Create a backing track from any song
You can turn any recording into a backing track by splitting it into stems and muting the part you play, leaving the real band for you to play along with. StemConsole does it in the browser with no install: upload, split, mute your instrument, press play.
Playing along, MP3 stem downloads and bouncing your mix to MP3 are free. WAV bounces, and bounces at a changed speed or key, are Pro.
How to make a backing track
- 1
Upload a song
Drop an MP3, WAV, FLAC or M4A (up to 200MB) at stemconsole.ai. The first split needs no account.
- 2
Pick the split
Singers, bassists and drummers can use the free Quick Split. Guitarists and pianists need Full Separation (Pro, or one US$1.99 credit) for a dedicated stem.
- 3
Mute your part
Mute the stem you play, or pull it down to a whisper so the original player guides you until you know the song.
- 4
Balance the band
Bring drums and bass up slightly for a strong pulse, set the master so nothing clips, and save the session.
- 5
Set speed and key (Pro)
Slow the track for a new song or shift the key for your singer. The two stay independent.
- 6
Export
Bounce mix renders one MP3 with your levels, free. WAV bounces, and bounces at a changed speed or key, are Pro. Download stems gives the separate MP3 parts.
Getting a backing track that feels like a band
Choose the split that gives your instrument its own fader. In the free four-stem split, guitar, keys, strings and synths all live in "other", so a guitarist muting it also loses the keys. For a guitar, bass and drums trio that is no problem: "other" is nearly all guitar and the free split gives a usable guitarless track.
Mix for playing, not for listening. A backing track wants drums and bass a touch louder than the record, because that is what you lock to, and the vocal a touch quieter unless you are the singer.
Recording over the track? Export WAV at the original tempo and key so your take lines up with the record. Rehearsing? A bounced MP3 in a phone playlist is the most convenient thing in the world.
What to expect
Stem downloads are always full length at the original speed and key; only Bounce mix includes your levels, Speed and Pitch, and count-in is never bounced. Dense or heavily distorted mixes leave a faint trace of the muted part, barely audible once you are playing over it.
What is free and what is Pro
| Free | Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Stems | Vocal Remover and 4-stem Quick Split | 6-stem Full Separation (adds guitar and piano) |
| Downloads | MP3 stems and MP3 mix bounces | WAV stems and bounces, including at a changed speed or key |
| Slow down | No | 50% to 150%, pitch locked |
| Change key | No | Yes, 12 semitones either way |
| Looping | One A/B loop (free account) | Named loops, count-in, tap tempo |
| Splits | 5 a month (2 multi-stem); first needs no account | 100 a month, then 15 a day |
Pro is US$6.99 a month or US$49 a year. A US$1.99 credit buys one Full Separation, no practice tools, never expires. See plans.
Frequently asked questions
Can I download the backing track as one file?
Yes. Bounce mix renders your levels and mutes to one MP3, free. A WAV bounce, or a bounce at a changed speed or key, is Pro.
Does the backing track have the vocals removed?
Only if you mute them. Every stem has its own fader, so a singer mutes vocals and a bassist mutes bass.
Does it work with MP3 files?
Yes. MP3, WAV, FLAC, M4A, OGG and AAC up to 200MB. Higher bitrates separate more cleanly.
Can I change the key or tempo?
Yes, with Pro. Speed runs 50% to 150% with pitch locked; Pitch moves 12 semitones either way. Both are included in a bounce.
Is it free?
Playing along, MP3 stem downloads and MP3 mix bounces are free. WAV, speed and key are Pro at US$6.99 a month or US$49 a year.
Can I use the backing track at a gig?
A bounced file plays anywhere, but performing with a recording depends on its rights. Use songs you have permission for and check with your venue or licensing body.
Compared with backing-track catalogues and a DAW
| Backing-track sites | DAW with stems | StemConsole | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any song | Only the catalogue | Only if stems exist | Yes, any recording |
| Mute a specific instrument | Sometimes, per purchase | Yes | Yes, every stem on a fader |
| Change key and tempo | Sometimes | Yes | Yes (Pro) |
| Time to first play-along | Minutes, if the song exists | An hour of setup | A couple of minutes |
| Cost | A few dollars per track | Free to hundreds of dollars | Free split; Pro US$6.99 a month |
Related guides and tools
Slow down a song without changing pitch
Learn fast passages at a comfortable speed without changing the key (Pro).
Change the key of a song
Move the backing track into your range without changing the speed (Pro).
Loop a section of a song
Repeat a phrase until it sits under your fingers. Basic looping is free; named loops need Pro.
Practise guitar with a backing track
Mute the guitar in any song and play the part yourself.
Instrumental maker
Get a clean, full-quality instrumental of any song.
How to make a karaoke track from any song
From the blog. Remove the lead vocal, keep the music, and check the result.
Written by Dan Murtagh, mixing engineer and audio educator. Updated 13 September 2026.