An isolated track is a single part of a recorded song, such as just the vocals, drums, bass or guitar, separated from the rest of the mix. Musicians use them to learn parts, producers use them to remix, and fans use them to hear details buried in the original record. Official isolated tracks come from a song’s studio multitrack recordings; today you can also create your own from any song with AI stem-separation tools.
Multitrack Master has been collecting isolated tracks from famous songs for over a decade, from Freddie Mercury’s vocals to Cliff Burton’s bass. This guide explains the terminology, where these tracks come from, how to make your own, and how to use them.
Isolated tracks, multitracks and stems: what’s the difference?
- Multitrack: the original studio recording, with every instrument and vocal captured on its own track (often 24 or more). A finished song is a mix of all of these.
- Stem: a group of related tracks mixed together, for example all the drums on one stereo file, or all the backing vocals. Labels deliver stems for remixes, films and games.
- Isolated track: any single part you can listen to on its own, whether it came from the original multitrack, a stem, or AI separation.
- Acapella / vocal only: an isolated vocal. Instrumental: everything except the vocal.
Where do official isolated tracks come from?
Most of the isolated tracks that circulate online, including many on this site, trace back to a handful of sources:
- Remasters and remixes. When classic albums are remixed for anniversary editions or surround sound, engineers return to the original multitrack tapes.
- Music video games. Rhythm games such as Rock Band and Guitar Hero licensed songs as separate stems so each instrument could be muted or boosted.
- Official remix contests and stem releases from artists and labels.
- Documentaries and studio breakdowns, where producers and engineers solo tracks at the mixing desk, like our Bohemian Rhapsody making-of with Brian May and Roger Taylor.
How to make your own isolated tracks from any song (free and paid)
Modern AI “stem separation” (also called demixing or source separation) analyzes a finished song and splits it into vocals, drums, bass and other instruments. The results aren’t identical to the studio multitracks, but they’re good enough for practice, karaoke and most remixing. The same kind of technology was used to separate John Lennon’s voice from an old piano demo for the final Beatles song, Now and Then (2023).
Popular stem-separation tools
- Moises: app and website that splits songs into vocals, drums, bass, guitar and more, with pitch and tempo controls for practice. Free tier available.
- LALAL.AI: web-based separation with a focus on clean vocal and instrument extraction. Pay per minute processed.
- Logic Pro Stem Splitter: built into Apple’s Logic Pro for Mac and iPad.
- Ultimate Vocal Remover (UVR): free, open-source desktop software that runs several separation models locally.
- iZotope RX: professional audio-repair suite with a Music Rebalance module, used by engineers.
Step by step: isolate the vocals from a song
- Start with the highest-quality audio file you legally own (a lossless or high-bitrate file separates better than a low-quality stream rip).
- Upload or open it in a separation tool and choose a split (e.g., vocals + instrumental, or 4–6 stems).
- Listen for “artifacts”, the watery or phasey sounds left where instruments overlapped the voice. Try a different model if they’re distracting.
- Export the stem you need and load it into your practice app or DAW.
How musicians use isolated tracks
- Learning parts by ear. Hearing a bass line or drum fill with nothing else playing is the fastest way to transcribe it.
- Vocal practice and karaoke. Sing along with the instrumental, or study the original singer’s breaths and phrasing in the vocal-only track.
- Studying production. Isolated tracks reveal doubled vocals, layered guitars and effects choices you can’t hear in the mix.
- Remixing and mashups (for personal use, or with permission from the rights holders).
Is it legal to use isolated tracks?
Isolated tracks are still copyrighted recordings. Listening, studying and practicing are generally fine. Publishing remixes, covers built on original stems, or uploading the files usually requires permission from the rights holders. Multitrack Master embeds tracks from video platforms rather than hosting audio files. If you’re a rights holder, see our DMCA policy.
The best isolated tracks to start with
- Our Top 100 isolated tracks of all time
- Michael Jackson isolated vocals
- Queen and Freddie Mercury isolated tracks
- Metallica isolated tracks, including Cliff Burton’s bass
- The Beatles isolated tracks
- Browse by instrument: drums, bass, guitar, keyboards
Isolated tracks: FAQ
What is an isolated track?
A single part of a song (for example the vocal, drums or bass) heard on its own, without the rest of the mix.
Where can I get isolated tracks for free?
You can listen to hundreds of isolated tracks from famous songs on Multitrack Master for free. To make your own, free options include Ultimate Vocal Remover and the free tiers of apps like Moises.
What’s the difference between a stem and a multitrack?
A multitrack keeps every recorded part on its own track; a stem combines related tracks (such as all drums) into one file.
Can AI perfectly isolate vocals?
Not perfectly. Separation is very good on modern, cleanly produced songs but can leave artifacts, especially on older mono or heavily reverberant recordings.
Are isolated tracks the same as the original studio recordings?
Only when they come from the original multitracks or official stems. AI-separated tracks are reconstructions of those parts from the finished mix.