where is the mono option

i am trying to use audacity to remove the vocals from a song, for karaoke purposes. every video i watch on how to do this tells me the same thing…

  1. under black triangle, select “split stereo track”
  2. select one track, go to effects, select “invert”
  3. in each track, under black triangle, select “mono” for each one.

i am using v 2.3.2 on win10 and there is no “mono” option in the black triangle menu.
so where is it?

That’s the problem with YouTube videos - no-one can be bothered to keep them up to date.

You can do all of that in one step. Apply the “Vocal Remover” effect (with default settings): https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/vocal_remover.html

You may also be interested in this page: Tutorial - Vocal Removal and Isolation - Audacity Manual

Yes, there is no “mono” option in the black triangle menu. Something wrong with version 2.3.2 or is it me?

Yes, there is no “mono” option in the black triangle menu.

It says “Split Stereo to Mono”.

But if you use the built-in Vocal Remover or Vocal Reduction and Isolation effect you won’t need to do that.


FYI - Usually NONE of these filters/effects/methods give you a high-quality Karaoke file. I consider it a novelty or gimmick effect.

“You can’t un-fry an egg or un-bake a cake and you can’t un-mix audio.”

Sometimes you CAN remove the vocal completely, sometimes not. Other (centered) sounds are also removed and you can get unwanted side effects. Anything in the “center” (sounds that are identical and in-phase in both channels) CAN be removed completely.

Or of course, the left or right channel can be completely silenced and then you can make a true-mono file (that will play out of both speakers). But the main vocals are very-rarely on one side.

On this laptop I use Aucacity I use 2.0.5, but on my PC I installed 2.3 which does not have the option of changing to Mono after inverting. Where is the Mono option since it is not on the dropdown menu for each track?
Also, I am having a problem with the music being low when I try eliminating the lead voice. How do I remedy this?

HELP

Please read the other replies in this thread.

Also, the dropdown track menu for Audacity 2.3.3 is documented here: Audio Track Dropdown Menu - Audacity Manual

Also, I am having a problem with the music being low when I try eliminating the lead voice. How do I remedy this?

Use the Amplify effect to bring the volume back-up.

So, in version 2.3 of Audacity there is no tab for Mono in both tracks. It is a tab that allows you to drop down and select stereo or mono. But, you’re saying once you click on vocal reduction there is no need to click on mono?

Please check the differences in version 2.1 and 2.3, and respond to me by e-mail norinadvd (at) yahoo.com

Thank you!

But, you’re saying once you click on vocal reduction there is no need to click on mono?

Correct.