A Complete Guide to Using Audacity to Remove Vocals

Audacity is a powerful, free, open-source audio editing software that has gained immense popularity among music enthusiasts and content creators alike. With its versatile capabilities, you can perform a range of tasks, from simple audio recording to complex editing processes. One of the most sought-after features of Audacity is its ability to remove vocals from songs, allowing you to create karaoke tracks, isolate instrumentals, or simply enjoy your favorite tunes without vocals. In this article, we’ll show you the step-by-step guide to effectively remove vocals from songs using Audacity.

GUIDE LIST

Part 1. How to Use Audacity to Remove Vocals

Part 2. Audacity Vocal Isolation Not Working

Part 3. Alternative Methods to Remove Vocals

Part 1. How to Use Audacity to Remove Vocals

Whether you’re a seasoned audio editor or a novice, you’ll find this tutorial easy to follow.

Note: Removing vocals from audio is different from splitting an audio track in Audacity, and the following steps are applied to get vocal isolation.

Step 1: Import the Audio

To start, you need to bring the audio file you want to edit into Audacity.

1. Open Audacity: Start the application on your computer. Audacity is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux, and you can free download it on these platforms freely.

2. Import audio file: Click on File > Import > Audio, and choose the song from your device. You can also simply drag and drop the file into the Audacity window.

Step 2: Create a Vocal Track

Next, you'll want to make a copy of the original track for editing.

1. Duplicate the track: Select the audio track by clicking on it, then go to Edit > Duplicate. This will create a second track that you can modify to extract the vocals.

2. Apply Effects to isolate vocals: With the duplicated track selected, go to Effect > Invert. This step is essential for the vocal removal process.

Step 3: Isolate Vocals

Now that your tracks are ready, it's time to focus on isolating the vocals.

1. Use Filters and Effects: Keep the duplicated track selected and navigate to Effect > EQ and Filters. Choose the High-Pass Filter option to help eliminate low-frequency sounds typically linked to vocals.

2. Adjust settings for optimal results: Experiment with the filter settings. A good starting point is a cutoff frequency between 300 Hz and 500 Hz, but feel free to adjust this based on your audio file.

Step 4: Refine the Vocal Track

After isolating the vocals, it’s crucial to refine your track for better clarity.

1. Remove Residual Noise or Artifacts: Go to Effect > Noise Removal and Repair > Noise Reduction. Please select a segment of the audio that has background noise, click Get Noise Profile, and then apply it to the entire track. This will help eliminate any leftover noise after removing the vocals.

2. Fine-tune the vocal isolation: Listen to the output carefully. You may need to adjust the volume levels or add effects like compression or reverb to enhance the overall sound before starting a vocal reduction in Audacity.

Step 5: Export the Vocal-Free Track

Finally, it’s time to save your edited work.

Click on File > Export Audio to select Save the isolated vocal on your computer or audio.com in the cloud. In the pop-up window, select the output vocal output as MP3 or your preferred format.

To keep the isolated vocals as a separate file, just export the duplicated track before you delete the vocals.

Audacity is an easy audio editing software to handle all the audio issues. If you want to remove audio from video, check this post.

Part 2. Audacity Vocal Isolation Not Working

Sometimes, users encounter issues with vocal isolation not working as expected. Here are some common reasons and solutions:

Track Quality

If the original track has poor quality or excessive noise, it might be difficult to isolate vocals effectively. Consider using a higher-quality audio file.

Stereo Track Issues

Vocal removal techniques often work best on stereo tracks. If your track is mono, try converting it to stereo before applying vocal deletion.

Plugin Limitations

Some effects may not work properly if you haven't installed the necessary plugins. Make sure all plugins are up to date.

Incorrect Effect Application

Double-check that you've followed the steps correctly, especially in applying the inversion and filtering effects. Experimenting with different settings can yield better results.

Part 3. Alternative Methods to Remove Vocals

If you're looking for alternatives to Audacity for vocal removal, here are some options:

Third-Party Plugins

There are various third-party plugins available that can enhance Audacity’s vocal extraction capabilities. Vocal Remover Pro is one of them.

This plugin can help achieve more effective vocal isolation. Simply install it, then navigate to Effect and select the plugin from the list to start the process.

Audio Editing Software: Adobe Podcast

Adobe Podcast is another robust option for vocal isolation. Its advanced AI features can effectively remove vocals with minimal manual intervention. Here’s how to use it:

Bonus: ArkThinker Video Converter Ultimate

For those who may also be working with video files, consider using ArkThinker Video Converter Ultimate. It offers noise removal capabilities for videos, which can be beneficial if you're looking to extract audio from video files while minimizing vocal presence. Besides, it lets you disable, change, and add the background audio tracks of a video file. Besides, this tool offers powerful audio editing effects like trim, merge, and more.

Conclusion