--- language: en updated-at: 2026-10-28 --- App Store release pending MixSift guide # How to remove vocals on a Mac without uploading your audio Create a local backing mix with MixSift: separate four stems, mute Vocals, check the remaining parts and export the full song. Updated 28 October 2026 ## Before you start Use an Apple Silicon M1 or later Mac running macOS 14 or later. Intel Macs are outside the current supported scope. Start with a local audio file you are entitled to use; these steps do not grant recording, sharing or performance rights. Supported input extensions are WAV, AIFF (.aif/.aiff), FLAC, MP3, M4A, AAC and OGG. A codec or file protection can still prevent decoding. Choose a source you can legally access rather than trying to bypass protection or import a streaming URL. This guide creates an estimated backing track from a finished recording. It cannot promise a perfectly clean instrumental or recover the original studio tracks. The app is in prelaunch review; this website does not currently provide a verified download. ## Separate the recording and open the mixer 1. **Choose the initial result and folder.** On Home, choose Full Stems and Choose Output Folder before importing. This walkthrough uses all four groups: Vocals, Drums, Bass and Other. These choices are captured when a file joins the queue; changing Home defaults later does not rewrite an existing queued job. 2. **Add your file and split it.** Use Add File(s), or drop the permitted local file onto Home. It joins the Queue. Select Split Tracks to start; queued files are processed sequentially. Wait for completion, then open the completed project from Library in Stem Mixer. Reuse an available completed four-stem project if you already have one. ## Mute Vocals and check the backing 1. **Start from a known mix.** Choose Full Mix in Practice Mix, then select Play Mix. A Practice Mix preset replaces the current Level, Mute and Solo settings, so choose it before making adjustments you want to keep. 2. **Mute the vocal stem.** Turn on Mute for Vocals. Leave Drums, Bass and Other available and unmuted. You can instead choose Sing Along — No Vocals from Practice Mix; it mutes Vocals and replaces the other mixer settings with that preset’s defaults. 3. **Listen and balance.** Listen to several passages, including busy choruses and quiet sections. Lower individual backing stems with Level if needed. Solo a stem briefly to investigate remaining vocal sound, then clear Solo so the intended backing parts play together. Mute removes the Vocals stem from this mix. It does not erase vocal sound that the separation placed in Drums, Bass or Other. Lowering Vocals instead of muting it leaves a guide vocal for rehearsal. ## What Level, Mute and Solo change - Level sets a stem’s contribution to the mix. The current range is −60 dB to 0 dB: it lowers a stem relative to its default level rather than boosting it above 0 dB. Use Mute when you want the stem silent. - Mute silences that stem even if its Solo is also on. - Solo restricts the mix to the available soloed stems. You can solo more than one stem; a muted soloed stem stays silent. Clear temporary Solo selections before making your backing mix. ## Save the backing as a full-song mix 1. **Review Export Mix…** Choose Export Mix… in Stem Mixer. Check the included and excluded stems, channel settings, Format, Filename and Destination in the summary. Make sure no unintended Solo remains active. 2. **Choose the format and confirm.** Choose WAV, AIFF or FLAC and confirm Export Mix. This writes the full song to a separate file using the Level, Mute and Solo settings captured at confirmation. Master Volume is listening-only, and the metronome is not included. It is not a loop or selected-region export. 3. **Listen to the saved file.** When export finishes, use Show Export in Finder and open the file in the player you intend to use. Check the beginning, ending and transitions. Later mixer edits apply to preview and the next export, not to the file already written. If the app reports a sample-clipping risk, review its whole-mix reduction option or return to lower stem levels. Lowering Master Volume only changes listening volume, so it is not a way to lower the exported mix. ## What to expect from vocal removal Separated stems are estimates. Reverb, doubled voices and sounds shared with instruments can leave vocal remnants or remove some instrumental detail. Other may contain several instruments. Judge the result by listening rather than assuming “muted” means the source is perfectly isolated. **Illustrative scenario:** imagine you have permission to use a rehearsal recording and want to sing over its accompaniment. Muting Vocals is a starting point; whether the remaining sound is suitable depends on that recording. No audio was processed or measured for this guide, and no before/after result is claimed. Audio separation, waveforms and project contents are processed on your Mac without uploading them for separation. Downloading the app, purchases, Restore and access verification can need internet. Apple purchase services and any selected RevenueCat route are separate from audio processing; “local audio” does not mean every service is offline. ## Choose your next step [Review the MixSift workflow](/#workflow) or check [file and export support](/support#files-and-exports). For choosing output files, read [practice mix versus separate stems](/guides/export-practice-mix-vs-stems). [All guides](/guides) Audio processing on your Mac. Prelaunch · Public availability unverified.