I created the ultimate AI stem splitter tools cheatsheet, so you find the best one for you

As a musician, I know the frustration of choosing the right stem splitting tool. With so many options available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

But here’s the thing: picking the right stem splitter can help your music production workflow and unlock creative possibilities you never thought possible.

Download the cheatsheet here.

01 – What is stem separation actually?

Stem splitting is the process of separating a fully mixed audio track into its individual components, such as vocals, drums, bass, and other instruments. Think of it as having a magical audio surgeon that can precisely separate each layer of audio / music while maintaining pristine sound quality.

02 – 10 essential use cases for AI stem splitters:

AI stem splitting technology has changed various aspects of music production and content creation.

Here’s how different industries leverage this powerful tool:

Use case	Example application
Professional remixing	Creating official remixes by isolating vocals from songs for modern reinterpretations
Live performance enhancement	Isolating instrumental tracks for live karaoke or backing tracks during concerts
Karaoke production	Removing vocals while maintaining high-quality instrumental tracks for karaoke applications
Film scoring	Extracting specific elements from soundtracks to enhance particular scenes or create new arrangements
Sample creation	Isolating unique sounds or instruments for use in new productions
Voice-over production	Separating dialogue from background music in existing content for dubbing or translation
Audio restoration	Cleaning up and enhancing individual elements of historical recordings
Educational analysis	Studying individual instrument parts for music education and transcription
Custom backing tracks	Creating professional-quality accompaniment tracks for performers
Content creation	Extracting specific elements for social media content, podcasts, or video productions

03 – AI stem separation tool overview:

Tool Name	Interface Type	Pricing Model
Audioshake	Web-based	Freemium
Fadr	Plugin	Premium
LALAL.AI	Web-based	Freemium
iZotope RX 11	Plugin Module	Premium
Moises (Music.AI)	Web-based, App	Freemium
BandLab Splitter	Web-based, App	Free
Kits.AI	Web-based	Free
AudioStrip	Web-based	Freemium
Logic Pro 11	Standalone	Premium
SpectraLayers 11	Standalone	Premium
RipX DAW	Standalone	Premium
PEEL STEMS	Plugin	Premium

Download the cheatsheet here.

04 – Stem splitting capabilities

Here’s a breakdown of AI stem separation tools and their splitting capabilities:

Instruments	Music.AI	Logic Pro 11	Spectralayers 11	RX 11 Izotope	Lalal.ai	Fadr	Audioshake	AudioStrip	BandLab Splitter	PEEL STEMS	RipX DAW
Vocals	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Bass	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Drums	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Other	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Guitar	✅	❌	✅	❌	❌	❌	✅	✅	✅	❌	❌
Piano	✅	❌	✅	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌
Keys	✅	❌	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
Wind	✅	❌	❌	❌	✅	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌
Strings	✅	❌	❌	❌	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
Electric Guitar	✅	❌	❌	❌	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
Acoustic Guitar	✅	❌	❌	❌	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
Kick	✅	❌	✅	❌	❌	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
Snare	✅	❌	✅	❌	❌	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
Toms	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
Hi-hat	✅	❌	✅	❌	❌	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
Cymbals	✅	❌	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
Cinematic Separation	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
Guitar Solo/Rhythm	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌

05 – Source separation benchmarks:

Signal-to-Distortion Ratio (SDR) is a crucial metric in evaluating the performance of AI stem separation tools. It quantifies how effectively an AI model can isolate individual instruments from a complete mix, with higher SDR values indicating cleaner separation.

A recent SDR benchmarking study (mentioned by Music.AI), such as those using the MUSDB18-HQ dataset, provided valuable insights into the capabilities of various models. This high-quality dataset, consisting of 150 uncompressed WAV files, offers a robust testing ground for AI separation algorithms.

However, it’s important to note that while SDR is a useful objective measure, it doesn’t always correlate directly with perceived audio quality. As an audio professional recently pointed out to me, the “best-sounding” model might not always have the highest SDR score.

That’s why I always recommend trying different tools yourself to find the one that best suits your specific needs and preferences. Each project may require a different approach, so hands-on experience with various models is invaluable.

06 – How to pick the right AI stem splitter

💰 Budget considerations:

• Free Tier: BandLab Splitter provides unlimited splits with basic separation capabilities, making it an accessible entry point for beginners and casual users.
• Mid-Range Solutions: LALAL.AI offers 10 minutes of free splitting with paid packages starting at $18 for 90 splitting minutes, providing professional-grade separation for vocals, instruments, drums, and bass.
• Premium Services: Audioshake offers an Indie tier starting at $20 monthly for basic access (4 stems), with advanced features in higher-tier plans, while also providing custom enterprise solutions for larger clients

🖖🏻 Separation quality:

• Test free tiers before purchasing to evaluate separation quality
• Consider the number of stems needed – some tools offer basic vocal/instrumental separation while others provide up to 10 individual stems
• Check supported file formats – most quality tools handle MP3, WAV, FLAC, and video formats

💻 Interface preferences:

• Web-based platforms like Kits.AI and BandLab offer immediate access without installation1
• Standalone software provides more robust features but requires local processing
• Mobile apps like Moises enable on-the-go stem splitting

🔉 Audio quality requirements:

• Check maximum file size limits (LALAL.AI supports up to 2GB)
• Verify output format options – professional work may require WAV or FLAC
• Consider processing speed needs – premium tiers often offer faster processing

Additional selection criteria

• Evaluate batch processing capabilities for multiple files
• Check integration options with your existing DAW or workflow
• Consider community support and regular updates
• Look for additional features like pitch/tempo adjustment that may add value

Remember, the most expensive option isn’t always the best choice – select a tool that matches your specific workflow needs and production requirements.