Want to sing your favourite song but can’t find a backing track? You can make a karaoke version of any song yourself in seconds — for free — by removing the vocals with AI. You’ll get a clean instrumental to sing over, and you can even pull out the original vocal as a guide. Here’s how.
The fast way: upload the song to our free AI Vocal Remover and download the instrumental. Full walkthrough below, plus how to add lyrics.
How to make a karaoke track — step by step
- Upload the song to the AI Vocal Remover (MP3, WAV, M4A and more).
- Click Remove Vocals with AI. In 15–45 seconds you’ll get two tracks: the instrumental (your karaoke backing) and the isolated vocal.
- Preview and download the instrumental as an MP3.
- Add lyrics (optional) so you can follow along — see below.
Why AI beats old karaoke tricks
Classic “vocal remover” apps use centre-channel cancellation: since lead vocals sit dead-centre, they subtract whatever’s identical in the left and right channels. It’s quick but leaves vocal bleed, thins out bass and drums, and needs a true stereo file. An AI vocal remover uses a trained model (Demucs) that actually recognises the voice, so the instrumental is far cleaner — and it works even on mono. If you want an instant, fully-private option for stereo tracks, the centre-channel Vocal Remover is still there.
How to add lyrics to your karaoke track
To sing along, you need the words on screen. Two easy ways:
- Find existing lyrics for the song and keep them open, or
- Generate them from the vocal. Take the isolated vocal the tool gives you and run it through our AI Transcription tool — you’ll get the lyrics as text, and can even export timed SRT subtitles to overlay on a video.
Change the key to suit your voice
If the chorus strains your voice or the verses sit too low, run the instrumental through the Pitch Shifter and move it down (or up) a semitone at a time until the highest line feels comfortable. Small shifts sound natural; big jumps can sound processed. Our guide to transposing music explains how keys and semitones relate.
Keep the backing vocals instead of removing them
The AI removes most backing vocals along with the lead. To keep some:
- Blend the vocal back in quietly. Layer the isolated vocal under the instrumental at a low level for a faint guide that helps with timing.
- Try the centre-channel remover. The Vocal Remover mainly removes what sits dead centre, which is usually the lead. Harmonies panned wide often survive.
Singing and recording over your track
- Wear headphones when you record, so the backing track doesn’t bleed into your microphone.
- Set your level first. Sing the loudest part and adjust input gain so it never clips.
- Record a few takes and keep the best lines from each. Our guide on how to record yourself singing covers mic placement and room setup.
File formats for karaoke machines and apps
MP3 plays on phones, laptops and karaoke apps. For a TV or big screen, make an MP4 video with the lyrics on screen, for example by adding your SRT subtitles in a video editor. Traditional karaoke machines often use CDG or MP3+G, which pair the audio with a graphics file for the lyrics and need dedicated software to create. Check your machine’s manual.
If you want lyrics on the big screen without making videos yourself, a dedicated machine can handle it. See our picks for the best karaoke machines for TV, which connect to your screen and play your tracks with on-screen words.
If you would rather build a permanent setup around the TV and sound system you already own, our guide to the best home karaoke systems for your living room covers mics, mixers and speakers that turn your homemade tracks into a proper singing night.
Tips for a better karaoke track
- Use a good-quality source. A clean, well-mixed track separates more cleanly than a low-bitrate rip.
- Want the full band separated? Use the AI Stem Splitter to get drums and bass on their own too — handy for remixes or mash-ups (see how to split a song into stems).
- Practise your pitch. Recording your own take? Polish it afterwards with the free Auto-Tune tool.
- Respect copyright. Making a karaoke version for personal practice is fine; check licensing before publishing a cover commercially (more below).
Copyright & fair use
Singing along at home or at a private party is generally treated as low-risk personal use. Sharing is different. A karaoke track made this way still contains the original recording, and a cover licence covers the song, not someone else’s recording, so uploading a performance over the separated instrumental normally needs permission from the recording’s owner. Platforms may also detect and claim it. Releasing your own cover usually means re-recording the music; see how to record a cover song. “Fair use” is a narrow, case-by-case US defence, so don’t rely on it. This isn’t legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a karaoke version of a song for free?
Upload the song to an AI vocal remover, remove the vocals, and download the instrumental. Our AI Vocal Remover does it free in seconds, with no signup.
Can I remove vocals from any song?
Yes, from most songs — mono or stereo. Results are cleanest on well-mixed, higher-quality tracks; heavily effected or very noisy vocals are harder to separate perfectly.
How do I add the lyrics?
Find the lyrics online, or transcribe the isolated vocal (which the tool also gives you) with an AI transcription tool to get the words as text or timed SRT subtitles.
Is the instrumental good enough to perform with?
For practice and casual performance, yes — AI separation produces clean, usable instrumentals. For a professional release you may still want an official instrumental where one exists.
Do I get the vocals too?
Yes — you get both the karaoke instrumental and the isolated acapella, so you can use the vocal as a guide or for a remix.
What formats can I use?
Upload MP3, WAV, M4A/AAC, OGG or FLAC. The tracks download as MP3.
How do I change the key of a karaoke track?
Run the instrumental through a pitch shifter and move it a semitone at a time until the highest part sits comfortably in your range.
Can I keep the backing vocals?
The AI instrumental removes most backing vocals with the lead. Blend a little of the isolated vocal back in, or try a centre-channel remover, which often leaves wide-panned harmonies.
