Separating instruments from a song: drums, bass, piano and guitar
What stem separation is, which instrument layers the models pull out, and the paid 6-layer mode that gives guitar its own layer. Covers 4, 5 and 6 stems.
What is stem separation?
Stem separation splits an already-mixed song into several independent files, each holding one instrument group or the vocal. A "stem" is one such independent layer, for example the drums alone, the bass alone, or the vocal alone.
A model estimates each layer from the final mix; it does not retrieve the original per-instrument studio files. The result is always a reconstruction, never the original session.
Which instrument layers can the AI separate?
On Tách Nhạc's vocal remover online, the live processing methods separate a fixed set of layers, not an adjustable count: Spleeter separates 2, 4 or 5 layers, HTDemucs separates 2 or 4 layers when it runs on your device and 2, 4 or 6 layers when it runs on our server, Moises separates lead vocal, backing vocal and instrumental (3 layers). This is each model's real capability, distinct from how many free runs or minutes each tier allows.
In 4-layer mode Spleeter and HTDemucs both split a song into: vocals, drums, bass and everything else (guitar, keys, strings and horns combined in one file). 5-layer mode currently runs only on Spleeter and pulls an additional piano layer out of that remaining group, for five files total: vocals, drums, bass, piano, and other instruments. 6-layer mode runs only on HTDemucs (Server), paid with Energy, and pulls guitar as well as piano out of the remaining group, for six files: vocals, drums, bass, guitar, piano, and other instruments.
| What you want | Pick this mode | Supported processing method |
|---|---|---|
| Drums | 4 stems (or 5, 6 stems) | Spleeter, HTDemucs |
| Bass | 4 stems (or 5, 6 stems) | Spleeter, HTDemucs |
| Piano separate from other instruments | 5 stems or 6 stems | Spleeter (5 stems), HTDemucs (Server, 6 stems) |
| Guitar on its own | 6 stems | HTDemucs (Server) only, paid with Energy |
Does guitar get a layer of its own?
Yes, but only in the 6-layer mode of HTDemucs (Server), paid with Energy. That mode runs its own model checkpoint, trained to output guitar and piano sources too, so each of them gets a file. In 2, 4 or 5-stem mode, guitar still lands in the "other instruments" group along with keys, strings and everything else. That is a real limit of those models, not something Tách Nhạc blocks.
To use it, pick HTDemucs (Server) in the processing-method panel, then pick 6 stems. The guitar layer is still an AI estimate, not the original recording of the instrument.
How do 4 stems and 5 stems differ?
The 5-stem mode (server-side, currently a paid tier once free runs are used up) is designed to pull an extra piano layer out of the remaining instrument group. The only difference between the two modes is the remaining instrument group: 4 stems keeps piano bundled with guitar and other instruments in one file, 5 stems pulls piano out of that group. Vocals, drums and bass separate identically in both modes, neither is cleaner because you picked 5 stems.
If a song has no piano, 5 stems gives you nothing beyond 4 stems except one nearly-silent extra file.
The 5-stem server pipeline exists in the UI and model, but the Tách Nhạc team has not fully verified it end-to-end for every case. If a returned piano file is not what you expected, try 4 stems for the combined instrument group instead of relying on the piano layer alone.
What are separated instruments used for?
For a deeper look at individual layers, see removing drums from a song and isolating the bass line, which cover the how-to and limits of each layer in depth.
- Practising along with the exact drum or bass part from the original, without other instruments in the way
- Using the remaining instrument group (which includes guitar in 4 and 5-layer mode) as a bed to play or record over
- Comparing arrangement across layers when studying orchestration
- Recombining files to build a custom mix, for example keeping bass and drums while dropping the other-instruments group
Primary sources
Can instrument separation pull out guitar on its own?
Yes, in the 6-stem mode of HTDemucs (Server), paid with Energy. In 2, 4 and 5-stem mode, guitar stays in the "other instruments" group.
Which mode isolates piano?
Pick 5 stems with Spleeter, or 6 stems with HTDemucs (Server): both have a dedicated piano layer. The 5-stem pipeline is not yet fully verified end-to-end, so try 4 or 6 stems if a result looks off.
Do 4 stems and 5 stems separate drums and bass differently?
No, neither is cleaner. Vocals, drums and bass separate identically in both; the only difference is that 5 stems pulls piano out of the remaining instrument group.
Do I need to install software to separate instruments?
No. Upload the file or paste a link, choose the stem count, the server or your browser processes it, then download each layer.