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Guide · Open source

How to use Ultimate Vocal Remover GUI: install and separate vocals

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

Ultimate Vocal Remover GUI (UVR) is a graphical app that uses trained source separation models to remove vocals from a song, leaving an instrumental track, or to split out the vocals on their own. This guide is for people who want to do that without using the command line. By the end you will know which installer to download for your system, what the optional FFmpeg and Rubber Band pieces are for, and where the common setup problems come from.

Ultimate Vocal RemoverAnjok07/ultimatevocalremovergui · ★ 26.9k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Pick your system. Choose the Windows installer, the macOS DMG for your chip, or the Linux instructions.
  2. 2Install the app. Run the installer or DMG. On Mac, follow the README's Terminal steps only if the app will not open.
  3. 3Launch and wait. On macOS the first start can take 5 to 10 minutes. Allow it to finish.
  4. 4Load your song. Pick the audio file you want to process inside the app.
  5. 5Choose a model and run separation. Select a model and output in the interface, then start processing.
  6. 6Use the result. Use the instrumental for karaoke or the vocal track for isolation.

What Ultimate Vocal Remover does

Ultimate Vocal Remover takes an existing audio file and separates it using source separation models. You can keep the instrumental, keep the vocals, or work with the stems the models produce.

People use it to make karaoke tracks, practise with backing music, or isolate a part of a recording. The README says the core developers trained all bundled models except the Demucs v3 and v4 4-stem models.

Install Ultimate Vocal Remover on Windows

Use the Windows installer if you are on Windows 10 or higher. The installer bundles the interface, Python, PyTorch and other dependencies, so no prerequisites are required. Install to the main C:\ drive, because the README warns that installing to a secondary drive causes instability.

If you have an AMD Radeon or Intel Arc graphics card, the README mentions a DirectML version you can try. If UVR is already installed, you can install the new package over it or use the patch linked in the README.

  • Windows 7 or lower: functionality is not guaranteed.
  • Intel Pentium and Celeron CPUs: functionality is not guaranteed.

Install Ultimate Vocal Remover on macOS

Download the DMG that matches your chip. Mac M1 (arm64) and Mac Intel (x86_64) have separate files. The README says the bundle is intended for macOS Big Sur and above, and that the first launch may take 5 to 10 minutes.

If macOS refuses to open the app, the README describes a workaround using Terminal commands. It recommends re-enabling the security setting once UVR opens properly.

  • macOS Catalina or lower: functionality is not guaranteed.
  • Older or budget Mac systems: functionality is not guaranteed.
sudo spctl --master-disable sudo xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine /Applications/Ultimate\ Vocal\ Remover.app

Install on Linux or with a manual setup

The README's Linux instructions are for Debian and Arch-based systems. You download the repository, install FFmpeg, pip and Tk with your package manager, then create a Python virtual environment inside the extracted folder.

If you prefer to clone the repository, the README gives this command for the manual route. Manual installs use the requirements file and, on Windows, a Python 3.9 download; on macOS, Python 3.10.

git clone https://github.com/Anjok07/ultimatevocalremovergui

Add FFmpeg and Rubber Band (optional tools)

FFmpeg is needed for the manual Windows and Linux routes and is listed in the README's macOS manual steps. On Windows, the README says to extract ffmpeg.exe into the UVR application directory.

Rubber Band is only needed if you want the Time Stretch or Change Pitch tool. The README gives separate file lists for Windows and macOS.

Separate vocals from a song

Open the application, choose the audio file you want to process, and select the model and output you need. The README does not describe the exact on-screen menus, so check the in-app options for names and settings.

Your output will be an instrumental track, a vocal track, or both, depending on the options you choose.

  • Use an instrumental for karaoke or practice backing.
  • Use the vocal stem to study or isolate a singer.

What people use it for

  • Making a karaoke version of a favourite song
  • Practising an instrument or singing along with backing music
  • Isolating vocals from a recording for study
  • Splitting out an instrumental from a live or rehearsal recording

Frequently asked questions

Is Ultimate Vocal Remover free?

The project is released under the MIT licence, as stated in the repository. The README links a donation page, but it does not list any price for the app.

What are the system requirements for Ultimate Vocal Remover?

The README says Windows 10 or higher is the intended target, and macOS Big Sur or above is the intended target for Mac. Windows 7 or lower, Intel Pentium and Celeron CPUs, and older or budget Macs are not guaranteed to work.

Does Ultimate Vocal Remover work on Mac?

Yes. The README provides separate DMG files for Apple Silicon (M1, arm64) and Intel (x86_64) Macs. If macOS blocks the app, the README gives Terminal steps to allow it to open.

Do I need to install Python to use it?

For the standard installers, no. The README says the bundles include Python and the other dependencies. Python is only needed for the manual installation routes.

Why won't UVR open on my Mac?

The README attributes this to Apple's application security and notarization rules. It suggests running two sudo commands in Terminal to allow the app to open, and recommends re-enabling the security setting afterwards.

What are alternatives to Ultimate Vocal Remover?

The source lists Demucs, Spleeter, Open-Unmix and audio-separator as comparable projects. Those are command-line or library tools rather than a point-and-click GUI, so they suit developers more than the typical UVR user.

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Our verdict

Ultimate Vocal Remover suits musicians and hobbyists on Windows, macOS or Linux who want karaoke or practice tracks through a point-and-click app. Skip it if you need a hosted web service with no install, a programmatic API, or you are on very old or budget hardware.

Install options & downloads