To remove vocals from your YouTube video, import its video file into CapCut desktop, use its voice isolation control in the Audio panel to choose Remove vocal, and export with Pro. You can also use a vocal separator to create an instrumental track, then combine that track with the video. Choose a playback tool only if you want to hear reduced vocals without saving an edited video.
The short version
- For an edited video: CapCut desktop removes vocals directly from a clip and requires Pro to export the effect.
- For a YouTube link: NotaGen processes a public video URL and lets you download the background audio as an MP3.
- For a phone or tablet: LALAL.AI separates vocals and instruments from supported video files.
- For listening only: Moises Live reduces vocals while YouTube plays on a supported computer.
- For publishing: Your externally edited video becomes a new YouTube upload with a new URL.
| Method | What you need | Result and limitation |
|---|---|---|
| CapCut desktop | A video file on Windows or macOS | Edited video; Pro required to export the effect |
| LALAL.AI browser service | A supported audio or video file | Separated output; full processing depends on account entitlement |
| LALAL.AI for iPhone and iPad | A supported video file | Instrumental result to keep after separation |
| LALAL.AI for Android | A supported video file | Instrumental stem to download after separation |
| NotaGen URL processing | A public YouTube video or Shorts URL | Background MP3; processing uses credits |
| NotaGen video export | An uploaded MP4, MOV or WebM file | Replacement MP4 when offered; export costs additional credits |
| Moises Live | A supported Windows or macOS computer | Listening output only; no stem export or upload editing |
| Clipchamp soundtrack replacement | Your video and a separated instrumental | Video using the instrumental in place of the original soundtrack |
| Clipchamp separate track muting | An original project with vocals on their own clip | Music on other tracks stays intact |
Get your video file ready
For an eligible video uploaded to your own channel, sign in to YouTube Studio on desktop and open Content. Find the video, open Menu, then select Download. Downloading prepares the file for a separator; it does not remove vocals.
Choose your next step by the result you need. CapCut handles vocal removal inside a video project, while an audio-only result needs to be combined with the video afterward. If you want to start with a public YouTube link, use the NotaGen workflow below.
Remove vocals directly in CapCut
Get CapCut for Windows or macOS from its official desktop product page. Import your video into a project and place it on the timeline. Select the clip, then open Audio.
Use the voice isolation control in that panel and select Remove vocal. Preview the result, then select Export. CapCut requires Pro to export this effect, so check that requirement before committing to this workflow.
Start with a public YouTube link
Open NotaGen's vocal removal tool and sign in. Paste the public video's URL into Paste a YouTube or TikTok link, then select Fetch audio. This method supports public YouTube videos and Shorts, but restricted videos may be rejected. NotaGen gives you no rights to the video or song, so check the rights attached to any material you process.
Choose Normal or Advanced when those choices are available, then select Remove Vocals. Preview the result and download the background MP3. Processing uses credits, and the URL workflow produces audio files.
For a replacement video, upload an MP4, MOV or WebM file to NotaGen instead of using a URL. Select Remove Vocals, then select Export video when offered to generate an MP4 with the background track. Video export costs additional credits and applies to uploaded video files only.
Separate the instrumental in your browser
In LALAL.AI's browser interface, click Select Files and upload your audio or video file. Supported video formats include AVI, MP4, MKV, MOV and M4V. Audition the separated previews before moving on to full processing.
Select Split in Full, then click the download icon under Instrumental [Full]. Full processing and export depend on your account entitlement. The output retains the input format unless you select an alternative output format.
Keep the instrumental result for your finished video. If you choose an audio-only output, combine it with the video using the Clipchamp steps below. Mute the original soundtrack so its vocals do not play alongside your separated instrumental.
Remove vocals on iPhone or Android
On iPhone or iPad, open LALAL.AI and tap Add Files. Choose your video, select Vocal & Instrumental, then tap Continue. Choose v6 Andromeda and tap Start Processing.
Audition the result, select Full, then tap Download Stems. Keep the instrumental result. Processing requires a LALAL.AI account, and the free Starter plan lets you preview results, but downloading the full output requires a paid plan. The iPhone and iPad app supports MP4, MKV, MOV, AVI and M4V video files.
On Android, open LALAL.AI and tap Split Files, choose your video, then select Vocal & Instrumental. Choose v6 Andromeda, tap Start Processing, then select Full and download the resulting instrumental stem. As on iPhone, you need a LALAL.AI account and a paid plan to download the full output. The Android app supports MP4, MKV, AVI and MOV.
Reduce vocals while YouTube plays
Use Moises Live on a supported Windows or macOS computer when you want to listen with reduced vocals. Open Moises Live and enable AI Control. Connect your Moises account for unrestricted volume adjustment.
Choose Music, then lower Vocals completely while retaining the instrumental sliders. Play the YouTube video normally. This changes your listening output; it does not export stems or edit the YouTube upload. If you need a saved result, use a file separation method instead.
Put the instrumental back into the video
If your separator produced an audio file, open Microsoft Clipchamp and select Create a video to access the browser editor. In your project, select the video on the timeline and click its speaker icon to mute the original soundtrack. Alternatively, open the audio tab and lower its volume.
Add the separated instrumental as a separate audio track and synchronize it with the video. The original soundtrack will be silent in the export, leaving the instrumental track to supply the sound. Muting the video alone silences all of its original audio, so you need to add the instrumental to complete this workflow.
If you still have the original Clipchamp project and the voice is already on its own audio clip, mute that separate clip instead. Music on other tracks will remain. Selective removal without AI depends on the vocals already being isolated on their own track.
Fix blocked exports and rejected links
If CapCut's Pro requirement prevents you from exporting, choose another separation method and check its export conditions before processing the full file. LALAL.AI's browser service ties full processing and export to your account entitlement. NotaGen uses credits, with additional credits required for video export.
If NotaGen rejects a restricted URL, use its file upload workflow with a supported video file. For an eligible upload on your own channel, obtain that file through YouTube Studio's Download option. Uploading the file also lets you select Export video when offered.
If older Clipchamp instructions send you to the iOS app, use the web or desktop editor instead. Microsoft ended support for the iOS app on June 9, 2026. Complete your video in the web or desktop editor before moving on to publishing.
Upload the finished video to YouTube
Publishing your edited video with copyrighted music without appropriate licensing may violate copyright law in your region, so check the rights attached to the material first. After exporting the edited video, open YouTube Studio and select CREATE > Upload videos. Select the exported file and complete the upload settings. Your edited upload receives a new URL because YouTube cannot replace an existing video file in place.
Preview a YouTube Studio Editor claim edit before saving because you cannot revert the changes after saving. If you need to keep the existing URL, YouTube's eligible claim-editing tools can mute claimed segments while preserving it. That operation removes vocals and music together. Use a new upload when you want to publish your externally separated instrumental version.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can YouTube Studio erase the singing while keeping the original music?
For eligible Content ID audio claims, Erase song removes claimed music while preserving dialogue where possible. Preview the edit before saving because you cannot revert YouTube Studio Editor changes after saving. It serves a different purpose from separating singing out of the original instrumental.
Why do older Moises instructions say to paste a YouTube link?
Moises file-based track separation excludes YouTube and other streaming or social-service URLs. Use a local file or an accepted publicly accessible file-storage URL instead. This restriction is separate from Moises Live playback processing.
Can Audacity remove vocals from stereo audio?
Audacity's manual stereo phase cancellation workflow can reduce centered vocals in a stereo recording, but it also removes other centered sounds and may leave vocal remnants. The formerly bundled Vocal Reduction and Isolation effect stopped being included starting with Audacity 3.5.0.
Can NotaGen remove one speaker while keeping another?
NotaGen does not isolate one speaker while preserving another. Its voice removal workflow produces a background track rather than letting you retain a selected speaker.