41–50 of 62 posts
Where's the AI? At best, it looks like they use a pre-trained algorithm to generate output based on a few inputs. Similar to the deep dream visual effects Google was generating a while back. Amazon's recommender systems adjust dynamically, based on what users buy. Google's handwriting recognition is learning every time you select the correct choice and continue with your next scribble. How does this learn anything?
$4M would pay for a lot of mediocre human composers to produce a lot of mediocre music. I understand the value proposition here and it's neat technology, I just think it might still be a little bit early for millions to be pouring into the field. Every example I've heard of "AI music" has been some level of failure. But, maybe they just need a few million dollars to throw at the problem, and it'll go away.
Hey guys... Drew from Amper here. Thanks for the feedback!
Drew, Most of the sample tracks on SoundCloud are 30 second in length. Is the platform capable of creating longer 2-4 minute songs right now?
From what the article says, it looks like this company is looking to provide their software as a tool for companies to generate stock music with minimal effort. They claim that stock music currently available for purchase is both overpriced and generally insufficient for commercial projects with specific demands. Perhaps it's also implied that paying a producer would similarly be too steep of a cost. My main issue with Amper's concept is not that the creation of music with AI is too farfetched- that is not a new concept. My issue is that the value of Amper's software depends on their ability to optimize the process of creating music according to strict specifications- something that I think is bottlenecked by the speed of human conversation. Like any producer, AI software can get the ball rolling, but ultimately creative decisions have to be made intelligently somewhere, and there must be an exchange of feedback which is more efficient and stronger than regular human conversation for Amper to succeed. Not only must the AI be very good, but the user interface itself must be so good that someone without a music production skillset and only a vague understanding of what's needed can do the work. I think creating this kind of interface for a layperson is the bigger challenge here.
I was also extremely unimpressed with the demo. The sound quality was very poor for commercial music and there really isn't a lot of range shown in the tracks. And it isn't because of soundcloud, there are plenty of even amateur composers with more professionally produced music. I know it's supposed to be stock music, but isn't this software supposed to be capable of generating excellent, detailed stock music?
Hey guys... Drew from Amper here. Thanks for the feedback!
$4M would pay for a lot of mediocre human composers to produce a lot of mediocre music. I understand the value proposition here and it's neat technology, I just think it might still be a little bit early for millions to be pouring into the field. Every example I've heard of "AI music" has been some level of failure. But, maybe they just need a few million dollars to throw at the problem, and it'll go away.
The real niche IMO is in game music. If you can get the music to respond in real time to players actions without becoming repetitive that's probably worth 100+M across the industry even if it's never 'great'.
The real utopia here is putting your headphones and listening to appropriate and good music.
Music responding to gaming, sports, chill, on-the-train, falling asleep, without user input would be pretty cool.
$4M would pay for a lot of mediocre human composers to produce a lot of mediocre music. I understand the value proposition here and it's neat technology, I just think it might still be a little bit early for millions to be pouring into the field. Every example I've heard of "AI music" has been some level of failure. But, maybe they just need a few million dollars to throw at the problem, and it'll go away.
With service, we can now implement a better version of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPM1o9QKw1Q
(This has already existed for years on iOS and Android, but they could be improved).
There's also video games and a lot of amateur youtube videos that could use it as well.
AI-generated music will go along with generic food and other products. Listen already to the generic soundtracks on most Kickstarters. It works because they're paired conspicuous consumption. Just use the phone app "SoundBot" to make a generic chord progression with 1/8th note rhythms.
"Compelling" (a la Magenta) art and music will have to understand the context, have a perspective and understand what is ineffable and attempt to convey it. That's an unbelievably large machine learning task, having essentially no boundaries and with very little data to source from.
Nevertheless, as a company, Amper may create some useful musical man/machine collaboration tools.