AI stem separation splits a finished song into parts such as vocals, guitar, drums and bass, so you can mute the part you play and perform it yourself over the original band. In 2026 you can do this in phone apps or, new this year, directly in hardware: JBL’s BandBox Solo ($249.95) and BandBox Trio ($599.95) separate songs in real time on the device, with no internet connection.
Why it is a practice game-changer
- Play along with the real recording, not a generic backing track.
- Isolate a part to learn it: solo the bass line or guitar riff and slow it down.
- Remove vocals to practise singing or to accompany yourself.
- Hear your mistakes clearly, because your part is no longer hidden behind the original.
Your options in 2026
| Tool | Type | What it separates | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| JBL BandBox Solo | Practice amp / speaker, 18 W RMS | Vocals, guitar and other parts, in real time on the device | $249.95 |
| JBL BandBox Trio | Amp / speaker for bands, 135 W, 4-channel mixer, up to 10 hours battery | Vocals, guitar, drums in real time on the device | $599.95 |
| Yamaha Extrack | Practice app (iOS and Android) | Splits instruments and analyses chords | See app store |
| Stem-splitting apps and DAW tools | Software | Vocals, drums, bass, guitar, piano and more | Free to subscription |
US prices for BandBox are from JBL’s 2026 launch. Check BandBox prices.
JBL BandBox: stem separation in a speaker
BandBox was announced around NAMM 2026, and JBL describes it as the first speaker with fully on-device AI stem separation. You stream a song over Bluetooth, press the Stem AI control, and reduce or remove vocals, guitar or drums while you play through the amp. Both models include amp models, effects and practice tools such as a tuner and metronome; the Trio adds more power, more inputs and a USB-C output for recording.
It is a practice tool, not a teacher: it does not listen to you or grade your playing, and separation quality varies by recording.
How to practise with stems
- Listen to the isolated part two or three times to hear exactly what it does.
- Slow it down to 70–80% speed without changing pitch (most apps can).
- Loop the hardest section and play along until it’s clean.
- Mute the original part and play it yourself with the rest of the band.
- Bring the speed back to 100%, then record yourself and compare.
Build this into a weekly routine with our 12-week starter plan.
Ideas by instrument
- Guitar: remove the guitar and play rhythm parts with the real drums and bass.
- Bass: solo the bass to learn lines that are hard to hear in the full mix.
- Drums and cajon: remove drums and play the groove on a kit, pad or cajon.
- Vocals: remove the lead vocal for karaoke-style practice.
- Smart guitars: pair stems with a stringless guitar for sing-alongs; see best smart guitars.
Limits and good practice
- Artefacts: separated parts can sound watery or leave traces of other instruments, especially on dense mixes.
- Personal use: separating a song for your own practice is common, but publishing or selling separated stems of copyrighted songs can infringe rights.
- Don’t skip ear training: also try learning parts by ear without isolation.
Common questions
Does BandBox need the internet for stem separation?
No. JBL says the processing runs on the device.
Is stem separation good for beginners?
Yes. Hearing a part clearly and playing it with the real band is very motivating.
