Stem Separation

Overview

AudioPod AI’s Stem Separation API uses state-of-the-art AI models to separate mixed audio recordings into individual components (stems). Extract vocals, drums, bass, guitar, piano, and more from any song.

Key Features

Granular Separation: two, four, six, producer (8), studio (12), mastering (16) — plus single-instrument isolation from an expanded catalog of up to ~45 individual stems
Single-Instrument Isolation: Pull out one specific instrument (or vocals) and everything-else from the advanced catalog
File Upload & URL Support: Process local files or YouTube/SoundCloud URLs
Quality Scores: Get AI-assessed quality metrics for each stem
Presigned Downloads: Direct S3 URLs for fast stem downloads

Installation

Python
Node.js

pip install audiopod

npm install audiopod

Authentication

Get your API key from the API Keys Dashboard.

Python
Node.js
cURL

from audiopod import AudioPod

client = AudioPod(api_key="ap_your_api_key")
# Or set AUDIOPOD_API_KEY environment variable

import AudioPod from 'audiopod';

const client = new AudioPod({ apiKey: 'ap_your_api_key' });
// Or set AUDIOPOD_API_KEY environment variable

export AUDIOPOD_API_KEY="ap_your_api_key"
# Use -H "X-API-Key: $AUDIOPOD_API_KEY" in requests

Separation Modes

Mode	Stems	Output	Use Case
`single`	1	Specified stem only	Vocal isolation, drum extraction
`two`	2	vocals + instrumental	Karaoke tracks
`four`	4	vocals, drums, bass, other	Standard remixing
`six`	6	+ guitar, piano	Full instrument separation
`producer`	8	+ kick, snare, hihat	Beat production
`studio`	12	+ cymbals, sub_bass, synth	Professional mixing
`mastering`	16	Maximum detail	Forensic analysis

Expanded catalog. Beyond the fixed modes above, single-instrument isolation can target one specific instrument from an advanced catalog of up to ~45 individual stems (e.g. lead vocal, backing vocal, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, strings, brass, and more). Use mode="single" with the stem you want; the response returns that stem plus an everything-else track.

Quick Start

Six-Stem Separation

Python
Node.js
cURL

from audiopod import AudioPod

client = AudioPod(api_key="ap_your_api_key")

# Extract and wait for completion
result = client.stems.separate(
    url="https://youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID",
    mode="six"
)

# Download stems
print("Stems ready:")
for stem, url in result["download_urls"].items():
    print(f"  {stem}: {url[:60]}...")

import AudioPod from 'audiopod';

const client = new AudioPod({ apiKey: 'ap_your_api_key' });

// Extract and wait for completion
const result = await client.stems.separate({
  url: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID',
  mode: 'six'
});

// Download stems
console.log('Stems ready:');
for (const [stem, url] of Object.entries(result.download_urls)) {
  console.log(`  ${stem}: ${url.substring(0, 60)}...`);
}

# Submit job
curl -X POST "https://api.audiopod.ai/api/v1/stem-extraction/api/extract" \
  -H "X-API-Key: $AUDIOPOD_API_KEY" \
  -F "url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID" \
  -F "mode=six"

# Check status (replace JOB_ID)
curl -X GET "https://api.audiopod.ai/api/v1/stem-extraction/status/JOB_ID" \
  -H "X-API-Key: $AUDIOPOD_API_KEY"

Examples by Mode

Four-Stem Separation (Standard)

Extract vocals, drums, bass, and other.

from audiopod import AudioPod

client = AudioPod(api_key="ap_your_api_key")

result = client.stems.separate(
    url="https://youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID",
    mode="four"
)

print(f"Vocals: {result['download_urls']['vocals']}")
print(f"Drums: {result['download_urls']['drums']}")
print(f"Bass: {result['download_urls']['bass']}")
print(f"Other: {result['download_urls']['other']}")

from audiopod import AudioPod

client = AudioPod(api_key="ap_your_api_key")

result = client.stems.separate(
    file="/path/to/song.mp3",
    mode="four"
)

for stem, url in result["download_urls"].items():
    print(f"{stem}: {url}")

import AudioPod from 'audiopod';

const client = new AudioPod({ apiKey: 'ap_your_api_key' });

const result = await client.stems.separate({
  url: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID',
  mode: 'four'
});

console.log(`Vocals: ${result.download_urls.vocals}`);
console.log(`Drums: ${result.download_urls.drums}`);
console.log(`Bass: ${result.download_urls.bass}`);
console.log(`Other: ${result.download_urls.other}`);

import AudioPod from 'audiopod';

const client = new AudioPod({ apiKey: 'ap_your_api_key' });

const result = await client.stems.separate({
  file: '/path/to/song.mp3',
  mode: 'four'
});

for (const [stem, url] of Object.entries(result.download_urls)) {
  console.log(`${stem}: ${url}`);
}

curl -X POST "https://api.audiopod.ai/api/v1/stem-extraction/api/extract" \
  -H "X-API-Key: $AUDIOPOD_API_KEY" \
  -F "url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID" \
  -F "mode=four"

curl -X POST "https://api.audiopod.ai/api/v1/stem-extraction/api/extract" \
  -H "X-API-Key: $AUDIOPOD_API_KEY" \
  -F "file=@/path/to/song.mp3" \
  -F "mode=four"

Single Stem Extraction (Vocals Only)

Python
Node.js
cURL

from audiopod import AudioPod

client = AudioPod(api_key="ap_your_api_key")

# Extract only vocals
result = client.stems.separate(
    url="https://youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID",
    mode="single",
    stem="vocals"  # Options: vocals, drums, bass, guitar, piano, other
)

print(f"Vocals: {result['download_urls']['vocals']}")

import AudioPod from 'audiopod';

const client = new AudioPod({ apiKey: 'ap_your_api_key' });

// Extract only vocals
const result = await client.stems.separate({
  url: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID',
  mode: 'single',
  stem: 'vocals' // Options: vocals, drums, bass, guitar, piano, other
});

console.log(`Vocals: ${result.download_urls.vocals}`);

curl -X POST "https://api.audiopod.ai/api/v1/stem-extraction/api/extract" \
  -H "X-API-Key: $AUDIOPOD_API_KEY" \
  -F "url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID" \
  -F "mode=single" \
  -F "stem=vocals"

Two-Stem Separation (Karaoke)

Separate vocals from instrumental.

Python
Node.js
cURL

from audiopod import AudioPod

client = AudioPod(api_key="ap_your_api_key")

result = client.stems.separate(
    url="https://youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID",
    mode="two"
)

# Returns: vocals + no_vocals (instrumental)
print(f"Vocals: {result['download_urls']['vocals']}")
print(f"Instrumental: {result['download_urls']['no_vocals']}")

import AudioPod from 'audiopod';

const client = new AudioPod({ apiKey: 'ap_your_api_key' });

const result = await client.stems.separate({
  url: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID',
  mode: 'two'
});

// Returns: vocals + no_vocals (instrumental)
console.log(`Vocals: ${result.download_urls.vocals}`);
console.log(`Instrumental: ${result.download_urls.no_vocals}`);

curl -X POST "https://api.audiopod.ai/api/v1/stem-extraction/api/extract" \
  -H "X-API-Key: $AUDIOPOD_API_KEY" \
  -F "url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID" \
  -F "mode=two"

Producer Mode (8 Stems with Drum Kit)

Python
Node.js
cURL

from audiopod import AudioPod

client = AudioPod(api_key="ap_your_api_key")

result = client.stems.separate(
    url="https://youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID",
    mode="producer"
)

# Returns: vocals, kick, snare, hihat, bass, guitar, piano, other
for stem, url in result["download_urls"].items():
    print(f"{stem}: {url[:60]}...")

import AudioPod from 'audiopod';

const client = new AudioPod({ apiKey: 'ap_your_api_key' });

const result = await client.stems.separate({
  url: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID',
  mode: 'producer'
});

// Returns: vocals, kick, snare, hihat, bass, guitar, piano, other
for (const [stem, url] of Object.entries(result.download_urls)) {
  console.log(`${stem}: ${url.substring(0, 60)}...`);
}

curl -X POST "https://api.audiopod.ai/api/v1/stem-extraction/api/extract" \
  -H "X-API-Key: $AUDIOPOD_API_KEY" \
  -F "url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID" \
  -F "mode=producer"

Advanced Usage

Async Job Handling

For more control, use extract() and wait_for_completion() separately:

Python
Node.js

from audiopod import AudioPod

client = AudioPod(api_key="ap_your_api_key")

# Submit job (returns immediately)
job = client.stems.extract(
    url="https://youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID",
    mode="six"
)
print(f"Job submitted: {job['id']}")

# Do other work...

# Wait for completion when ready
result = client.stems.wait_for_completion(job["id"], timeout=600)

if result["status"] == "COMPLETED":
    print("Download URLs:")
    for stem, url in result["download_urls"].items():
        print(f"  {stem}: {url}")

import AudioPod from 'audiopod';

const client = new AudioPod({ apiKey: 'ap_your_api_key' });

// Submit job (returns immediately)
const job = await client.stems.extract({
  url: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID',
  mode: 'six'
});
console.log(`Job submitted: ${job.id}`);

// Do other work...

// Wait for completion when ready
const result = await client.stems.waitForCompletion(job.id, 600000);

if (result.status === 'COMPLETED') {
  console.log('Download URLs:');
  for (const [stem, url] of Object.entries(result.download_urls)) {
    console.log(`  ${stem}: ${url}`);
  }
}

Get Available Modes

Python
Node.js
cURL

from audiopod import AudioPod

client = AudioPod(api_key="ap_your_api_key")

modes = client.stems.modes()

print("Available modes:")
for m in modes["modes"]:
    print(f"  {m['mode']}: {m['description']} ({m['stem_count']} stems)")

import AudioPod from 'audiopod';

const client = new AudioPod({ apiKey: 'ap_your_api_key' });

const modes = await client.stems.modes();

console.log('Available modes:');
modes.modes.forEach(m => {
  console.log(`  ${m.mode}: ${m.description} (${m.stem_count} stems)`);
});

curl -X GET "https://api.audiopod.ai/api/v1/stem-extraction/modes"

Check Job Status

Python
Node.js
cURL

from audiopod import AudioPod

client = AudioPod(api_key="ap_your_api_key")

status = client.stems.status(5512)

print(f"Status: {status['status']}")

if status["status"] == "COMPLETED":
    print("Quality scores:")
    for stem, score in status["quality_scores"].items():
        print(f"  {stem}: {score:.2f}")

import AudioPod from 'audiopod';

const client = new AudioPod({ apiKey: 'ap_your_api_key' });

const status = await client.stems.status(5512);

console.log(`Status: ${status.status}`);

if (status.status === 'COMPLETED') {
  console.log('Quality scores:');
  for (const [stem, score] of Object.entries(status.quality_scores)) {
    console.log(`  ${stem}: ${score.toFixed(2)}`);
  }
}

curl -X GET "https://api.audiopod.ai/api/v1/stem-extraction/status/5512" \
  -H "X-API-Key: $AUDIOPOD_API_KEY"

Response Format

Completed Job Response:

{
  "id": 5512,
  "status": "COMPLETED",
  "source_type": "URL",
  "stem_paths": {
    "vocals": "stems/5512/vocals.wav",
    "drums": "stems/5512/drums.wav",
    "bass": "stems/5512/bass.wav",
    "guitar": "stems/5512/guitar.wav",
    "piano": "stems/5512/piano.wav",
    "other": "stems/5512/other.wav"
  },
  "quality_scores": {
    "vocals": 0.64,
    "drums": 0.35,
    "bass": 0.87,
    "guitar": 0.38,
    "piano": 0.0,
    "other": 0.36
  },
  "download_urls": {
    "vocals": "https://media.audiopod.ai/...",
    "drums": "https://media.audiopod.ai/...",
    "bass": "https://media.audiopod.ai/...",
    "guitar": "https://media.audiopod.ai/...",
    "piano": "https://media.audiopod.ai/...",
    "other": "https://media.audiopod.ai/..."
  },
  "completed_at": "2025-12-11T12:39:37.379848"
}

Pricing

Base rate: $0.10 per minute of audio processed for standard modes (2stem, 4stem, 6stem, 16stem).

Duration	Cost (standard modes)
3 minutes	$0.30
5 minutes	$0.50
10 minutes	$1.00
1 hour	$6.00

Premium packages

Premium separation packages route through a higher-fidelity engine and bill at a multiplier of the base rate:

Package	Multiplier	Effective rate
`karaoke` (lead vocal + backing vocal + instrumental)	1.5×	$0.15/min
`vocal_gender` (male + female + instrumental)	1.5×	$0.15/min
`instrument_isolator` (any single instrument + everything-else)	2.0×	$0.20/min

Check your balance and usage at API Wallet.

Error Handling

Python
Node.js

from audiopod import AudioPod, InsufficientBalanceError, AuthenticationError

try:
    client = AudioPod(api_key="ap_...")
    result = client.stems.separate(url="...", mode="six")
except AuthenticationError:
    print("Invalid API key")
except InsufficientBalanceError as e:
    print(f"Need ${e.required_cents / 100:.2f}, have ${e.available_cents / 100:.2f}")
except ValueError as e:
    print(f"Invalid input: {e}")

import AudioPod, { InsufficientBalanceError, AuthenticationError } from 'audiopod';

try {
  const client = new AudioPod({ apiKey: 'ap_...' });
  const result = await client.stems.separate({ url: '...', mode: 'six' });
} catch (error) {
  if (error instanceof AuthenticationError) {
    console.log('Invalid API key');
  } else if (error instanceof InsufficientBalanceError) {
    console.log(`Need $${error.requiredCents / 100}, have $${error.availableCents / 100}`);
  } else {
    console.log(`Error: ${error.message}`);
  }
}

Status Codes

Status	Description
`PENDING`	Job queued, waiting for worker
`PROCESSING`	Stem separation in progress
`COMPLETED`	Success - download URLs available
`FAILED`	Error occurred - check error_message

Overview

Key Features

Installation

Authentication

Separation Modes

Quick Start

Six-Stem Separation

Examples by Mode

Four-Stem Separation (Standard)

Single Stem Extraction (Vocals Only)

Two-Stem Separation (Karaoke)

Producer Mode (8 Stems with Drum Kit)

Advanced Usage

Async Job Handling

Get Available Modes

Check Job Status

Response Format

Pricing

Premium packages

Error Handling

Status Codes

Next Steps

API Wallet

Noise Reduction

​Overview

​Key Features

​Installation

​Authentication

​Separation Modes

​Quick Start

​Six-Stem Separation

​Examples by Mode

​Four-Stem Separation (Standard)

​Single Stem Extraction (Vocals Only)

​Two-Stem Separation (Karaoke)

​Producer Mode (8 Stems with Drum Kit)

​Advanced Usage

​Async Job Handling

​Get Available Modes

​Check Job Status

​Response Format

​Pricing

​Premium packages

​Error Handling

​Status Codes

​Next Steps

API Wallet

Noise Reduction

Overview

Key Features

Installation

Authentication

Separation Modes

Quick Start

Six-Stem Separation

Examples by Mode

Four-Stem Separation (Standard)

Single Stem Extraction (Vocals Only)

Two-Stem Separation (Karaoke)

Producer Mode (8 Stems with Drum Kit)

Advanced Usage

Async Job Handling

Get Available Modes

Check Job Status

Response Format

Pricing

Premium packages

Error Handling

Status Codes

Next Steps