Apple Music Sing: What It Is & How to Use It

Apple Music Sing is a karaoke-style feature built into the Apple Music app that lets you adjust or remove the lead vocals in millions of songs in real time. You use it by opening a compatible song, tapping the lyrics button, then choosing one of several vocal control options. It launched in December 2022 as part of iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2, and it works on iPhones, iPads, and the latest Apple TV 4K models.

Formula

The calculator above shows how the vocal reduction percentage relates to the vocal level you set in Apple Music Sing. If you set the vocal level to 0%, the lead vocal is fully removed, which corresponds to 100% vocal reduction. If you set it to 100%, the vocal is at full volume, which is 0% reduction.

The formula is simply:

Vocal reduction (%) = 100 − Vocal level (%)

Where:

• Vocal level is the slider position in Apple Music Sing (0% = no lead vocal, 100% = full lead vocal).
• Vocal reduction is the percentage of the lead vocal that is removed.

This is a conceptual helper, not a measurement Apple provides. The actual audio processing is done by Apple’s algorithms and is not publicly quantified.

Worked Example

Using the default values from the calculator above:

1. You set the vocal level to 50%.
2. Vocal reduction = 100 − 50 = 50%.
3. So the lead vocal is reduced by half, while the instrumental stays at 50% of its original level.

The calculator shows 50% for both outputs, which is the expected result.

Background: How Apple Music Sing Started

Apple Music Sing was announced in November 2022 and rolled out with iOS 16.2 in December of that year. It was positioned as a direct competitor to karaoke apps like Smule and YouTube’s karaoke features, but with a key advantage: it works directly inside the Apple Music library, which has over 100 million songs. The feature is not a separate app; it is integrated into the existing Music app, so you do not need to download anything extra.

The technology behind it is similar to what Apple uses for other audio features like Spatial Audio and Voice Isolation. It analyzes the stereo mix of a song and uses machine learning to isolate the lead vocal track. This is not the same as having the original multi-track stems; it is a real-time processing trick that works on the final mixed audio.

How Apple Music Sing Works

Apple Music Sing works by processing the audio in real time on your device. When you activate it, the app separates the lead vocal from the instrumental using algorithms trained on a wide variety of music. The result is a karaoke track where you can sing along, with the original artist’s voice either lowered or removed entirely.

Here are the key controls you get:

• Vocal slider: Drag it up to hear more of the original voice, down to reduce it.
• Duet mode: On songs with two lead vocalists, you can reduce one voice while keeping the other, letting you sing the other part.
• Background vocals: On some songs, you can keep the backing vocals while removing the lead.
• Lyrics view: The lyrics are displayed in a karaoke-style format, with each line highlighted as the song plays.

Not every song supports all these features. Duet mode and background vocal control are only available on tracks that Apple has specifically processed. The basic vocal reduction works on most songs in the catalog, but the quality varies depending on the mix.

How to Use Apple Music Sing

Using Apple Music Sing is straightforward, but the exact steps depend on your device. Here is the general process:

1. Open the Apple Music app and play a song.
2. Tap the lyrics button in the bottom-left corner of the Now Playing screen (it looks like a quotation mark).
3. If the song supports Sing, you will see a microphone icon near the top of the lyrics screen.
4. Tap the microphone icon to enter Sing mode.
5. Use the vocal slider to adjust the lead vocal volume.
6. Sing along, and optionally use the pitch and tempo controls if you are on an Apple TV.

On iPhone and iPad, the vocal slider appears at the top of the lyrics view. On Apple TV, you also get pitch and tempo controls, which let you change the key and speed of the song—useful if the original key is too high or low for your voice.

Compatible Devices and Requirements

Apple Music Sing is not available on every Apple device. Here is what you need:

• iPhone: iPhone 11 or later, running iOS 16.2 or later.
• iPad: iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation) or later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation) or later, iPad Air (4th generation) or later, iPad mini (6th generation) or later, running iPadOS 16.2 or later.
• Apple TV: Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) or later, running tvOS 16.2 or later.
• Mac: Not supported. Apple Music Sing is not available on macOS.

You also need an active Apple Music subscription. The free tier or iTunes Match does not include this feature.

Common Problems and Troubleshooting

Users often run into a few issues with Apple Music Sing. Here are the most common ones and what to do:

• Microphone icon missing: The song may not support Sing. Try a different song, preferably a popular one from a major label. Some songs, especially older ones or those with unusual mixes, do not have the feature.
• Vocal slider not working: Make sure you are in Sing mode (the microphone icon is highlighted). If the slider is grayed out, the song may only support basic vocal reduction, not the full set of controls.
• No sound from microphone: Apple Music Sing does not route your voice through the app by default. You need to connect an external microphone or use the built-in mic on your device, and the app will mix your voice with the music. On iPhone, the built-in mic works, but for better quality, use wired headphones with a mic.
• Song skips or stutters: This can happen if your device is low on storage or if you are streaming over a weak connection. Download the song first, then try again.

Apple Music Sing vs. Other Karaoke Apps

Apple Music Sing is not the only karaoke option, but it has some clear differences from dedicated apps like Smule or Karaoke Anywhere.

• Song library: Apple Music Sing uses the entire Apple Music catalog, which is far larger than any dedicated karaoke app. However, not every song has the full feature set, whereas karaoke apps typically have professionally made backing tracks.
• Vocal quality: Apple’s real-time processing is good, but it is not perfect. On some songs, you may hear artifacts or a faint echo of the lead vocal. Dedicated karaoke apps use original studio stems, so the removal is cleaner.
• Social features: Smule and similar apps let you record duets with friends and share them. Apple Music Sing is purely a solo experience—you cannot record or share your performance.
• Price: Apple Music Sing is included with an Apple Music subscription (individual, family, or student). Dedicated karaoke apps often have free tiers with ads, but full features require a paid subscription.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Apple Music Sing work on Android?

No. Apple Music Sing is only available on Apple devices: iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. The Android version of Apple Music does not include this feature.

Can I record myself singing with Apple Music Sing?

No. Apple Music Sing does not have a built-in recording feature. You can use the screen recorder on your iPhone or iPad to capture audio and video, but the quality will be limited to what the device captures.

Why is the vocal slider not showing for some songs?

The song may not support the full Sing feature. Apple has processed a large portion of its catalog, but not all songs have the duet or background vocal controls. The basic vocal reduction should work on most songs, but if the microphone icon is missing entirely, the song is not compatible.

Does Apple Music Sing work with Spatial Audio?

Yes, but the experience may vary. Apple Music Sing is designed to work with Spatial Audio, but the vocal isolation can sound different when Spatial Audio is enabled. You can turn Spatial Audio off in the Control Center if you prefer a more traditional karaoke sound.

Can I use Apple Music Sing on my Mac?

No. As of now, Apple Music Sing is not available on macOS. It is limited to iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.

Is Apple Music Sing available in all countries?

Apple Music Sing is available in most countries where Apple Music is offered, but the exact song availability may vary due to licensing restrictions. Some songs may not have the feature in certain regions.

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in t | Song length | min | 4 | 0.1 | 60
in v | Vocal level | % | 50 | 0 | 100
out v_removed | Vocal reduction | % | 100 - v | 0
out s_remaining | Instrumental level | % | v | 0