I haven't seen a discussion on this. Thoughts?

 

 

https://www.loudersound.com/news/universal-...ic-soundlabs-ai

 

Universal Music, the biggest music company in the world, has signed a deal with artificial intelligence start-up Soundlabs to create what it calls "official ultra-high fidelity vocal models for artists using their own voice data for training while retaining control over ownership and giving them full artistic approval and control of the output."

 

In a nutshell, the deal allows singers signed to the label to train AI models using their own voices, meaning that that Jon Bon Jovi – in theory, at least – could record a new album using AI-generated vocals without committing his own voice to tape. The deal ensures that artists retain ownership of the results and are given full artistic approval on how they're used, so that not everyone can make a new Bon Jovi album.

 

In a press release, Universal Music say, "It empowers artists and producers to explore bleeding-edge vocal transformations, including voice-to-voice, voice-to-instrument, speech-to-singing, language transposition, and a myriad of previously impossible vocal transformations. Together, UMG and SoundLabs are collaborating to allow UMG artists to create custom vocal models that will be available for their exclusive creative use cases, and not available to the general public."

 

"It's a tremendous honor to be working with the forward-thinking and creatively aligned Universal Music Group," adds Soundlabs founder BT, who dance music fans may remember from the 1986 hit Blue Skies, featuring Tori Amos. "We believe the future of music creation is decidedly human. Artificial intelligence, when used ethically and trained consensually, has the Promethean ability to unlock unimaginable new creative insights, diminish friction in the creative process and democratize creativity for artists, fans, and creators of all stripes.

 

"We are designing tools not to replace human artists, but to amplify human creativity."

 

Soundlabs describe themselves as producing "ethically trained AI assistive tools for musicians that put the power in musicians' hands, and keeps it there", but the use of AI has been proposed in more controversial ways elsewhere.

 

 

 

In the new issue of Classic Rock – out this Friday – Peter Frampton talks about recent plans to release AI-assisted recordings of Humble Pie using "new" vocals from late singer Steve Marriott.

 

"If they [AI technicians] can do it to Steve and they’ve done it to me, what comes next? How far will they go?” says Frampton. “For me there is no place for such fakery. Using somebody’s immortal voice for anything other than its original purpose is just wrong."

Every single musician I know who has commented on AI in music seems dead set against it, so I was wondering what a broader spectrum of people on here thought about it.

 

Personally, I can see the possibilities, particularly following The Beatles' single this year but how far is too far? And where should the line be drawn, if at all?

I answered "other" because TBH... I find discussions of AI (not only in music) annoying. I don't wanna waste too much time on something not worth losing my sanity long-term. Like with almost anything, whenever there is an innovation, there would be some sort of controversy and irrational outrage because it's not proven safe and not "authentic" (I don't like that word). I'm looking at you, Daft Punk.

 

AI is basically an old concept at this point. You were probably a child and heard of "artificial intelligence" at some point or another even if (for quite a while) it's "hip" online to be anti-AI when it is highly misunderstood. Anything could be misused or abused, not just AI.

 

The Beatles' 'Now And Then' wouldn't be possible without the advancements that include reducing recording spill from Lennon's vocals that previous tools had a difficult time doing. Whether isolation his vocals should've been done without the consent is a different story though. Consent is probably a case-by-case thing?

 

Personally, I think idea of using the source voice and giving royalties should be encouraged more often like Grimes did.

Edited June 19, 20241 yr by All★bySmashMouth

I think it can be used to an advantage as long as it is done in a sensitive way and there is some human interference - the Beatles track worked as AI was just used to enhance the otherwise man-made track which it wasn't possible to do for the 90s lost tracks, it felt fitting as a last accomplished track from the group and had the consent of some of the group themselves (and one of the deceased was initially working on them in the 90s). That's fine as long as it's a one-off and is used to create something that feels fitting to the artists' memory. It probably has the possibilities to make new singles from deceased artists, but I would seriously question the morality of anyone ever going to those lengths if there hasn't been prior consent.

 

AI making music from scratch though and representing artists? No, like I said in the films forum a while back, art must have a human touch to have any sort of connection and effect, it's completely meaningless otherwise.

We're at the point already where someone that would commission or purchase a piece of incidental music can now make their own using Udio or Suno, so we're not far away from a whole chunk of the music industry disappearing altogether.

 

On the creative side, Udio allows you to upload your own music and extend parts of it in ways that you may not have thought of. I've been remixing one of my own pieces for the last few days with Udio and it's a lot cleaner and more professional than I had made it.

Edited June 19, 20241 yr by Colm

AI making music from scratch though and representing artists? No, like I said in the films forum a while back, art must have a human touch to have any sort of connection and effect, it's completely meaningless otherwise.

 

 

I don't agree. Certain chord progressions and keys can evoke emotion. There's several subgenres of dance music that could be made by AI and be just as effective as it would be if made by a person.

Edited June 19, 20241 yr by Colm

I've been using Udio to make some tunes using loops that I uploaded.

Edited April 6Apr 6 by Colm