Split a song into stems right inside your DAW

Split by NAUPLY Stems for desktop into 4 stems, MEDIUM quality (Premium and Pro editions), untouched. Each stem is brought to the same loudness so you can compare by ear; MP3 128 kbps. Song and stems: NAUPLY's own material, no third-party song.

Plugin vs. website: what changes

With a website, the song goes to a server and you get back files to sort. As a plugin, the separation runs on your computer, in the background, while your project stays open: nothing is uploaded, there is no queue, and the separated stems stay attached to the project.

The other difference is the work that follows. In the plugin, each stem has its own volume, solo and mute, playback follows your DAW's transport, and an A–B loop lets you work on a passage. You never leave your session.

Step by step with NAUPLY Stems

Stems loads as an instrument (VST3 on Mac and PC, AU on Mac). Click “IMPORT A SONG…”, choose the number of stems and the quality, then let the separation run. While it computes, you can keep working in your project.

Once the song is separated, the always-visible transport bar (playback, A–B loop, metronome) lets you listen to each stem on its own. Drag a stem from the plugin onto an audio track in your project, or export it as WAV. The “RECENT” list reopens the last 20 songs with their settings.

No DAW at hand? The Stems installer also includes a standalone app, with the same separation and the same mixer.

How many stems, and in which edition

The Free edition (a NAUPLY account is all you need, valid for 6 months) separates into 2 stems, vocals and instrumental, in BASIC quality. Premium goes up to 6 stems (vocals, drums, bass, guitar, piano, other) in MEDIUM quality. Pro goes up to 10 stems: the drums themselves are split into kick, snare, toms and cymbals, in MAXIMUM quality.

The more stems, the longer the processing. For an instrumental or an acapella, 2 stems are enough; to work on drums or bass, you need at least 4 stems.

What to know before you start

The separation models are in the installer: nothing to download afterwards, and separation works offline. The internet is only used for the license. So plan for the disk space the installation needs, and a little patience on an older computer.

The result is a reconstruction computed by an AI model, not the original studio track. On a dense mix, traces of one instrument sometimes remain in another. A bit of EQ or a fade usually takes care of most of it.

What about rights?

Separating a song to listen to it, study it or practice at home is private use. Releasing a remix or a sample taken from a copyrighted song requires permission from the rights holders. Preferably work on your own songs or on royalty-free tracks.

Frequently asked questions

What is a stem splitter plugin?

A plugin (VST3 or AU) that splits a mixed song into separate stems (vocals, drums, bass, instruments) directly in your DAW, without going through a website.

Does NAUPLY Stems upload my songs to the internet?

No. The separation is computed on your computer with models installed along with the plugin. The internet is only used to check the license.

How many stems in the free edition?

Two: vocals and instrumental, in BASIC quality. Premium goes up to 6 stems, Pro up to 10.

Do I need a DAW?

No: the installer also includes a standalone app that separates, mixes and exports stems without any other software.

What formats are the stems exported in?

32-bit float WAV in every edition; Premium adds 24 / 16-bit WAV, AIFF and mixdown export.

More guides

• How to separate the stems of a song: vocals, drums, bass and instruments3 min read
• Separate stems without uploading your songs: the local alternative2 min read
• Isolate the drums from a song (even the kick or the snare)3 min read
• An acapella locked to your project tempo2 min read
• NAUPLY Stems tutorial: split a song into stems inside your DAW5 min read

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