Minus one · Updated 2 October 2026
How to make a minus one
from the song you already have.
To make a minus one, separate the vocals from a song and keep the music. You can then sing over the instrumental, or bring back a quiet guide vocal while you learn it.
A minus one is a backing track with the singer removed. Start with an audio file of the arrangement you want to perform: the same introduction, verses, instrumental breaks and ending will be in your backing track. Mirinex separates the recording you provide; it does not compose a new accompaniment.
Make and download your backing track
- Choose your song. Open the karaoke maker and select Choose a song. Pick an audio file such as MP3, WAV or M4A. You can also start with a supported video file.
- Listen to the Music track. When separation finishes, select Music and press Play. This keeps the accompaniment and mutes the separated vocals.
- Compare a verse and chorus. Use Original to hear the source recording, then turn that comparison off to return to your mix. Listen for the singer's words, cymbals, guitar and sustained notes.
- Add a guide vocal if useful. Select Both, then lower the Vocals fader until the singer is a quiet reference. Return to Music when you want the instrumental alone.
- Download your chosen mix. For an audio source, Download mix produces a WAV. Download both tracks gives you the separate vocals and music as WAV files in a ZIP, useful if you want to mix them in another editor.
Make the minus one fit your voice
If the chorus is too high or the verse too low, save the instrumental and open the pitch changer. Move the pitch a semitone at a time and leave speed at 100% to keep the original tempo. Try the song's highest and lowest phrases before choosing a key.
For a practice excerpt, use the audio cutter to keep the section you need. Leave enough of the lead-in to find your entrance.
Why can I still hear a little singing?
The voice and instruments overlap in a finished mix. Reverb, backing vocals or a doubled lead can leave traces in the music track, and some instrumental detail may change during separation. Check the passages you will actually use. A cleaner source recording may give a better result than repeatedly processing an already separated track.
Does a minus one include karaoke lyrics?
The output is an audio backing track. The karaoke maker does not add scrolling lyrics or make a lyric video. If you need words on a screen, prepare them separately in your presentation or video editor.
Hear the first minute of your own file. A Day Pass or Pro processes the whole thing.