How do I strip the vocals out of an mp3 file using Audacity?

I've got a song that I want to strip the vocals out of, but keep the instrumentals, and I already have Audacity, but any free sound editor will do.How do I strip the vocals out of an mp3 file using Audacity?
Unfortunately there's no magic button that indefinitely removes the vocals from a song, often distortions will be left behind, this is especially so with more modern stereo tracks due to the song being spread over different sound sources. Certain programs like audacity enable you to split the track into different channels. Audacity's own tutorial goes through a number of different processes, i'll summaries them for you, however for a more in depth look, best look at the source site provided.



For songs where the vocals are in the middle and the instrumental parts surround split the stereo track into its left and right channels, make both mono, invert all (or a selected part) of one of them, and play back the result.



If you have an unusual stereo track where the vocals are mixed hard into one channel and everything else hard into the other channel, you can simply split the stereo track into left and right and delete the vocal channel. To split a stereo track in Audacity, click on the downward pointing arrow at the top of the Track Panel (where the mute/solo buttons are ) then on Split stereo track. To delete one of the channels, click the [X] to left of the downward pointing arrow. Finally, click the downward pointing arrow again and choose "Mono".



It can get very complicated and in most circumstances proves highly ineffective, sometimes when bands release a catchy song, they'll also release an instrumental version as well that can be found in special edition albums or around the internet.



Hope that can help at all, maybe if you posted the song you wanted it may be easier for the sound experts to tell you whether its possible without specialist sound tools.How do I strip the vocals out of an mp3 file using Audacity?
You would need something more complex than Audacity.



You would have to use a tool that can "best guess" the vocals, since they don't appear as a separate track in an MP3. And, even then, you might not be able to remove them completely, just quiet them down.