These steps use DropWave Editor, a plugin for Mac (AU, VST3 and CLAP, free during the beta).
1. Let it hear the song once
Put DropWave Editor on the track the song is on, press Capture and play the song through, start to end. Or drop the audio file on its window. It captures up to 12 minutes.
2. Stop the DAW
The capture finishes by itself. The Editor reads the key, tempo and tuning, then splits the song into vocals, drums, bass and other, on your Mac, in about 15 seconds per minute of song. Splitting needs macOS 15 or later. Nothing is uploaded, and the track keeps playing meanwhile.
3. It plays the stems
From then on the track plays as your mix of its four stems, in time with your DAW, through everything after it on the channel.
- In Stems, mute or solo a stem, or mute it in just one section of the song.
- In Mix, each stem has its level, pan, EQ and compressor.
- Compare switches it all off, in time, so you hear the song as it came in.
Every control can be automated like any other plugin.
What it's for
A vocal-free version to practise or perform over, the drums alone to study a groove, a remix sketch, a DJ edit, a reference to mix against. Splitting a song doesn't change who owns it, so use songs you have the rights to.