DropCue AI: Stem Separation, Lyrics Transcription, and Smart Detection
DropCue AI: Stem Separation, Lyrics Transcription, and Smart Detection
DropCue was built to help music professionals share, pitch, and manage their catalogs. But uploading tracks and building playlists is only half the job. The other half is preparing your music — making sure every track has accurate metadata, clean lyrics, and the right versions ready for any brief.
That is where AI comes in. DropCue now includes three AI-powered features that save hours of manual work and give you capabilities that used to require expensive software or studio time.
AI Stem Separation
This is the big one. With one click, you can split any audio track into four separate stems:
- Vocals — isolated lead and background vocals
- Drums — all percussion elements
- Bass — bass guitar, synth bass, sub frequencies
- Other — everything else (keys, guitars, pads, strings, FX)
The separation is powered by Demucs, the same AI model used in professional studios and post-production houses. It runs in the cloud, so there is nothing to install and no processing power required on your end. Upload a track, click "Separate Stems," and your four stems are ready in about 90 seconds.
Why Stem Separation Matters for Sync
If you pitch music for sync licensing, you already know that supervisors often need more than the full mix. A music supervisor working on a scene might need:
- An instrumental for a dialogue-heavy scene where vocals would compete with the actors
- Isolated vocals to check lyric content against network standards and practices
- A drums-only version for a montage or transition
- A stripped-down mix without drums for a quieter emotional moment
Without stem separation, fulfilling these requests means going back to the original session files, exporting stems manually, and sending them over. That process can take hours or days — and if you are a publisher or agency pitching music on behalf of composers, you might not even have access to the session files.
With DropCue, you separate the stems in 90 seconds, add them to the playlist, and the supervisor has everything they need in one link.
How Credits Work
Every Pro and Lifetime plan includes 5 free stem separation credits. One credit separates one track into four stems.
If you need more, you can buy additional credits in packs:
- 10 credits — $6.99
- 25 credits — $14.99
- 50 credits — $24.99
Credits never expire. Buy them when you need them, use them whenever you want.
Free trial users get 1 free credit to try the feature.
AI Lyrics Transcription
Every song with vocals needs a lyrics sheet — for cue sheets, metadata, licensing agreements, and supervisor review. Typing lyrics manually is tedious and error-prone, especially when you manage hundreds of tracks.
DropCue's AI lyrics transcription converts any audio track into a text lyrics sheet with one click. The transcription handles:
- Multiple languages
- Overlapping vocals
- Background vocals and harmonies
- Spoken word sections
The result appears directly on the track detail page. You can edit, copy, or export it. Pro plans include 15 free transcriptions per month.
For sync licensing, having accurate lyrics immediately available means supervisors can check lyric content without asking you to send it separately. It also means your metadata is always complete when you submit to music libraries or sync agents.
Related: [AI Lyrics Transcription for Sync Licensing](/blog/ai-lyrics-transcription-sync-licensing)
AI BPM and Key Detection
When you upload a track to DropCue, the platform automatically detects:
- BPM (tempo) — accurate to within 1 BPM for most genres
- Musical key — major and minor keys detected
This metadata is attached to the track automatically. No manual entry, no guessing, no external tools.
Why does this matter? Because when a supervisor sends a brief asking for "upbeat tracks in C major at 120 BPM," you need to find matching tracks fast. With accurate BPM and key data on every track in your catalog, you can search and filter instantly.
Other platforms either do not offer automatic detection or charge it as an add-on. On DropCue, it is included on every plan.
How These Features Work Together
Here is a real workflow that combines all three:
1. Upload a new track. BPM and key are detected automatically. 2. Run lyrics transcription. Lyrics are attached to the track in seconds. 3. Separate stems. Vocals, drums, bass, and other are split and added to your library. 4. Build a playlist. Include the full mix, the instrumental stem, and the lyrics — all in one shareable link. 5. Share with a supervisor. They get the full mix, can check the lyrics inline, and have the instrumental ready if they need it.
What used to take an afternoon now takes five minutes. Your pitch is more complete, more professional, and more likely to lead to a placement.
No Extra Software Required
All three AI features run in the cloud through DropCue. There is nothing to install, no plugins to configure, and no external accounts to create. Everything works from your browser, on any device.
If you have used desktop tools like iZotope RX, LALAL.AI, or standalone Demucs for stem separation, you know the process: download the track, open the software, process it, wait, export, re-upload. DropCue eliminates all of that. One click, done.
Getting Started
If you are on a Pro or Lifetime plan, all three AI features are available right now:
- Stem separation: Open any track, click "Separate Stems" in the left panel
- Lyrics transcription: Open any track, click "Transcribe Lyrics"
- BPM and key detection: Happens automatically on upload
If you are not yet on DropCue, [start your free 7-day trial](/signup) — no credit card required. Your trial includes 1 free stem separation credit and full access to lyrics transcription and BPM/key detection.
Related: [How analytics changed my sync licensing business](/blog/how-analytics-changed-my-sync-licensing-business)
Related: [The complete guide to playlist sections for music pitching](/blog/complete-guide-playlist-sections-music-pitching)
[Try DropCue free for 7 days →](/signup)