. Nice work on the editing!

Part 4. HitPaw Online’s AI Vocal Remover

Alongside Audacity, one more tool that can prove to be useful in removing the vocals from a song is the AI Vocal Remover from HitPaw Online. This sophisticated web-based application enables the user to effortlessly split vocals and instrumental tracks from any audio, including video files, with a single click.

Features of HitPaw Online’s AI Vocal Remover:

• Easy Uploading Process: Users, through either clicking the option to choose a file or dragging the file in the area allocated, can upload their file.

• Handles Audio and Video Content: This application can deal with both audio and video files, providing various options in types of media.
• File Size and Duration Restrictions: The largest file size that can be uploaded is 1G, and the maximum file's length is 90 minutes.
• Separation Process: Once the file is uploaded into the application, there is a process in this tool that separates the vocals from instrumentals in the file.

• Downloading the Files: It is possible for the users to download each of the tracks, the vocal track and the music track, or press the ‘download all button’ and save both tracks in the PC. Since we are dealing with the issue of removing the vocal track, we will only download the instrumentals.
• Limitations of the Free Edition: The users are neither allowed to preview the separated tracks for more than one minute nor use the service more than three times a day in the free trial. HitPaw also offers a demo of the separated audio to give users an understanding of the level of separation achieved between the vocals and instrumental components.

HitPaw Online AI Vocal Remover Pro:

Besides the regular free version, there is also a HitPaw free download app version offered to users that want more premium features without limits:

Unlimited Usage: The tool can be used as many times as possible without restrictions.

Enhanced Support: Allows uploading files of 1G and 90 minutes duration.

No Preview Limit: Access is granted to the separated tracks without the limitation of one minute preview.

All Features Available: Users are granted the use of all the features of HitPaw.

Various Subscription Options:

• Weekly: $4.95 for each week
• Month to Month: $2.49 per week ($9.95 every month)
• Yearly: $1.15 per week ($59.95 for one year)

Auto-Renewal: The subscriptions do renew automatically, but they can also be cancelled at any time.

Comparison: Audacity vs. HitPaw Online AI Vocal Remover

Plus Point:

Although Audacity requires users to download-and install the software and its plugins, HitPaw Online AI Vocal Remover is browser based and as such does not require any installing or downloading. Thus, it becomes a great alternative for those who want to quickly remove vocals from, without the need to install anything.

Part 5. Conclusion

Now you have the capabilities of Audacity and HitPaw Online’s AI Vocal Remover, which can help you in turning the songs into full-fledged instrumental versions. Be it a music producer, a karaoke lover, or a DJ, these tools provide an effective way of removing vocals. While Audacity offers complex yet thorough audio editing, HitPaw offers a simpler version that is accessible online and requires no downloads. You can try them both to suit your needs and improve your audio projects. Happy Editing!

Part 6. FAQs