Open your preferred digital audio workstation, either by double-clicking the desktop icon or launching it from the “Start” and “Programs” menus. If using a Mac, double-click or launch it from the “Applications” folder.
Open the relevant session. If you are editing an MP3, open a new session. If you are editing an existing multi-track session, open that session. The exact process varies slightly according to the program you are using, but both commands are located in the “File” menu.
Quit any unneeded sessions.
Import the MP3 whose vocals you want to remove. The import command is typically located under the file menu. For example, in Logic, click “File” and “Import Audio” and select from the drop-down menu. Once imported, the audio opens in a new channel.
Open the equalizer. This is under the “Tools” or “Effects” menu, depending on the program. The equalizer lets you boost and cut the frequencies in a sound-recording.
Click “Play” and let the track roll to hear the effects of the equalizer in real time.
Click on the frequency curve. This is the wave graphic that appears in the equalizer grid. The vertical axis in the grid represents amplitude and the horizontal axis represents frequency. Move the curve around with the cursor to amplify different frequencies. Release the cursor when the vocals become loud. This means you’ve identified one of the main frequency ranges. Once you release the cursor, the frequency range remains highlighted.
Click on “Gain” and move the virtual slider dial to zero. This mutes that frequency from the audio. This process won’t get rid of all vocal sounds, as the human vocals occupy a wide frequency range, typically between 80 hertz and 8 kilohertz. Repeat the equalization process as if “distilling” the vocals from the audio. Click “Save” once the vocals are gone and rename the track “Song Title Minus Vox.”
Click on the first vocal track to highlight it. Highlighting assigns all future commands to that specific track, rather than the session as a hole.
Click “Send To” and select “Bus 1.” In an audio context, a bus is a mix channel for routing multiple tracks.
Click “M” to mute the track. Repeat this process for each vocal track so they are muted in the mix.
Click on “Bus 1” to highlight it.
Export the “Bus 1” channel as a WAV. The export command is typically located in the file menu.