How-to guide

How to remove drums from a FLAC file

By DrumSplit · Updated 4 Oct 2026

FLAC is a lossless format that can make a stereo song smaller than its WAV version. DrumSplit accepts FLAC directly, subject to an 8-minute track limit and a 100 MB file limit. This guide covers choosing a source, preparing a multichannel file, and organizing the WAV stems you get back.

Step-by-step

1. Open DrumSplit.io. Use a modern browser. No software installation or local GPU is needed.
2. Upload your FLAC file. Use a stereo file (5.1 and other multichannel files are not supported) that is no longer than 8 minutes and no larger than 100 MB. Both limits apply, so the first one reached determines whether the file fits.
3. Select a mode. Natural is the recommended default for clean acoustic separation across genres. Puncher adds transient enhancement and is tuned for EDM, hip-hop, pop, and heavily compressed mixes. Direct is for audio that is already drums-only, such as a drum bus bounce, loop, break, or drum stem from another tool.
4. Wait for processing. A typical 3-4 minute song takes about 2-3 minutes. You can close the page; results are saved in My Splits for 24 hours and emailed.
5. Download the ZIP. Natural and Puncher provide kick, snare, hi-hats, toms, cymbals, a drum bus and a music stem with drums removed. Direct provides the five drum stems and a drum bus, with no music stem.

Choose a useful FLAC source

FLAC is useful when your source is already lossless. Common examples include a Bandcamp purchase, a rip you made from your own CD, or a bounce exported from your own audio session. These sources avoid adding another lossy encoding step before separation. DrumSplit accepts FLAC directly, so there is no need to decode it to WAV yourself before uploading.

Check the source before converting formats. Turning an MP3 into FLAC does not restore information removed when the MP3 was encoded. The resulting file may be larger, but it still contains the MP3 audio. If MP3 is the only copy you have, DrumSplit accepts MP3 too, so converting it to FLAC first provides no lossless source advantage.

FLAC often takes around half to two-thirds the space of the same WAV, though the amount varies with the music. Size depends on the audio and the WAV format. For example, a 16-bit, 44.1 kHz stereo WAV is about 10.6 MB per minute; at that rate, eight minutes is about 85 MB. A 24-bit, 96 kHz stereo WAV is about 34.6 MB per minute, so the 100 MB limit can arrive at roughly 2.9 minutes. These are WAV examples, not a promise about the size of every FLAC file.

Check duration, size, and channels

The upload must satisfy two separate limits: 100 MB maximum file size and 8 minutes maximum duration. FLAC compression can reduce file size, but it does not extend the duration limit. A long, compact FLAC can fail because it exceeds eight minutes; a short, high-resolution file can fail because it exceeds 100 MB.

DrumSplit does not support 5.1 or other multichannel files. Convert a surround file to stereo before uploading. With ffmpeg installed, this command makes a stereo version:

The -ac 2 option asks ffmpeg for two output channels. Listen to the converted file and confirm that it contains the mix you intend to separate. Keep the original multichannel file if you may need its surround layout later.

If an upload fails, check the actual track duration and file size, not just the file extension. Trim the selection to eight minutes or less and export a smaller stereo file when needed. For high sample-rate or high bit-depth sources, a stereo export at a more modest format may help with the 100 MB ceiling. Make sure the export remains at or below both limits before retrying.

What comes back, and how to keep it organized

The download is a ZIP containing WAV files at 24-bit. In Natural or Puncher mode, it contains seven files: five drum parts (kick, snare, hi-hats, toms and cymbals), the drum bus and the music stem with drums removed. Direct mode is for an already isolated drum signal and returns the five kit parts without the music stem. The separation process makes new component tracks from the mix; 24-bit describes how those output WAV files are stored, not a guarantee that the separated audio preserves every original sample unchanged.

Stems come back as WAV, even when the upload was FLAC. Plan to rename the files yourself if you want a particular naming scheme, and add tags or artwork in your audio player or library after downloading. Do not count on the original FLAC tags or embedded cover art being carried over to the WAV stems. Keep the original file alongside the ZIP if you want the source metadata available for reference.

If your next step needs FLAC files, convert each WAV after downloading. For example, run this from the folder containing a stem named kick.wav:

Repeat the command with the appropriate input and output names for the other stems. FLAC conversion can reduce storage space, with the exact reduction varying by audio. Keep the WAV files if your project or delivery workflow calls for WAV; conversion is an organizational choice, not a way to improve the separated audio.

Ripping a CD for separation

CD audio is 16-bit / 44.1 kHz, which is a fine source for drum separation, and there is no benefit to upsampling it to 96 kHz first. Rip each track to FLAC or WAV, not MP3. Exact Audio Copy (Windows), XLD (Mac), dBpoweramp and fre:ac can all do this. Upload one track at a time and stay under 8 minutes and 100 MB; most pop and rock tracks are well inside both limits, but long album tracks may not be. Choose Natural for most recordings and Puncher for electronic music.

Common questions

Can I upload any FLAC length if it is under 100 MB?

No. The file must be at most 100 MB and the track must be at most 8 minutes. A file has to meet both limits.

Will DrumSplit preserve my FLAC tags and cover art?

The returned stems are WAV files, so do not count on your FLAC tags or artwork being carried over. Rename the files and add metadata yourself after download if you need it.

Can I upload a 5.1 FLAC?

No. Multichannel files are not supported. Downmix to stereo first, then verify the resulting file is within the size and duration limits.

Why are the stems 24-bit WAV instead of FLAC?

That is DrumSplit’s output format. The input may be FLAC, but the separated stems are delivered as 24-bit WAV in a ZIP. Convert them to FLAC afterward if that better fits your storage or library workflow.

Does converting an MP3 to FLAC make it lossless?

No. It does not restore audio information discarded by MP3 encoding. Upload the MP3 directly if it is your available source.