Loop a section of a song and nail the hard bar
You can set an A point and a B point on any song, loop just that bar or phrase, and play it over and over while the rest of the track stays out of the way. StemConsole does it in the browser with no install, on the full mix or on a single soloed instrument.
A basic A/B loop is free with an account. Named loops you can save and come back to, plus a count-in, are Pro tools you can try on the demo.
How to loop a section of a song
- 1
Upload a song
Drop an MP3, WAV, FLAC or M4A (up to 200MB) at stemconsole.ai. The first split needs no account.
- 2
Split it
Quick Split (free) gives vocals, drums, bass and other. Full Separation (Pro) adds guitar and piano so you can solo exactly the part you are learning.
- 3
Set the loop
Press Loop, then set A and B on the waveform around the phrase. Drag the handles until the loop starts on the downbeat you want.
- 4
Drill it
Solo the stem to listen, then unmute the band and play. With Pro, slow the loop with Speed and turn on count-in so you never scramble for the first note.
- 5
Name and save
Pro lets you name loops and keep several per song. Saved sessions bring them back on any device.
- 6
Export
Bounce mix exports just the loop with your balance to MP3 free; WAV, or a bounce at a changed speed, is Pro.
Looping technique that actually works
Loop short. One or two bars is ideal; a whole solo is not a loop, it is a song. The narrower the loop, the more repetitions per minute and the faster the phrase settles into your hands.
Start the loop a beat early. Most phrases have a pickup, and if the A point lands exactly on the bar line you will miss it every time. Set A half a bar before the phrase and B a beat after it ends, so you hear how it resolves.
Chain the loops: bar 1, then bar 2, then bars 1 to 2, then 2 to 3. Overlapping loops fix the joins. Use your fail rate as the guide: missing more than one attempt in three, slow the loop down (Pro); nailing it ten times running, widen it or speed it up.
What to expect
Loops follow the audio, not bar numbers, because Song BPM is not detected automatically; enter it or use Tap tempo so count-in lines up. A loop set mid-note will click at the join, so land A and B on a drum hit or a rest.
What is free and what is Pro
| Free | Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Looping | One A/B loop (free account) | Named loops, count-in, tap tempo |
| Slow down | No | 50% to 150%, pitch locked |
| Change key | No | Yes, 12 semitones either way |
| 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 |
| 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
How precisely can I set the loop points?
As precisely as you can drag. Place A and B on a transient such as a snare hit for a seamless join.
Can I save more than one loop per song?
With Pro, yes: name each loop and keep as many as the song needs. Free accounts keep one A/B loop with the saved session.
Can I slow the loop down as well?
Yes, with Pro. Speed works inside the loop with the pitch locked, so you can drill bar 12 at 60% in the original key.
Does looping work on MP3 files?
Yes. MP3, WAV, FLAC, M4A, OGG and AAC up to 200MB. Higher bitrates separate more cleanly.
Is it free?
Splitting is free and a basic A/B loop is free with an account. Named loops, count-in and Song BPM are Pro, US$6.99 a month or US$49 a year.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes, in the mobile browser with nothing to install. The loop handles are drag-friendly on a touch screen.
Compared with YouTube, Transcribe! and a DAW
| YouTube | Transcribe! | DAW | StemConsole | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loop a section | Whole video only, or an extension | Yes, precise | Yes, cycle region | Yes; named loops with Pro |
| Loop one instrument | No | No | Only with stems | Yes, solo any stem |
| Count-in | No | No | Yes | Yes (Pro) |
| Runs in the browser | Yes | No | No | Yes, no install |
| Cost | Free | One-off licence | 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).
Create a backing track
Set each stem’s level, then bounce the mix: MP3 free, WAV with Pro.
Drumless tracks for drum practice
Mute the drums and play along with the real band.
Isolate drums
Solo the drums from any song: practise, sample, transcribe.
How to make drumless practice tracks
From the blog. AI removes the drums, you play along with the real band.
Written by Dan Murtagh, mixing engineer and audio educator. Updated 13 September 2026.