PG Music Home Forums General Discussion Off-Topic AI-written music.. I have questions

I read the news today... oh boy.

It was an article on the PRS website magazine that got me thinking.

https://www.prsformusic.com/m-magazine/features/ai-and-creators-rights-what-does-the-future-look-like

(PRS isn't Paul Reed Smith, its PRS for Music; a professional U.K. organization.. Performing Right Society... pays copyrights, royalties, licensing etc if you didn't already know.)

This article isn't about using AI to separate a vocal or guitar or something from a soundtrack, but about AI written songs.. AI composed music. A different kettle of fish so to speak. The interesting statements in the article... (so you don't have to read the article if you don't care to)... that got me thinking were



and





Here on this board, it appears that many people use electronic/computer means, tools and whatnot for music creation.. composing. I don't know anything about Scaler, Reaper, DAWs and midi and the rest. (Some of them I don't even know what they do, just names I've seen here and elsewhere.)

I personally have no use for AI-generated anything and consequently I don't know anything about it and no real opinion one way or the other. But then I also have no use for most of the guitar effects pedals a lot of people use regularly and have been for a long time.

AI composing is here, you can use it right now today, and it is getting used. It appears to have a use and place in the creative process but I can't figure out what that might or could be.

I'm really curious and so I'm asking:

Given your use/knowledge of various computer tools for composing ...

What do you think of this AI created/generated music? Specifically, does it have a place, is it or could it be useful in some way?

Is is something you will or would or could use? If so, how?

If you use it now, how do you use it?

Or are you like me with no use whatsoever for AI generated anything?

Jdew, this comment caught my attention:

"... I don't know anything about Scaler, Reaper, DAWs and midi and the rest. (Some of them I don't even know what they do, just names I've seen here and elsewhere."

Since you are kinda a new guy here, can you introduce youself a little bit and let us know your musical background?

Oh, and to answer your question, ... I have only applied the new AI ChatGpt for lyrics. It was an incredible starting point to go from 0 - 60 in minutes. Otherwise, I am not really sure what to make of this AI thing at this time.

Welcome to the forum.
Dan

A lot depends on the definition of AI and how much the marketing folks want to tag any new improvement to it.

The only product I use that explicitly says it is using AI is Pure Limit by Sonible. It’s a VST plug-in that analyzes a section of music and makes its best guess (using their algorithm that they say uses AI) to adjust the compression. I admit, it’s easy to get a great sound very easily. Companion products are Pure Comp and Pure Reverb. I find them even easier to use than Ozone by Izotope, and I guess that’s the point of AI, to get you close to the final settings quickly.

Certainly...

I started as a trumpet player in 1960 (I wanted to sound just like Roy Eldridge... never got there), switched to guitar in 1964 and kept at it ever since. First song I played on the guitar was "Louie Louie". I've played around with other instruments along the way, but its guitar that I play.

I'm basically self-taught though in my travels others have added some of their knowledge. I've been lucky to have been around and played with some really fine musicians. First rule... keep your ears open. I'm not a teacher but I try to return the favor when I can.

I read music, have studied theory and listen to every kind of music (yeah, even opera). I don't compose... I tried once a long time ago; it stunk.

Early on I played electric guitar, but by the late 60's lost interest in rock and roll and rockabilly (yeah, I played that stuff.. still play "20 Flight Rock" from time to time too). For about the next 10-plus years played only acoustic. Finger-picking, some flat picking (its not my strongest point). Mostly what people classify as "country blues" but also a good bit of bluegrass, Merle Travis stuff and some UK folk-type stuff.

Played with a bluegrass bunch for a while but that went nowhere fast since other than the fiddle player the others weren't too interested in much more than drinking beer.

I played solo acoustic guitar for several years in bars and whatnot. I don't sing very well, but with country blues you really don't have to. It never made much money but it was fun... for a while.

Sometime around 1982-83 I got restless and decided to give urban blues a try... so got a used Telecaster I've had ever since and a little amp. Once I felt comfortable with my playing, I replaced the little amp.

Played electric (urban) blues with a group in bars and whatnot. It was fun... for a while. Never paid much and some of the places were pretty dodgy. I played the Telecaster thru the JC-120, treble at 11. Never used the chorus part of the Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus. Coming from so long with acoustic, I had no clue about "effects"... just plug it in and play. Pretty much still that way.

Did a little recording here and there and sat in with some other players/combos from time to time too. Sometimes met and sometimes played with "famous" and "not yet famous" and "used to be famous" musicians. Interesting. Learned something about music and a lot about the business of music from them because I've always been curious and never shy asking questions. And always kept my ears open.

Got a good job in the city, it paid a lot more, so quit the live stuff, dodgy bars and the rest but kept playing just for me. Couldn't quit.

I got tired of playing I-IV-V progressions and blues cliches and the same old same old. (I get bored easily I guess). Turned to jazz and started listening to Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Johnny Hodges, Charlie Christian, Tal Farlow, Dizzy, Bird and Coltrane recordings. Liked swing and bebop a lot so thought I'd take stab.

Woooof... big learning curve but I kept at it. Got there finally.

Played jazz in a nice little private club every Friday night with one, sometimes two others for a couple years. No money it that either, but I still had a good job in the city and the club was in no way dodgy, so no problems. It was pretty much fun. We played whatever we wanted. Fun part was when I'd start playing "Louie Louie" people would get up and start dancing. That song ALWAYS gets people dancing. Don't know why, but it does.

Got older, didn't want to perform any more simply because it wasn't much fun any more.

Kept the good job in the city and kept playing whatever I wanted just for myself, then hit old age and retired.

Since 1964 I'd say I've played about 3 or 4 hours a day, every day, sometimes more sometimes less. I still play every day. Now at 71, I play at least 2 hours every day and will until....

Its what I do. Its what I've always done. Bury me with my old guitar... I'll want it. In fact, bury me with a couple guitars... I get bored easily and will want to switch off.

I ran into BiaB because I wanted to keep up my improvising skills; no other reason. I can't improvise to silence. I worked hard to build them and I'm not going to lose them. I use BiaB very simply, very basic... put in the changes, find a style and I'm there. I like that I can easily change the key of the track so its "OK, geezer, ya got Route 66 in A real swell and you are bored?... Fine, now try it in F#." Or change the "style". Tons of fun.


Thanks for reading and I hope that answers your question.

Fantastic background. Thanks for sharing. You have stumbled into a forum of very like minded individuals. Welcome home. Stick around a while and we will teach you the secret PGM-Forum handshake in no time.

Dan

I don't like artificial colors or flavors let along intelligence.
I think they will all be phased out because they are no good for you in the long run.

I am using AI to study language, help understand computer code, help answer gcode questions, get ideas for lyrics for songs, help me to understand organic chemistry, teach about pharmacology, and draw pictures that I can use for free.

If I live long enough, I will have an AI band...lol

For better or worse, you can not stop technology, no matter what the outcome will be.

Billy

Hey jdew, AI talk was real big around here in the first few months of 2023. I went back and found some of our biggest conversations on the topic. Most of these revolved around ChatGPT in generating lyrics and Synthesizer V for generating vocal tracks. Enjoy the reading!

Songwriting Forum:

Dreamtonics Synthesizer V

AI-written Lyrics

I need some feedback on this AI vocal and Alt Rock track

What is your basic starting process writing in synthersizer V?


Recording Forum:

Amazing AI Vocalists - What Do You Think?

Thank you. Very interesting reading.

Is this what we can expect with AI Music? If so, count me out.

Oh, wow. Thanks, Dan. I think.

Oh, dear Jesus! Thanks for screwing up my YouTube feed for the next 6 months....

One more like that Dan and you will be put on my blocked list Just kidding!

I think we should put less time in Artificial Intelligence and more time in Human Intelligence.