November 11, 2026
Guide
A karaoke video needs a backing track: the music without the lead vocal, so someone else can sing. If you recorded the song yourself, you may have that instrumental in your project files. Often you don’t. This guide covers both cases.
The short answer
No. If all you have is the finished mix of your own song, you can upload it. AI vocal separation splits the singing from the music, and your karaoke video plays the backing track.
If you still have the instrumental
Some artists export an instrumental at mixdown, or can open the session and mute the vocal. That file is the cleanest backing track you can get, because nothing has been separated after the fact. If you have one, keep it safe: it is useful for live shows and rehearsals as well.
If you only have the finished mix
This is the common case. The session is on an old laptop, the producer has the stems, or the song was recorded live in one take. Upload the full recording as an MP3, WAV, M4A or AAC file. KaraokeForge separates the vocal from the music as the first step, before the lyrics are timed.
What to expect from AI vocal separation
Separation is good, and it is not perfect. The separated backing track can keep faint traces of the original vocal. They are easiest to hear:
under long held notes and heavy reverb;
where backing vocals double the lead;
in quiet passages with little else playing.
Listen to the backing track on its own before you export. For most sing-along uses, a faint trace is covered as soon as someone starts singing.
Tips for a cleaner result
Upload the best-quality file you have. A full-quality WAV gives the separation more to work with than a small MP3.
Use the final mix, not a phone recording of it playing in a room.
If you have several masters, choose the one with the least added reverb on the voice.
Whose songs can you use?
Use only audio and lyrics you own or have permission to use. Vocal separation does not change who owns a recording. If the song is yours, or the rights holder has said yes, you are fine.
Then what?
Once the vocal is separated, paste your lyrics, check the timing in the editor and export an MP4. The step-by-step guide is in “How to make a karaoke video from your own song”.