I don't know about the "every serious musician" part, and lots of transcription has taken place without software assistance, but Transcribe is a good program.

About the EQ question, there are other software programs to remove one part (usually a vocal) but they only work well when that part is panned to the center. Plus, since the bass is also usually panned in the center, you gut the bass in the process. It's pretty hard to adjust the Q correctly in an equalizer to knock out only one part.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.