A.I. Sampling and how the Music Industry will change forever

Nobody & The Computer
6 Sept 202319:54

TLDRThe video transcript delves into the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (A.I.) on the music industry. It begins with a scene where partygoers are surprised to learn that the music they're dancing to is not spun by a human DJ, but by an A.I. system. The host introduces various A.I. tools that are revolutionizing music creation, such as Jen from Metta, which can turn simple sounds into complex beats, and SUNO's chirp model, which generates rap verses from prompts. The video also touches on the history of music sampling, from the Mellotron to the Fairlight CMI, and the legal challenges that arose with digital sampling. It then explores how generative A.I. is being used to create new music, free from the legal issues of traditional sampling. The host demonstrates how to use A.I. to generate beats, vocals, and even videos, showcasing the potential for A.I. to not only change how music is made but also how it's experienced, with the ability to create unique and high-quality experimental music.

Takeaways

  • 🎧 The music industry is embracing artificial intelligence (A.I.) to create tracks, with 'Nobody and the Computer' being a notable example of A.I.-driven music.
  • 🚀 A.I. is being used to generate raw audio and perform sampling actions, picking up sounds, adding a special twist, and creating new music pieces.
  • 🎼 The history of music sampling dates back to the mid-20th century with 'musique concrete', which used recorded sounds as raw material for composition.
  • 📼 The Mellotron, introduced in the 1960s, was an early instrument that used tape strips containing prerecorded sounds, similar to a sampler.
  • 🎚 The Fairlight CMI, released in 1979, was the first synthesizer to feature digital sampling, influencing the music of the 1980s.
  • 🎛 Turntablism and the use of turntables by DJs like Grandmaster Flash were pivotal in shaping hip-hop and the art of sampling.
  • 💽 In the 1980s and 1990s, digital samplers like the EMU, ESP 1200, and Akai MPC became essential tools for music production, allowing for precise sound manipulation.
  • 🚨 The rise of digital sampling led to legal issues concerning copyright and the use of samples, impacting the way artists create music.
  • 🛠 Generative A.I. is now being used to create unique samples, raising new questions about legalities and the future of music creation.
  • 📝 Tools like AudioGen by Meta allow for textually guided audio generation, crafting audio pieces based on provided descriptions or prompts.
  • 🎵 A.I. models are being used to generate music in various styles, and while they offer immense creative potential, they also require a lot of experimentation and fine-tuning.
  • 🌐 The advent of A.I. in music production is not just an experimental phase but is producing high-quality music and visuals, marking a significant shift in the music industry.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic discussed in the transcript?

    -The main topic discussed in the transcript is the use of artificial intelligence (A.I.) in music creation and how it is changing the music industry.

  • What is the term used to describe music composition that utilizes recorded sounds as raw material?

    -The term used to describe music composition that utilizes recorded sounds as raw material is 'musique concrete'.

  • Which instrument was considered an early version of the sampler and was used by bands like the Beatles?

    -The Mellotron was considered an early version of the sampler and was used by bands like the Beatles.

  • What was the significance of the Fairlight CMI in the history of music?

    -The Fairlight CMI, unveiled in 1979, was significant because it was the first synthesizer to bring digital sampling to the music industry.

  • How did the legal issues surrounding sampling affect the music industry in the 2000s?

    -The legal issues surrounding sampling led to a shift in the music industry, with heavy sampling moving into the background and artists becoming more cautious about using samples without permission.

  • What is generative A.I. and how does it relate to music sampling?

    -Generative A.I. is a technology that can create original content, such as music samples, by learning from vast amounts of data. It relates to music sampling by providing a new way to create unique samples without the legal complications of traditional sampling.

  • What tool is mentioned for creating concrete music or sourcing shorter samples?

    -AudioGen by Meta is mentioned as a tool for creating concrete music or sourcing shorter samples through textually guided audio generation.

  • How does the SUNO chirp model work?

    -The SUNO chirp model is a user-friendly tool that allows users to input commands and select music styles to generate music. It can also be used to create lyrics and transform them into rap verses.

  • What is the role of MusicLM in the process described in the transcript?

    -MusicLM is used to generate beats and loops by responding to specific prompts, which can then be used to create music tracks with a unique sound.

  • How does the process of 'prompt digging' with MusicGEN differ from traditional record digging?

    -Prompt digging with MusicGEN involves using textual prompts to discover and generate a wide range of music styles through A.I., as opposed to traditional record digging which involves searching through physical records for samples.

  • What is the potential impact of A.I. on the future of the music industry?

    -The potential impact of A.I. on the music industry includes the ability to create high-quality, experimental music with ease, the generation of unique samples without legal complications, and the possibility of a more democratized music creation process.

  • How does the use of A.I. in music creation address some of the legal concerns associated with traditional sampling?

    -While A.I. has been trained with data from various artists, the legal landscape for A.I.-generated content is still evolving. However, it offers a way to create original content that may reduce the risk of copyright infringement associated with traditional sampling.

Outlines

00:00

🎶 The Rise of A.I. in Music Production

This paragraph introduces the concept of A.I.-generated music, highlighting a party atmosphere where attendees are surprised to learn that there is no human DJ, but instead, music is being created by 'Nobody and the Computer.' The discussion moves on to the history of music sampling, starting from musique concrete to the Mellotron and digital sampling with the Fairlight CMI. The paragraph also touches on the legal issues surrounding sampling, particularly copyright infringement, and how these have affected the music industry.

05:02

🚀 Exploring A.I. Music Tools and Their Impact

The second paragraph delves into the use of various A.I. music tools, starting with AudioGen by Meta for creating concrete music or sourcing samples. It then introduces the Chirp model by Suno, which generates music based on textual prompts, and the use of a steam separator to isolate vocals. The paragraph also discusses the potential legal implications of using A.I.-generated music and how it might affect artists and the music industry.

10:08

🎧 Crafting Beats with A.I. and Voice Conversion

This section focuses on the practical application of A.I. in creating music, starting with generating beats using Google's MusicLM and crafting an 'A.I. Ultimate Breaking Beats' album. It discusses the process of selecting and looping samples, and then using SUNO to generate a rap voiceover with custom lyrics. The paragraph also explores voice conversion technology, where the generated voice is transformed to mimic that of the legendary rapper Tupac Shakur, and ends with the creation of an A.I.-generated video to accompany the music.

15:25

🌟 A.I. and the Future of Music Creation

The final paragraph imagines a future where A.I. enables the discovery of eccentric music styles without leaving one's home, introducing MusicGEN by META for creating diverse music styles. It discusses the process of 'prompt digging' to find unique music styles and using these samples to craft beats. The paragraph also mentions the use of GPT to generate inventive lyrics and the transformation of these lyrics into rap verses by SUNO, voiced by artists such as Lauryn Hill, MF Doom, and Quasimoto. It concludes with the anticipation of watching breakdancing videos generated by PiKaLabs, emphasizing the remarkable times we live in with the power of A.I. in music and visuals.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡A.I. Sampling

A.I. Sampling refers to the process of using artificial intelligence to create or manipulate audio samples. In the context of the video, it is a method for generating music where A.I. is used to produce sounds and beats that would traditionally be made by a human DJ or musician. It is central to the video's theme of exploring how A.I. is revolutionizing the music industry.

💡Music Industry

The Music Industry involves the production, distribution, and sale of recorded music. The video discusses how A.I. is changing this industry by enabling new ways to create and distribute music, potentially forever altering the roles of musicians, producers, and listeners.

💡Concrete Music

Concrete music, also known as musique concrète, is an early form of electronic music that uses recorded sounds as raw material. Pioneers like Pierre Schaeffer manipulated everyday sounds to create new music. In the video, concrete music is mentioned as a historical precedent to modern A.I. sampling techniques.

💡Mellotron

The Mellotron is a keyboard instrument that was introduced in the 1960s and used prerecorded instrument sounds on tape strips. When a key is pressed, it triggers the playback of the corresponding sound. The Mellotron is highlighted in the video as an early example of a sampler, which is significant to the evolution of music technology.

💡Fairlight CMI

The Fairlight CMI, unveiled in 1979, was a groundbreaking synthesizer that introduced digital sampling. Despite its high cost and complexity, it was a pivotal instrument that influenced the music of the 1980s. The video uses the Fairlight CMI as an example of how technology has historically advanced the capabilities of music creation.

💡Turntablism

Turntablism is the art of manipulating sounds and creating music using turntables, often associated with techniques like scratching and beat juggling. The video references turntablism as a foundational practice in sampling and a precursor to the digital sampling techniques enabled by A.I.

💡Digital Sampling

Digital Sampling involves the manipulation of digitized audio to create new sounds or music. It became popular with the advent of samplers like the EMU, ESP 1200, and Akai MPC. The video emphasizes digital sampling as a transformative technique in music production that has now been further evolved by A.I.

💡Copyright

Copyright is a legal right that grants creators control over their work. The video discusses how the use of sampling in music has raised copyright issues, particularly when samples are used without permission or proper compensation to the original creators. This is a critical aspect of the legal challenges faced by the music industry in the digital age.

💡Generative A.I.

Generative A.I. refers to the ability of artificial intelligence to create original content, such as music, based on learned patterns. The video explores various generative A.I. tools that are capable of producing unique audio samples, demonstrating a new frontier in music creation that is not bound by traditional copyright issues.

💡MusicLM

MusicLM is a model by Google that generates music based on given prompts. It is used in the video to create beats and melodies, showcasing the potential of A.I. to produce complex musical structures. MusicLM represents the cutting edge of A.I. in the music industry.

💡Meta's MusicGEN

Meta's MusicGEN is an A.I. tool that can generate music in various styles based on textual prompts. The video uses MusicGEN to create diverse music styles, illustrating the versatility of A.I. in music composition and the potential for A.I. to explore unconventional music genres.

Highlights

A.I. is being used to create music, eliminating the need for a human DJ.

The concept of A.I. music is new to many, but it's already generating a party atmosphere.

A.I. tools are being used to generate raw audio and apply special effects.

The history of using existing sounds to create new music dates back to the mid-20th century with musique concrete.

Pierre Schafer was a pioneer in manipulating real-world sounds to create new music.

The Mellotron, introduced in the 1960s, was an early version of a sampler using tape strips.

The Fairlight CMI in 1979 was the first synthesizer to feature digital sampling.

Turntablism and DJs like Grandmaster Flash were instrumental in the evolution of hip hop through sound manipulation.

Digital samplers in the 80s and 90s, such as the EMU, ESP 1200, and Akai MPC, revolutionized music production.

The 90s saw legal challenges to sampling, with copyright issues affecting the use of samples in music.

Generative A.I. offers a new way to create samples without the legal complications of traditional sampling.

AudioGen by Meta is a tool that generates audio based on textual descriptions, useful for creating concrete music.

Suno's chirp model and its Discord bot provide an easy way to generate music based on user prompts.

Google's MusicLM is used to create loops and beats, offering a modern take on the classic Ultimate Breaks and Beats.

A.I. models like MusicLM require experimentation with prompts to achieve the desired sound.

Voice conversion technology can transform one voice into another, as demonstrated by remastering a voice to sound like Tupac Shakur.

A.I. is not only creating music but also generating accompanying videos, showcasing its multifaceted capabilities.

MusicGEN by META allows users to explore and create music in a variety of eccentric styles through prompt-based generation.

The combination of A.I.-generated music and visuals marks a significant leap in the music industry, offering high-quality and experimental content.