Genx Notes

Tag: vocal

  • Udio 1.5 Update: A New Era in Music Production

    Udio 1.5 Update: A New Era in Music Production

    A revolution is happening in the world of music production tools. Udio has been updated to version 1.5, introducing amazing new features. This update greatly expands the possibilities of music production. Let’s take a look at the main changes.

    1. Stem Download Feature

    The most notable new feature is stem downloading. Users can now download four individual stems: drums, bass, top melody, and vocals. This is significantly superior compared to the competitor Suno, which can only separate instruments and vocals.

    2. Enhanced Remix Function

    The Remix function can now be used on tracks longer than 32 seconds. Additionally, users can freely adjust parameters to set the similarity level with the original song. This greatly expands creative possibilities.

    3. General Access to Udio-130

    Previously, Standard plan users could only generate 32-second clips. With this update, Udio-130 (generating 130-second clips) is now available to all users. This makes it easier to create longer musical pieces.

    4. Clarity Editing Function

    The newly added Clarity editing function allows for adjustment of sound separation. This makes it possible to intentionally create effects reminiscent of old recordings or, conversely, produce modern, clear sounds.

    5. Improved Sound Quality

    Overall sound quality has improved, addressing issues like the “crushed snare drum” sound characteristic of previous Udio versions. This allows for more natural and high-quality music production.

    6. Generation Quality Experimentation

    Lastly, there’s an interesting point regarding Generation Quality settings. The highest “Ultra” setting isn’t always optimal; sometimes “Good” or even lower settings may yield better results. This was discussed on Reddit before version 1.5 and seems to remain true in this update.

    Experimenting with combinations of Clarity and Generation Quality settings allows for exploration of various timbres and textures.

    Conclusion

    The Udio 1.5 update brings new possibilities to the world of music production. With features like stem downloading, enhanced Remix function, longer clip generation, and Clarity editing, it’s packed with attractive features for creators. Combined with improved sound quality, Udio has solidified its position as a music production tool.

  • How to Create Variations in Hip-Hop Beats

    How to Create Variations in Hip-Hop Beats

    Let’s explore some key points on how to create variations in hip-hop beats.

    Basic Structure of Song Progression

    • Intro
    • Verse
    • Pre-chorus
    • Chorus
    • Bridge
    • Outro

    Techniques for Creating Variations

    1. Layering

    Gradually add instruments:

    • Start with drums, then add bass, synths, and samples in order

    2. Dropouts

    Temporarily remove specific instruments:

    • For example, remove drums before the chorus and bring them back in during the chorus

    3. Filter Effects

    Use low-pass filters to change the brightness of the sound:

    • Gradually open the filter during the pre-chorus

    4. Rhythm Changes

    Alter drum patterns:

    • Use a simple pattern for verses and a more complex one for choruses

    5. Utilizing Effects

    Use reverb and delay to change spatial perception:

    • Increase reverb during the bridge to create a sense of expansiveness

    6. Using Samples

    Introduce new samples to create variation:

    • Add an impactful vocal sample during the chorus

    Conclusion

    By combining these techniques, you can create dynamic and interesting variations. The key is to use them appropriately according to the mood and intention of the song. It’s also important to make adjustments while listening carefully.

  • Beats are Like Cake: Understanding Sound Design Through Layers of Frequency Bands

    Beats are Like Cake: Understanding Sound Design Through Layers of Frequency Bands

    Today, we’ll explain music frequency bands by comparing them to layers of a cake. Welcome to the delicious world of music!

    Foundation Layer: Low Frequency Range (20Hz – 250Hz)

    The bottom layer of the cake is the low frequency range, which forms the foundation of music.

    • Key players: Bass, kick drum
    • Characteristics: Forms the basis of rhythm and harmony in music
    • Caution: Maintain appropriate levels to avoid muddiness

    This layer plays a crucial role in supporting the entire cake.

    Middle Layer: Mid-Frequency Range (250Hz – 2kHz)

    The middle layer of the cake is the mid-frequency range where the main elements of music gather.

    • Key players: Vocals, guitar, piano, and other main instruments
    • Characteristics: Core part of the music, center of melody and harmony
    • Caution: Be careful not to overlap frequencies of different instruments

    This layer determines the main flavor of the cake.

    Top Layer: High Frequency Range (2kHz – 20kHz)

    The top layer of the cake is the high frequency range that adds brilliance to the music.

    • Key players: Cymbals, hi-hats, noise elements
    • Characteristics: Adds clarity and air to the music
    • Caution: Adjust moderately to avoid harshness

    This layer adds vibrancy to the entire cake.

    Using Filters: Adjusting the Layers

    Like adjusting cake layers, use filters to adjust each frequency band.

    • Low-pass filter: Cuts high frequencies (trims the top layer)
    • High-pass filter: Cuts low frequencies (trims the bottom layer)
    • Band-pass filter: Allows only specific frequency bands (keeps only specific layers)

    Example with Rap and Chorus

    Rap part:

    • Apply low-pass filter to the sample: Cut the top layer, emphasize middle and bottom layers
    • Effect: Highlights the rap vocals (mid-range)

    Chorus part:

    • Remove low-pass filter: Restore all layers
    • Effect: Opens up the sound, becomes brighter

    Conclusion

    Music production is like making a cake by skillfully combining layers of frequency bands. By balancing each layer and adjusting with filters, you can create wonderful music that resonates with listeners. Be conscious of the balance between low, mid, and high frequencies, and aim for a mix that brings out the characteristics of each part. This will result in a delicious music cake that stays in the hearts of listeners! Why not become a patissier of frequency-conscious music production and create your own wonderful works?

  • Instrumental Hip Hop and Hip Hop Instrumentals: Two Similar Yet Different Genres

    Instrumental Hip Hop and Hip Hop Instrumentals: Two Similar Yet Different Genres

    In the world of music production, there are genres that may seem similar at first glance but are actually quite different. Let’s explore the differences between ‘Instrumental Hip Hop,’ which I produce using Suno and Udio, and ‘Hip Hop Instrumentals,’ which I used to create manually.

    Competing with the Instrumental Itself

    Instrumental Hip Hop, as the name suggests, is music composed solely of instruments. Here, all elements such as melody, rhythm, and sound design are intended to capture the listener’s attention. On the other hand, Hip Hop Instrumentals often function as a foundation for rappers and don’t necessarily need to be complete on their own.

    Securing Space for Rap

    Hip Hop Instrumentals are created with the assumption that rap will be added, so space is consciously made for vocals. In contrast, Instrumental Hip Hop doesn’t require such consideration. Rather, it can fully utilize all frequency bands to create a rich soundscape.

    Differences in Song Structure

    In Instrumental Hip Hop, it’s possible to include a bridge to enrich the song’s development or arrange the chorus to be particularly impressive. On the other hand, Hip Hop Instrumentals often maintain a simple structure to match the flow of rap.

    Use of Fade-in and Fade-out

    In Instrumental Hip Hop, using fade-in and fade-out at the beginning and end of the song can create a smoother listening experience. In the case of Hip Hop Instrumentals, these techniques are rarely used as clear starts and ends are necessary to match the rapper’s performance.

    Conclusion

    I realized that Instrumental Hip Hop produced using Suno and Udio and Hip Hop Instrumentals created manually, while seemingly similar, are actually quite different.

  • What’s the difference between Instrumental Hip-Hop and Hip-Hop Instrumentals?

    What’s the difference between Instrumental Hip-Hop and Hip-Hop Instrumentals?

    Instrumental Hip-Hop and Hip-Hop Instrumentals are very similar concepts, but there are subtle differences. The main difference between the two lies in their origins and production intentions.

    Instrumental Hip-Hop

    Instrumental Hip-Hop is primarily characterized by:

    • Independent genre: A music genre created from the start without vocals.
    • Production intent: Made for listening, not necessarily for rappers.
    • Musicality: Tends to be more experimental and incorporates various musical elements.
    • Artists: Representative artists include DJ Shadow, RJD2, and Nujabes.

    Hip-Hop Instrumentals

    On the other hand, Hip-Hop Instrumentals are:

    • Derivative: Vocals removed from existing hip-hop tracks, or instrumental versions of tracks made for rappers.
    • Production intent: Mainly intended for rappers to use for freestyle or practice.
    • Musicality: Maintains typical hip-hop structure and has space intended for vocals.
    • Usage examples: DJ mixes, karaoke versions, remix materials, etc.

    Summary

    While the differences are subtle, Instrumental Hip-Hop is a more artistic and independent genre, whereas Hip-Hop Instrumentals are closely related to existing hip-hop tracks. However, these boundaries are sometimes blurred, and many artists create works that incorporate elements of both.

  • It Might Be Time to Graduate from Lease Beats: Pursuing Creativity

    It Might Be Time to Graduate from Lease Beats: Pursuing Creativity

    Introduction

    As you grow as a music producer, lease beats may seem like an attractive option. However, there comes a time when you should consider graduating from lease beats to expand your musical possibilities. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of moving away from lease beats in detail.

    1. Not Knowing Customers’ Musical Preferences

    One of the biggest issues with lease beats is that it’s difficult to understand the musical preferences of customers you’ve never met in person. You won’t know if the beats you create match what your customers are looking for until you make a sale. This uncertainty can limit your creativity and make it challenging to pursue your own musical vision.

    2. Limited Experimental Music Production

    To grow as a music producer, it’s essential to challenge yourself with new genres and styles, expanding your musical possibilities. However, when creating lease beats, you must consider that customers will add vocals or rap to your beats, forcing you to create within a certain mold. This limits your creativity and makes it difficult to try out new ideas.

    3. Restricted Editing Freedom

    When producing lease beats, it becomes challenging to freely edit intros, outros, fade-ins, and fade-outs. Considering that customers will add vocals or rap, you need to keep these edits to a minimum. Additionally, making irreversible edits can result in a product that doesn’t match what your customers are looking for. As a result, you may end up with uninteresting and boring pieces.

    4. AI-Generated Vocals and Rap

    With the advancements in artificial intelligence, it’s now possible to have AI generate vocals and rap for your music without the need to collaborate with singers or rappers. This allows you to have more creative control over your music and experiment with different vocal styles and lyrics without being limited by the preferences or availability of human collaborators. By leveraging AI technology, you can push the boundaries of your music production and create truly unique and innovative pieces.

    Pursuing Your Musical Vision

    Quitting lease beats may be an important step in your music career. By pursuing your musical vision and trying new ideas, you can grow significantly as a music producer. By creating your own pieces freely without relying on lease beats, your creativity will reach new heights.

    Conclusion

    While lease beats are an attractive option for music producers, there comes a time when you need to graduate from them to expand your musical possibilities. Considering issues such as not knowing customers’ preferences, limited experimental music production, restricted editing freedom, and the availability of AI-generated vocals and rap, it’s crucial to pursue your own musical vision. Quitting lease beats can be an important step in your music career. Believe in your potential and continue to take on new challenges.

  • The Importance of Releasing Dormant Beats

    The Importance of Releasing Dormant Beats

    Introduction

    In modern times, music production using digital devices like computers and MPCs has become more accessible, allowing many people to participate. Furthermore, music production utilizing AI is also gaining attention. However, often the music created ends up dormant as data, and its quality is not conveyed. Let’s consider the importance of releasing these dormant beats on computers and MPCs, as well as music created by AI.

    Allowing people around the world to listen to your music

    The biggest advantage of releasing dormant beats is the potential for people worldwide to listen to your music. By using free music platforms like YouTube and SoundCloud, or music streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music, you can deliver your music to a large audience.

    Receiving evaluations and feedback to improve skills

    By releasing your music, you can receive evaluations and feedback from others. Being pointed out areas for improvement and understanding how others perceive your music can help enhance your music production skills.Connecting with music peers and people interested in AI
    Music has the power to connect people. When your music resonates with others, it can lead to interactions through music, opening up new encounters and possibilities. By releasing AI-generated music, you can connect with people interested in AI-based music production and contribute to its development.

    Creating opportunities for self-expression

    Releasing dormant beats can also boost your self-confidence. You can gain a sense of achievement and satisfaction from having your music recognized. However, the most important thing is to enjoy the creative process yourself.

    Conclusion

    By releasing dormant beats, there is a possibility for people around the world to listen to your music, and it can also lead to skill improvement. Releasing music, including AI-generated tracks, can showcase new musical possibilities and provide opportunities for interaction and self-expression. Above all, it’s crucial to enjoy the music production process and maintain confidence in the music you create.

  • The Importance of Expressing Your Musical Identity in Words as a Beatmaker

    The Importance of Expressing Your Musical Identity in Words as a Beatmaker

    As a beatmaker, being able to clearly express your musical identity in words is extremely important. Although music is not typically expressed through words or text, being able to articulate your musical identity can deepen your own understanding and facilitate smooth communication with those around you. It also plays a crucial role in collaborative productions. In this article, we will explain in detail the importance of expressing your musical identity in words as a beatmaker.

    Deepening Your Own Understanding

    First, by expressing your musical identity in words, you can deepen your own understanding. Music is sensory and may be difficult to explain in words. However, by organizing in words what kind of music you want to create and what elements you want to incorporate, you can clarify the musical identity and direction you are seeking. By expressing it in words, you can also establish your own identity. By clarifying what kind of music you want to create and what elements you want to incorporate, you can differentiate yourself from other artists. By clearly expressing your musical identity in words, you can deepen your self-understanding and approach music production with more confidence.

    Facilitating Smooth Communication with Others

    Next, by expressing your musical identity in words, you can facilitate smooth communication with those around you. Communication with others is extremely important when working as a beatmaker. For example, in meetings and collaborative productions with record companies and producers, it is necessary to clearly convey what kind of music you want to create.

    Making It Easier for Fans to Discover Your Music

    Expressing your musical identity in words is also very important for making it easier for fans to discover your music. In today’s music industry, artists are required to widely disseminate their music using music distribution services and social media. By clearly conveying what kind of music you want to create and what elements you want to incorporate, it becomes easier for fans to find your music.

    For example, if you are producing hip-hop or electronic music, by explaining in words what kind of sound your music has and what kind of beats you are creating, you can approach more fans who are knowledgeable about that genre. Also, by conveying in words what kind of message you want to convey through your music, it becomes easier to gain fans who empathize with your music.

    Furthermore, expressing your musical identity in words is also related to search engine optimization (SEO). In today’s music industry, disseminating music on the internet is extremely important. However, there is a vast amount of music on the internet, and it is very difficult for fans to find your music. Therefore, by clearly expressing in words what kind of music you want to create and what elements you want to incorporate, you can raise your search ranking on search engines and make it easier for more fans to find your music.

    Deepening Communication with Fans

    In addition, explaining your musical identity in words is also important in communicating with fans. Fans listen to your music and support you by empathizing with your musical identity. However, if you do not explain in words what kind of music you create and what kind of commitment you have, fans cannot deeply understand your musical identity. Therefore, by explaining your musical identity in words, you can deepen communication with fans.

    Facilitating Collaborative Productions with Other Artists and Producers

    Furthermore, expressing your musical identity in words is also important in collaborative productions. Music production can be done alone, but in many cases, collaborative production with other artists and producers is necessary. By expressing in words what kind of music you want to create, collaborative production can proceed smoothly. In collaborative production, it is required to exchange ideas with each other and create a single musical work. Therefore, by clearly conveying what kind of musical identity you have and what direction you are aiming for, you can maximize the results of collaborative production.

    Accurately Including the Image of the Song You Want to Create in Prompts for Music Generation AI

    In recent years, music generation AI technology has been rapidly developing and has become an important tool for beatmakers as well. When using music generation AI, it is very important to accurately include the image of the song you want to create in the prompt. A prompt refers to instructions or requests to the AI. If you can clearly express your musical identity in words, you can accurately include the image of the song you want to create in the prompt.

    For example, by including a specific image in the prompt such as “I want to create a track with a nostalgic atmosphere like 80s synth-pop and a sad melody,” you can generate a song that is close to your desired musical identity. Also, by including an image that combines multiple genres in the prompt such as “I want a groovy beat that fuses jazz and hip-hop and uses soulful vocal samples,” you can generate unique music.

    If you can clearly express your musical identity in words, you can choose accurate words when creating prompts. This allows you to efficiently generate songs that are close to your image when using music generation AI.

    Conclusion

    As described above, it is clear that expressing your musical identity in words is extremely important for beatmakers. Not only can it deepen your own understanding, facilitate smooth communication with those around you, and play an important role in collaborative productions, but it can also give you an advantage in search engines. By expressing your musical identity in words, fans who are searching for your music can find your music more accurately. Also, by clarifying your musical identity, you can use keywords that match your genre and theme and implement SEO measures.

    Furthermore, when using music generation AI, it is important to be able to clearly express your musical identity in words. By accurately including the image of the song you want to create in the prompt, you can efficiently generate songs that are close to your desired musical identity.

    Therefore, it is important to clarify your musical identity and approach music production with confidence.

  • AI is Revolutionizing the Music Industry: From Lyric Writing to Vocal Generation

    AI is Revolutionizing the Music Industry: From Lyric Writing to Vocal Generation

    The utilization of AI technology in the music industry is no longer a thing of the future. It is a transformation that is currently happening in real-time. Particularly, Korean artists have already begun actively incorporating AI into their work. They are training AI with their own voices and using it for lyric writing, singing, and rapping.

    AI-Generated Lyrics and Vocals

    Artists are feeding their past works and favorite artists’ songs into AI, allowing it to generate highly original lyrics. By training AI with their own voices, artists enable AI to learn their vocal qualities, singing styles, and rap flows, creating vocals that sound as if the artists themselves are singing. Furthermore, by having AI sing in multiple languages, artists can now deliver their music to listeners worldwide.

    YouTubers Being Replaced by AI

    The use of AI is not limited to the music industry; it is also progressing in the world of YouTubers. Some YouTubers are creating AI versions of themselves by training AI with their voices and movements. This allows AI to create and distribute content on behalf of the YouTubers without their direct appearance in the videos.

    Democratization of Music Production

    The use of AI lowers the barriers to music production, enabling more people to enter the field. Even those with limited musical knowledge and skills can create their own music using AI. This is expected to lead to a more diverse music industry.

    Challenges and Possibilities

    On the other hand, there are concerns that the rise of AI may lead to a loss of artists’ uniqueness and creativity. However, AI is ultimately a tool that complements artists’ sensibilities and expressive abilities. It will be crucial for artists to effectively utilize AI while showcasing their own individuality.

    The AI-driven transformation of the music industry has already begun. The efforts of Korean artists and YouTubers are just a few examples. In the future, we can expect an era where AI and human artists collaborate to create unprecedented musical experiences. We need to look forward to these changes while keeping an eye on the new possibilities brought about by AI.

  • Beatmaking in the AI Era: The Importance of Beat Arrangers

    Beatmaking in the AI Era: The Importance of Beat Arrangers

    The world of music production is undergoing significant changes due to the advancement of AI. Particularly in genres like hip-hop and electronic music, AI is being actively utilized in beatmaking. However, just because AI can create beats doesn’t mean that human roles will become obsolete. In fact, in the coming AI era, the existence of beat arrangers may become more important than beatmakers.

    Current State of AI Beatmaking

    Currently, numerous tools that use AI to create beats are emerging. These tools analyze vast amounts of data, learn patterns, and can generate original beats. The beats created by AI are of comparable quality to those made by humans, and the production time can be significantly reduced.

    The Role of Beat Arrangers

    However, the beats created by AI are merely “raw materials.” In music production, what’s important is how these materials are combined and arranged. This is where the role of beat arrangers comes into play.

    Beat arrangers skillfully edit the beats generated by AI and optimize them to fit the composition of the song. Rather than simply repeating loops, they vary the beats according to each part of the song, such as the intro, verse, chorus, bridge, and outro, adding musical ups and downs. They also consider the balance with other instruments and vocals, producing the overall sound.

    Human Creativity

    Even with the development of AI beatmaking, human creativity remains essential. Beat arrangers utilize their own musical sense and experience to create unique arrangements that AI cannot imitate. Through communication with artists, they understand the worldview and message of the song and can express it through music.

    Conclusion

    In the AI era of beatmaking, the existence of beat arrangers is indispensable. By editing and arranging AI-generated beats with human creativity, more refined musical works will be born. In addition to skills as a beatmaker, developing abilities as an arranger will be a crucial factor in the future music production scene.