If you’re a DJ or producer looking for stems of popular songs to remix or remake, you’ve probably required a software or tool that helps you do that. RipX is one such software that does exactly that and much more.
Rip X is developed by Hit n Mix for Windows and Mac OS. It is great for music producers, singers, remixers, DJs, and even audio novices.
It has three “Modules” with a simple and easy approach. The basic Deep Remix module provides tools to mix audio, alter music, and separate stems, and the advanced Deep Audio enhances these stems. The third one is Deep Create to make original music.
Contents
Is The Rip X Worth it? (Quick Verdict)
Absolutely, Yes. Having a track separator that not only offers stems in multiple file formats but lets you do multiple edits close to a full-fledged DAW or link itself to your existing DAW is a major plus point. Compared to other free tools, RIPX is far superior if you consider its intuitive AI and casual interface.
RipX is a powerful audio editing software that separates stereo tracks into stems, allowing for remixing, pitch correction, and more. With an intuitive interface and advanced features like DeepAudio and DeepCreate, it's a versatile tool for DJs, producers, and audio enthusiasts looking to enhance their music creation workflow.
- Fast and high-quality stems.
- Muting instruments, soloing, and 6+ stem audio tearing.
- Exporting layers to various audio and MIDI formats
- RipScript tool is a feature that lets you code into the app for coding lovers.
- DeepAudio for Mac edits audio from many video formats.
- Extraction reduces stem clarity. Signal bleeding.
- You almost always hear artifacts
- All tracks on top of one another make it difficult to navigate larger song projects (without Riplink).
- Extremely steep learning curve
What is RipX?
Ripx is a software for audio separation and remixing that separates full-mix stereo audio files in formats like MP3s, WAVs, etc., into individual instruments, including vocals, guitar, piano, strings, bass, kick, drums, and percussion.
Each of the modules has a very streamlined and simple workflow. The most effective tool for restoring sound, adjusting harmonics, frequencies, and pitch, removing noise, and receiving support for VST 2, AU, AAX, and VST 3 plugins.
These Rip X packages can be used independently or integrated into any DAW you choose.
How Does It Work?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is utilized in stem separation, and technology continually evolves. It works best with an arrangement typical of pop music, consisting of vocals, a rhythm section, and some melodies. In this setting, RipX does an excellent job of separating the components.
What are Stems? What Does RipX Do To Your Stems?
Stems are separate audio files of different musical elements within a single MP3 or WAV file.
‘Sections’ of a multitrack recording are the best way to explain stems. The tracks that make up a song’s drums, vocals, bass, or other instruments are referred to as a stem. We can mute, and solo different parts of a song by loading stems into a DAW, which opens up new avenues for musical comprehension and listening.
Rip X is a software that aids with the aspects of different software of using the stems to edit, mix and alter them as per the user’s requirement and preference through its three modules.
The 3 Parts Of RipX
There are three modules in RipX.
- Deep Remix
- Deep Audio
- Deep Create
Deep Remix
The lower in cost, the better. RipX DeepRemix is designed for DJing and other “fun” applications. Its feature set has been reduced to isolating mixed audio into stems and manipulating or altering them.
Deep Audio
It is geared toward the professional audio market and includes several additional functions designed for creating music.
Deep Create
This is the DAW side of this software. It lets you create audio from scratch and add effects, edit and automate them.
How does Deep Remix work?
Deep Remix lets people remix their favorite songs in new ways by experimenting and personalizing their favorite music through their stem separation feature. It lets us adjusts pace, beat matching, and track aspects, creating a new musical interpretation. Deep Remix intelligently remixes music using deep learning algorithms.
It uses AI to evaluate a song’s structure, parts, and patterns and remix it.
Separating stems of Vocals or other Instruments
To begin with, we drag and drop each music track into the Rip X window to import it. When an audio file is loaded into RipX, the user has a variety of options.
As you can see, I have choices for Ripper that let me select which instruments. By checking the relevant boxes, I wish to extract.
A dialog window with many ripping choices displays. Choose the recording type, such as a full mix or a single instrument, considering the amount of time it takes to extract.
The stems being extracted from it, which include voice parts, bass, percussion, and other sounds at the bottom, determine the right trade-off between speed and quality, however, we advise always choosing the best.
The AI system breaks down your generated music into all of its instrumental and local stems as soon as you press RIP. When done in this manner, even if you begin with a rendered sample, you may alter these freely and independently with the highest level of accuracy ever.
I have selected to separate all tracks and save stems. As you can see, all of it will take about 7mins. This speed varies depending on your device’s processor specifications.
You may immediately import generated MP3, wave, FLAC, and MIDI compositions for use as internet streaming, club sets, or karaoke backdrops.
How Does Deep Audio Work?
DeepAudio is designed for users who want to edit the audio. The upgrade incorporates a wide variety of new capabilities, such as pitch correction, harmonic editing, and noise elimination.
All imported samples appear on the left under the “Rips” section. Any of the drop-downs, opens up in its own interface like below;
You may hover over any to get the pace (measured in BPM) and length (measured in seconds).
To open any of it on the workspace, click on it. The algorithm produces a number of notes that are distributed over the piano roll in pitch and time, respectively.
Another major convenience is having a library of “rips” that you can access at a later time. To extract and store the stems in a folder, you may also activate Store Stems Only, which is very helpful.
Ideal for editing
You can even make stems for direct use in a DAW of your choice without using any of RipX’s editing tools. Deep Remix is the ideal tool for editing samples, combining them with other tracks, and adjusting them for a clear, excellent sound for this reason.
You get extra notes indicating additional percussion or noise on the left, bottom, and top.
Matching the scale
To establish the musical scale and key, click Detect in the bottom left corner, then click Establish Musical Scale. The notes should then be aligned to the appropriate scale without deviations using auto pitch to scale.
Right-click on the backdrop and select Change Tempo to alter the rip’s tempo.
To play back a note, click and drag the mouse over any region, or just click any note to hear it alone. It glows, and you can hear it at the same time.
In order to play back a chosen region continually, you can also click and drag above the timeline to create a loop region.
Check the outcome of your changes, especially if you wish to check it live. A rendered track is often complicated, but you can control everything using the Layers panel on the right. This displays the major stems or extracted layers in a variety of colors that match those on the workspace.
In the “Layers” drop all the files can be seen when you select the Master option.
Additionally, in the “Guitar” drop-down, you may solo S and mute M to listen to whatever you wish at the time. You may also alter the stereo panning and volume level and add audio equalization using a low pass, mid pass, or high pass filter.
Each component of sound may be readily and expertly refined using deep audio. Any note may be clicked on to be played back or selected to be edited using the aforementioned tools in the audio shop sound bar.
Enabling the Edit Unpitched tool helps to see the vertical frequency spectrum of all unpitched sounds throughout the recording. To play back any area and listen for cracks, voice breathing, and other sounds, click and drag over it.
The noise-removal script may be executed on top. By doing so, background and foreground noise that interferes with a threshold can be automatically detected.
Sometimes it happens that a sound was accidentally placed in the incorrect layer. You can still select some notes and move them to another layer by clicking the small arrow that is located there, just like you would do in the Strings layer.
The only sounds that can be heard are what appear to be chord fragments. There aren’t too many of them. As a result, we are able to select the entire thing and move it to the strings layer, where the rest of it is located.
This is done by clicking the left arrow next to the layer.
What Features Do I Get With The Ripx?
Pitch Correction
The process of changing the original pitch of a recording in order to “correct” it and ensure that it fits inside the key of the song is referred to as pitch correction.
You can arrange notes differently or change them in time to make them higher or lower.
Additionally, you can automatically fix the pitch of the notes by syncing them to a specific scale. The pitch effect has a component known as pitch to scale.
In order to apply an effect to notes, you must first select them. So, for instance, I may triple-click on the background to fix the speech throughout.
To activate the itch-to-scale effect, I will click on it at the desired value after using control A to select everything. The effect is now colored, which indicates that it is active and yellow. It is, therefore, operational on The Voice layer. Choose a scale. It’s in the bottom left-hand corner.
RipX’s Multiple Layers
Layers are the individual tracks or channels for the instruments, vocals or samples. There is an almost infinite number of permutations that are possible when it comes to editing, splicing, and correcting individual phrases.
EQ/Filter the Layers
Filters and EQ (Equalization) are instruments used in audio processing to modify the frequency content of audio signals. They are frequently used in audio post-production, sound engineering, and music production to enhance certain frequency ranges, remove undesired frequencies, and modify tonal balance.
EQing with Audioshop
Audioshop is a tool in RipX that helps with editing using the brush and erase settings.
EQ/Filter your layers in RipX is also done through Audioshop.
1. Launch RipX.
2. Drag and drop the audio file or layer into the Audioshop interface or click the “Import” option to import it into the program.
3. The “Equalizer” options are on the left-hand side of the interface below the layer.
4. From the layer list or timeline, choose the layer you want to EQ or filter. We have selected the guitar layer by soloing it by clicking on ‘S.’
5. You can now modify the frequency levels of the chosen layer by opening the selected Equalizer window. Move sliders to adjust each band’s volume.
6. You can modify the sliders to raise or cut particular frequency ranges in the EQ layer. You can boost the low-frequency band to increase the bass frequencies or lower the presence by lowering the mid-range frequencies. And we have decreased the highs.
7. Change the various EQ settings until you get the sound you want. Depending on your preferences, you can use your ears to change the volume or the frequency graph’s visual indications.
Filtering the Layers
You can also include filters to sculpt the sound further. Filters can be used to enhance certain frequency ranges or to reduce undesirable frequencies.
1. Select the desired filter option from the dropdown menu under “Effects” on the Audioshop toolbar, such as a high-pass, low-pass, or band-pass filter.
2. Set the filter’s cutoff frequency and other settings according to your needs by adjusting the filter’s parameters. We selected the Low Pass for our example here.
3. After applying the EQ and filters, you may listen to the audio to hear how the changes sound and, if necessary, make more modifications.
4. Lastly, you can export the altered audio file.
Exporting the Audio
Exporting files in music refers to the process of saving and creating a final audio file from a digital audio project or recording.
To export Rips in a variety of audio formats, including MP3, WAV, FLAC, OGG, MIDI (which contains all pitch and amplitude changes inside notes), and MIDI Notes (which just contains the overall pitch and amplitude for each note), choose Export X/Ctrl+E from the File menu.
Stem (.stem.mp4) files can be exported from rips for use in DJ software like Native Instruments Traktor. Choose between Stereo and Mono, a variety of bit-depths, and sample rates depending on the file type you’ve chosen.
The Tedious Process of Exporting:
Additionally, decide whether to export the whole rip, a specific portion of it, or a marked loop therein (see Note & Time Selections and Loops). The exported MIDI file of a selection or loop will begin from the bar line before it since MIDI files carry information about the bar position.
Before exporting, you should shift the bar line to its beginning if you want it to start from the first note in the selection. (To move a bar line, click and drag the handle next to it.)
Finally, decide whether you want to export the rip as a single file, a collection of stems, or a combination of stems and layers. To modify the stem group to which a layer is assigned, right-click on the name of the layer in the Layers Panel (bottom-left of the RipX window).
To rename a stem in the same menu, move your mouse pointer over the name of the stem and click the pencil icon that appears.
You can EQ and filter your layers in RipX’s Audioshop using these techniques to get the desired tone and improve the caliber of your audio.
How far CAN YOU GO WITH the editing?
RipX has a lot of editing features. Most of these are done through the Audioshop feature.
Rip X’s Audioshop feature is an innovative tool that makes audio editing feel like working with photo editing software. Here you can clone, draw musical notes, erase a pattern, and blend two audio files together, all using sound and brush settings from an Instrument Palette.
AUDIOSHOP is a tab on the left top corner of the screen. When activated, it looks like this
1. Move/Resize
Adjust pitch, time-stretch, copy, and paste individual or groups of notes, sibilants, and unpitched sounds swiftly and forcefully.
2. Edit Unpitched
The complete unpitched sound present throughout the entire rip, from top to bottom, is displayed via the Edit Unpitched tool. To alter a patch of unpitched sound, click and drag it.
3. Draw Sound
Use the Draw Sound tool to add notes, drums, and sampled sounds to your rip. It is used to increase the number of notes or to alter the pattern or melody.
4. Split
If you want to divide notes into pieces, the Split tool is handy. The splitting tool is used to change the length of the notes.
5. Join
Using the Join tool, combine notes so that you can edit them as a single unit.
6. Clone
Use the Clone tool to replicate characteristics like pitch variation (such as vibrato), sound (timbre with volume), and panning from one note to the next, for instance, to mimic a real instrumentalist’s playing style.
7. Draw Pitch
The Draw Pitch tool lets you easily click and drag to make small pitch adjustments and slides.
8. Apply Pattern
Using the Apply Pattern tool, you may give notes variations in loudness, panning, formant, pitch, and form. We shall look at these features in more detail ahead.
9. Blend
Using the Smooth Region tool, click and drag over the notes to combine their volume, stereo panning, formant, pitch, and timbre.
What are the Advanced features of RipX?
The Harmonics Editor
The harmonic editor is where a lot of the intriguing action happens. Instead of displaying a conventional spectral analysis of the sound, the individual harmonics of the sound are shown, and as a result, they can be edited. This makes it possible to remove specific noises while also fine-tuning the timbre or effects of the sound.
In order to improve the sound, the harmonic editor analyzes the incoming audio and creates more harmonics. You may make warm, inviting tones with Ripx that give your tracks character. The plugin provides a number of options, including intensity, frequency range, and mix parameters, to form the harmonics.
You may get anything by fiddling with these settings, from mild harmonic enhancement to more strong and forceful tones. Ripx is a flexible tool that offers a creative and original approach to sound production and audio processing and may be utilized in a variety of genres and applications.
Time & Node selection
Time selection – Time selection in music production involves selecting a section or range of time within a project or audio recording for editing, processing, or other production processes. It lets you work on a certain part of the song apart from the rest of the project.
Here we have selected time between 0:00.58 to 0:02.76
Node selection – A node is often used to describe a point or area on an audio equalizer (EQ) or filter where adjustments to the audio stream can be made when discussing music production and audio processing.
The note selected here is Eb4 between 0:00.60 to 0:03.53
The method to change the levels/effects etc., is the same for both, that is, by using the options provided in the Right-Hand corner.
Automation of Effects
To automate, we simply need to select the Time or Node you wish to edit and change the parameter to your liking. Here we will experiment with the Level envelope on the node
Saving Automation as a preset
By clicking Ctrl and dragging the automated preset to the Preset section on the Right side of the interface, RipX saves this automation as a preset.
So now, we have a Preset that we can apply to one node or a number of different nodes or to a Time Selection as well.
I have to set the automation to one node, and it will do the same to the rest of the nodes as well.
Chord Detection
We can use Deep Create to detect guitar chords as well as finger and capo positions. We have a track with a guitar, and if we want to identify its chords like this.
First, we isolate the guitar, and we want to try and work out the chords. Then select the part in which we want to detect the chords.
Then go to the view and click guitar chords it shows me them right there.
We can also change the chords by changing the key scale below.
Right now, it is in the Eb Major. If we change it to E Minor, we need to select it by selecting the scale from the selection. Then adjust the Pitch To Scale to 99%.
If you’re stuck for ideas of which scale, you can click Randomize
We may also use other features like the Draw in Audioshop, as discussed earlier.
We can draw the notes out into the piano roll, as seen above.
Here vibrato is applied to these notes
Shifting Harmony is easy to hold and slide.
When we shift it to accompany the note with its thirds, here’s how it sounds
We can also add a chord to it with each note.
The app automatically added the thirds above the notes that we placed.
Step by Step Process to creating a track in RipX
Here’s how we can create a track from scratch.
1. First, we need to go into sounds so that we can import the tracks we want to use.
2. Find the location of the samples and
3. When you’ve selected them, you have to select if they’re pitched or unpitched
4. Once you select which are unpitched or pitched, it will import them into layers.
Pitched those files that have already a pitch added in that the software can recognize and set the pitch automatically.
Unpitched would be those that don’t have a pitch. The software will not recognize it. This way, you can move it up and down, and it will change the pitch accordingly.
Here, the sample files are being imported. It takes about a minute for one track, and depending on your PC speed, it would be faster with a better configuration and slower with a lesser one.
Here’s how it looks when it’s playing the hi-hats file.
This is for the melody.
Next is the snare and kick file
I’ve added them to the same track so that it’s easier to navigate
Finally, here’s how it sounds once it all comes together and plays all 3 of the files.
RIPX Master-
Going down the rabbit hole… Editing with the Ripscript Editor
The exciting feature of Deep Audio is the ability to code into it. They call it Ripscripts. RipScript is an audio scripting language. Python-based scripts are supported, which also come with a dedicated editor.
RipScripts have access to and control over the fundamental components of sound, including notes, harmonics, loudness, and frequency, in addition to enabling the creation of tools with unique user interfaces.
In actuality, the aforementioned functionalities of Audioshop and Harmonic Editor are RipScripts. Ripscripts can be used to automate a number of processes and actions within the software. Users of rip scripts can design unique workflows and automate monotonous tasks to save time and effort.
This is done by entering codes or commands. Among the frequently used Ripscripts are:
1. Batch processing: Ripscripts can be used to automate batch processing of several files. Batch processing is a feature that allows users to perform the same set of functions on numerous audio files at once.
2. File Conversion: By automating the conversion of audio files across formats, rip scripts make it simpler to work with a variety of file types.
3. Metadata Editing: Automating the process of altering or updating audio file metadata, such as artist names, album titles, or track numbers, is possible with rip scripts.
4. Effects and Filters: Ripscripts can be used to automatically and consistently apply particular effects or filters to audio files, such as EQ tweaks, noise reduction, or pitch shifting.
5. File Export: Ripscripts make it simpler to create several copies of the same file for various uses by automating the process of exporting audio files in various formats or quality levels.
Automation is made easy if the users have strong programming skills. This way, customizing tools help them automate processes and complete jobs more quickly.
How Hard is The RipX on The CPU?
We stress-tested the RipX on our Windows Intel 3 Core with 12 GB ram. Out of 24 times, when we went to export the files that we had to create for this review, it crashed ten times when the files were larger than a few megabytes. Other times it went smoothly.
What Does My System Need To Run It?
MAC
macOS 10.12+ (2011 & later models, including M1/M2)
Windows
7/8/10/11 (64-bit) Minimum: 2 Core 2.5GHz CPU, 8 GB RAM, 20 GB Free Disc Space, NVIDIA GeForce
What About UI & Utility? How Easy is It To Use & Any Stand-out Features?
The Rip X UI is simple and dull. With no option of trying to make it look attractive and neither with options to track CPU usage, it does have easy access to the help section and YouTube tutorials. All of the features are on the same screen with drop-downs. There is not much use for detailed tweaking as the utility of the software is straightforward. Simple drag, hold, and slide parameters help with the creation process.
What Are Others Saying About The RIP X app?
There are very few reviews across the internet, but most of them praise RIP X’s unique approach to Stem Separation and its added features. Overall, Remix projects and stem unmixing have improved, and DeepCreate is unlike any other software-based recording environment I’ve used.
It’s good that it is unique. DeepCreate adds unique audio and MIDI recording along with interesting sonic outcomes. It has a lot of possibilities.
How does it stand up to competition?
The competition for RIP X is very low as it has features of various DAWs and plugins.
Stem Separation – Fadr, Xtrax Stems from AudioNamix, and RX8 seem to be their top competitors.
Audio Editing – If you exclude professional-level DAWs like Pro Tools, Ableton, Cubase, etc. RIP X certainly stands firmly above the likes of Adobe Audition, MAGIX Sound Forge, and Audacity.
Pitch Correction – RIP X’s pitch correction is simple, easy, and clearer than most plugins like Melodyne, Ceremony, and Autotune.
FAQ
Can the ripped sounds be edited?
Yes. RipX enhances, restores, and processes audio, not synthesizes or produces it. RipX cannot synthesize sounds but can apply effects and filters to audio files. It enhances audio.
Can I use the RIP X to generate sounds?
Yes, but RipX is not appropriate for sound synthesis and creation. Instead, try Waverazor or other synthesizer plugins or DAWs with powerful sound composition features.
RIP X won’t be my go-to app. But it’s tempting to buy. Should I wait for the Rip X to go on sale?
If you like RipX’s features and think it would be useful for audio editing, you might consider getting it at this price. If you can wait and don’t need the program right away, watch for future promotions and reductions.
RipX may go on sale, but software discounts and deals vary. If you’re unsure, you can also research audio editing software that fits your needs and budget. Your individual situation, financial status, and judgment of the software’s current value will determine whether you buy RipX now or wait for a sale.
Sai is a full-time music producer located in India, and is head of Faculty at D7 Media Institute. He is the most passionate music production guru I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. Fantastic at sound design, mixing, and recording, Sai heads most of the review content, as well as dabbling in some mixing and mastering content too here at WCS. Give Sai any topic and he could write forever about it. He has over 10 years of experience working in the industry and has earned both Music Production and Music Composition & Piano degrees.