Hear a karaoke track before you make your own
Here is a real result from the engine behind the tool. The song is Sunlight, an indie pop track we generated with TuneSplit while building the site, so the example has no copyright question. The player labelled Instrumental is exactly what a karaoke track is: the same song with the lead voice taken out. Play the original mix first, then switch to the instrumental and listen to the singer disappear while the drums, bass and synths stay in place.
The clip is the first 60 seconds of the song and took 88 seconds of wall-clock time in one measured run. A typical 3-minute song usually takes 20 to 60 seconds. The same split also returns drums, bass and other parts as separate stems, which matters if you ever want a karaoke track with the drums turned down for a quieter room.
What a karaoke maker does, and what it does not
People use the phrase karaoke maker for two different jobs. The first is making the backing track, which means removing the vocal from a recording. The second is making the screen, which means showing lyrics in time with the music. Some tools bundle both into a single karaoke video. TuneSplit keeps them as separate steps, so you can use only the one you need.
- Backing track. Upload the song, choose the 2-stem split and download the instrumental as an MP3. This is the part that needs a trained separation model.
- Words on screen. Use the lyric video maker: paste lyrics, upload the instrumental, and it times the lines across the song and renders an MP4.
- Your key. Use the pitch changer to move the instrumental up or down in semitones without changing the speed.
Be clear about the limits. TuneSplit does not recognise a song and fetch its lyrics for you, and it does not export karaoke disc formats. You paste the lyrics yourself, and the lines are spread evenly across the track, with a control to set where the vocals start and end. For a house party that is usually enough. For a hosted event with a dedicated karaoke machine, you may need a different workflow.
Backing vocals: kept or removed?
This is the question karaoke makers rarely answer. In a two-stem split, everything sung counts as vocals. That includes the lead, the harmonies, the ad-libs and the choir behind the chorus. All of it goes into the vocals file, and none of it stays in the instrumental. So the backing track you get has no singing at all.
For most songs that is what you want, since you do not want a second voice competing with yours. The downside is that songs built on a big vocal stack can feel thin without the harmonies.
TuneSplit does not split lead from backing vocals. If you need the harmonies back, there are three practical workarounds. Sing the harmony line yourself or with a friend. Use the four-stem split to keep the music intact and layer your own backing vocals recorded in a DAW. Or pick a version of the song, such as an acoustic or live take, that uses fewer layered voices and therefore separates more cleanly.
| What you hear in the original | In the instrumental file | In the vocals file |
|---|---|---|
| Lead singer | Removed | Yes |
| Harmonies and choir | Removed | Yes |
| Ad-libs and shouts | Removed | Yes |
| Drums, bass, guitars, keys | Kept | Faint traces at most |
| Vocal reverb and delay | Mostly removed, tails may remain | Mostly yes |
| Synth lines that sound like a voice | Sometimes lost | Sometimes included |
Change the key to fit your voice
The original key was chosen for someone else. If the chorus sits above your comfortable range, no amount of effort will fix it, and the song just ends the night early. Moving the key is the single biggest improvement you can make to a home karaoke track.
Download the instrumental, open the pitch and speed changer, and move the pitch slider. The range is minus 12 to plus 12 semitones, and quick buttons jump by one or two keys. Speed is a separate slider from 50 to 150 percent, and changing it does not change the pitch. Preview the result in the browser and download it as a WAV. The tool runs in your browser, so the file is not uploaded for this step.
- Play the instrumental and sing the highest line of the chorus. If you crack or strain, go down. If it feels too low and breathy, go up.
- Start with one or two semitones, not six. Small moves are usually enough, and large shifts change the character of the instruments more.
- When a song was written for the opposite register, expect to move several semitones, and test before the guests arrive.
- If the song feels rushed, drop the speed to 90 percent without touching the key. Beginners often sing more comfortably a little slower.
If you want to know the original key before you move it, the BPM and key finder tells you the musical key and its Camelot code. It also runs in the browser, so that step needs no upload.
Put the lyrics on screen
A backing track alone suits confident singers. Everyone else wants the words. The lyric video maker takes audio and lyrics and makes an MP4 with scrolling lines and an animated waveform. You can pick one of your own TuneSplit songs or upload an audio file, so the instrumental you just made drops straight in.
- Upload the instrumental as the audio, or pick one of your songs.
- Paste the lyrics. Check that you have the right to use them; for your own songs this is easy.
- Set where the singing should start and end. The lines are timed across that range, so a long instrumental intro will not push the words out of sync.
- Choose a background: neon, sunset, ocean or mono, or your own image.
- Pick 16:9 for a TV or 9:16 for a phone, then export. Rendering happens in your browser and nothing is uploaded.
Free exports carry a small Made with TuneSplit watermark, and Pro removes it. Because timing is automatic across the range, a song with long pauses between verses may need a second pass.
A home karaoke setup on a TV or phone
You do not need a machine. A phone, a laptop and a speaker are enough, and a TV makes it feel like a night out. Here is a setup that works with the files this page produces.
- TV with a laptop. Connect by HDMI, play the MP4 from the lyric video maker full screen, and run audio through the TV or a speaker. This is the most reliable option because nothing depends on a network.
- TV with a phone. Cast or mirror the MP4 from your phone, or copy it to a USB stick and play it from the TV's media player if it supports MP4.
- Phone only. Export the 9:16 version and play it on a phone propped on a stand for two or three people.
- Microphone. A cheap wired microphone into a small speaker works. Keep it away from the speaker to avoid feedback.
- Playlist. Make the files ahead of time and name them in the order you want, so you are not processing songs while guests wait.
Free rules, in plain numbers
| Rule | Free on TuneSplit |
|---|---|
| Files per day | 3 |
| Length per file | Up to 10 minutes |
| Formats in | MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC, OGG, MP4 |
| Split types | 2 stems (vocals + music) or 4 stems |
| Download | Allowed, every stem as MP3 |
| Model | Demucs htdemucs |
| Typical time | 20 to 60 seconds for a 3-minute song |
| Storage | Private, deleted within 24 hours |
| After the 3rd file | 30 credits per started 5 minutes |
The three free files a day cover a short playlist, and you never need credits to use them. Beyond that, each started five-minute block costs 30 credits, so a 3-minute song is one block. Credit packs are available on the pricing page.
TuneSplit vs Youka, VocalRemover.com, MyEdit and Karadeo
These four pages come up when you search for a karaoke maker. The table lists what we could confirm on their own pages in October 2026. Where we could not, it says not verified, so check the current terms on each site.
| Tool | What it makes | Free access (as of Oct 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TuneSplit | Instrumental MP3; lyrics via the lyric video maker | 3 files a day, 10 min each, MP3 download | Key change in the pitch changer, no upload |
| Youka | Karaoke or lyric video, MP4 up to 4K | 15 free credits, no credit card | Syncs lyrics; pitch and BPM tools free and in-browser |
| VocalRemover.com | Instrumental with synced lyrics; MP4 and MP3+G | Free to try, no sign-up; daily limits not verified | Exports for karaoke machines |
| MyEdit | Karaoke track from an uploaded song | Page says free; limits not verified | Part of a larger editing suite |
| Karadeo | Karaoke video from audio or a YouTube link | Free with watermark | Lyric sync in 29 languages |
Several of them do things TuneSplit does not. Youka and VocalRemover.com recognise or sync lyrics for you, and VocalRemover.com exports the disc format that karaoke machines read. Karadeo builds the video from a YouTube link. TuneSplit is narrower: it states the free rules before you upload, lets you download the instrumental on the free plan, and keeps pitch shifting local to your browser.
Tips for a cleaner karaoke track
- Use the best file you own. Lossless FLAC or WAV keeps more detail than a low-bitrate MP3.
- Choose the studio version over a live recording. Crowd noise and room sound bleed into the vocal.
- Check the first and last lines. An a cappella intro or a long vocal tail is where leftovers show most, and a fade hides them.
- Listen at the loudest chorus. Dense mixes can leave a ghost of the voice there.
Heavy distortion, vocoders and vocals that share frequencies with guitars or synths are hard for any separator. Expect more artefacts on those songs.
Your upload, your rights
Only upload recordings you own or are licensed to use. A karaoke track for private singing at home is one thing. Posting or selling a karaoke track made from someone else's recording is another, and may infringe the rights of the recording owner and the songwriter. Check the licence before you share anything.
Your upload sits in private storage, is used only to produce your result, and is deleted within 24 hours. It is never used for training. TuneSplit has no voice cloning and no covers in a real singer's voice. Rights holders can use the DMCA contact on the Terms page.
More tools for the same night
- Vocal remover: the general page for removing vocals and downloading the instrumental.
- Pitch changer: move the key up or down to fit your range.
- Lyric video maker: add scrolling lyrics and export an MP4 for the TV or phone.
- BPM and key finder: find the original key before you change it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free karaoke maker?
It depends on what you need, but a good free one shows its limits and lets you download. TuneSplit gives 3 free files a day, up to 10 minutes each, with the instrumental as an MP3 download. Other tools make full karaoke videos with synced lyrics, so compare what each free plan includes before choosing.
How do I make a karaoke track from any song?
Upload the song to the tool above, choose the 2-stem option, and wait 20 to 60 seconds for a 3-minute track. Press play on the instrumental to check it, then download it as an MP3. Only use songs you own or are licensed to use.
Is it really free, and can I download?
Yes. Free means 3 files a day, up to 10 minutes each, and the download is included, as an MP3. Past the third file, each started 5 minutes of audio costs 30 credits. The free daily files never require credits or sign-up.
Will the backing vocals be removed too?
Yes. A 2-stem split treats everything sung as vocals, so harmonies, choirs and ad-libs all come out with the lead. The instrumental has no singing. TuneSplit does not split lead from backing vocals, so layered songs may feel thinner and you may want to sing the harmonies yourself.
Can I put lyrics on the screen?
Yes, with the lyric video maker. Upload the instrumental or pick one of your songs, paste the lyrics, set where the vocals start and end, and export an MP4 in 16:9 for a TV or 9:16 for a phone. Free exports have a small Made with TuneSplit watermark; Pro removes it.
Can I change the key to match my voice?
Yes. Open the pitch and speed changer and move the pitch from minus 12 to plus 12 semitones, then download the result as a WAV. Speed is a separate slider from 50 to 150 percent and does not change the pitch. It runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.
Does it work on iPhone and Android?
Yes. The tool runs in your mobile browser with nothing to install. Choose a file from your phone, wait for the result and download the MP3. Processing happens on our servers, so a stable connection helps with larger files. The lyric video export also runs in the browser.
How long does it take to make a karaoke track?
A 3-minute song usually takes 20 to 60 seconds. As a real reference, the 60-second example on this page took 88 seconds in one measured run. Longer files take longer and busy periods can add waiting time, so treat the range as typical, not guaranteed.
Is it safe to upload my music?
Files go to private storage, are used only to make your result, and are deleted within 24 hours. They are never used to train any model. Upload only audio you own or have the right to use, because you remain responsible for how the output is used.
Can I use it for a karaoke bar or to sell tracks?
Not without the right licences. A backing track for private singing at home is a different case from public performance, posting online or selling. Rights usually sit with both the recording owner and the songwriter, so get permission or use your own music before sharing publicly.
Why does a faint voice remain in my backing track?
The model estimates the vocal from the mix, so reverb tails, doubled parts or voice-like synths can leave a trace. Start from a lossless studio version, check the loudest chorus, and use a short fade or volume dip in an editor on any line that still leaks through.
Which file formats can I upload?
MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC, OGG and MP4 files, up to 10 minutes each on the free plan. For an MP4 video, only the audio track is processed. Every stem downloads as an MP3, so you can load the instrumental into a phone, a DJ app or a lyric video maker.