Put a vocal on an instrumental online
Vocal on instrumental takes your recorded vocal and the backing track of the same song, lines them up in time, balances and mixes them, and masters the result. It runs in your browser inside the Echoteka app, so there is nothing to install.
Listening to 30 seconds is free. The full track is charged in credits after sign-in.
What the tool does
- Aligns the two files in time. It compares the loudness envelopes of the vocal and the instrumental and shifts the vocal by up to 10 seconds when they match. If the match is weak, nothing is shifted and the tool says so.
- Cleans the voice with the options you tick: noise, sibilance, loudness and a light echo. Each option changes the voice only.
- Balances the voice against the instrumental, from −12 dB to +12 dB.
- Mixes the two tracks and runs the mix through the same mastering step as any other track in Echoteka.
What you need
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| The vocal | A file with the voice and no music |
| The instrumental | The backing track of the same song. Upload it, or after sign-in pick one from your earlier vocal remover results |
| Formats | WAV, MP3, FLAC, M4A, OGG and AIFF |
| Length | Up to 8 minutes per track |
Both files should be at the same tempo. If the key of the instrumental is wrong, shift it first with the key changer, which keeps the tempo. No instrumental yet? The vocal remover splits a song into a vocal and an instrumental.
The five voice options
All five start ticked. Untick any you do not want.
| Option | What it does to the voice |
|---|---|
| Align timing (recommended) | Shifts the vocal by up to 10 seconds to match the instrumental |
| Remove noise | Reduces hiss and background noise |
| Soften sibilance | Softens harsh s and t sounds in the 5 to 9 kHz band |
| Even out loudness | Evens the level between loud and quiet phrases |
| Light echo | Adds a light room reverb |
Balance
The slider runs from −12 dB, where the voice sits quieter than the instrumental, to +12 dB, where it sits louder. At 0 dB the voice and the instrumental are equally loud in their active parts. Start at zero and move from there. The same two files sound different at different balances, so listen before you settle.
Preview, credits and the full track
| What | Terms |
|---|---|
| Listen to 30 seconds | Free, no sign-in, within a daily limit that the tool shows. The preview uses your settings on the first 30 seconds of both files |
| The full track | Sign in, then mix and master the whole song. The price in credits appears before you start, and the credit is taken when the job is accepted |
| A failed job | The credits come back to your balance automatically. See the refund policy |
What you get
A 24-bit WAV of the mixed and mastered track. The result screen lets you compare the mix before mastering with the finished track after mastering. The mix itself is kept at or below −1 dBFS, so it does not distort.
Common problems
- The timing sounds off. If the tool did not shift the vocal, the files may not have a clear point to match. Trim the leading silence from both files in your editor, then mix again.
- The voice is buried. Move the balance toward the voice. A few decibels usually make the difference.
- The voice sounds hollow. Untick the option that changed it. Cleanup is optional.
- You hear distortion. Check both source files for clipping first, see audio clipping: what it is and how to fix it. The mix itself is kept below −1 dBFS.
Related tools
- Vocal remover: make the instrumental and the a cappella from a song.
- Key changer: move a backing track to your key, tempo kept.
- Stem splitter: vocals, drums, bass and other instruments as four stems.
- Guide: put a vocal on an instrumental online, step by step.
Is Vocal on instrumental free?
Listening to the first 30 seconds is free, without an account, within a daily limit that the tool shows. The full track needs an account and credits, and the price appears before you start.
How long can the tracks be?
Each track can be up to 8 minutes long. The tool accepts WAV, MP3, FLAC, M4A, OGG and AIFF.
What if the timing does not match?
The tool shifts the vocal by up to 10 seconds when the two files clearly match. If the match is weak, it leaves the vocal where it is and tells you so.
Does the tool fix off-key singing or wrong timing inside a phrase?
No. It moves the vocal in time as a whole, cleans it and mixes it with the instrumental. It does not correct the pitch or move single words.
Can I use an instrumental from the vocal remover?
Yes. After sign-in you can pick an instrumental from your earlier vocal remover results, so you do not upload it again.
What do I get back?
A 24-bit WAV of the mixed and mastered track. Listen to the 30-second preview first, for free.