AI Audio Separation: The End of "Mixed" Audio
Unbaking the Cake
For 50 years, audio engineers said, "You can't unbake a cake." Once a song was mixed down to stereo, you couldn't get the vocals or drums back out. Deep Learning changed that forever. Now, separating stems is as easy as uploading a file.
Top Tools Ranked (2026 Edition)
1. UVR5 (Ultimate Vocal Remover)
Pros: Free, open-source, runs locally on your GPU. Highest quality
"Ensemble" models.
Cons: Complex interface, requires a good computer.
2. Lalal.ai
Pros: Incredible "Phoenix" algorithm for Vocals and Drums. Very fast web
interface.
Cons: Paid per minute.
3. RipX DeepAudio
Pros: Allows NOTE-based editing after separation (see our RipX Guide).
Cons: Expensive software license.
A Note on Copyright
Just because you can extract Taylor Swift's vocals doesn't mean you own them. Stem separation is fantastic for educational analysis (learning how the bassline was played) or for bootleg DJ sets, but you cannot legally release a remix without clearing the original master rights.