AI Music Generation: Create Music with Suno, Udio, and More

AI music generation has reached a remarkable level, enabling anyone to create original songs with vocals, instrumentals, and full production. This guide explores the leading tools and how to use them effectively.

What is AI Music Generation?

AI music generation uses machine learning models trained on vast music libraries to create new compositions. These tools can generate:

• Complete songs with vocals and lyrics
• Instrumental tracks
• Background music
• Sound effects
• Remixes and variations

Leading AI Music Generators

Suno AI

The most popular text-to-music platform.

Capabilities:

• Full songs with vocals
• Multiple genres
• Custom lyrics or AI-generated
• Various moods and styles

Free tier: 10 song credits daily Pro: $8/month (500 credits) Premier: $24/month (2000 credits)

Strengths:

• Excellent vocal quality
• Wide genre range
• User-friendly interface
• Active community

Best for: Complete song creation with vocals.

Udio

High-quality music generation with strong production values.

Capabilities:

• Studio-quality output
• Excellent genre accuracy
• Custom lyrics support
• Good vocal clarity

Pricing:

• Free tier available
• Standard: $10/month
• Pro: $30/month

Strengths:

• Professional sound quality
• Accurate genre reproduction
• Clean production
• Good mixing

Best for: High-fidelity music creation.

AIVA

Composed specifically for instrumental and orchestral music.

Capabilities:

• Orchestral compositions
• Film and game scores
• Emotional soundtracks
• Multiple instruments

Pricing:

• Free: Limited features
• Standard: €11/month
• Pro: €33/month

Best for: Film scores, game music, orchestral compositions.

Mubert

Real-time generative music for various applications.

Capabilities:

• Continuous generation
• Adaptive music
• Various moods and tempos
• Integration options

Pricing:

• Free tier available
• Creator: $14/month
• Pro: $39/month

Best for: Background music, streams, applications.

Soundraw

Customizable music for content creators.

Capabilities:

• Adjustable parameters
• Royalty-free output
• Easy customization
• Quick generation

Pricing:

• Creator: $16.99/month
• Artist: $29.99/month

Best for: YouTube videos, podcasts, content creation.

Boomy

Quick and easy song creation.

Capabilities:

• Fast generation
• Distribution to streaming
• Simple interface
• Community sharing

Pricing:

• Free tier with ads
• Creator: $2.99/month
• Pro: $9.99/month

Best for: Beginners, quick experimentation.

How AI Music Generation Works

Text-to-Music Process

1. Input: Describe your desired music
2. Analysis: AI interprets style, mood, tempo
3. Generation: Model creates audio
4. Output: Full song or instrumental delivered

Training Data

Models learn from:

• Licensed music libraries
• Musical patterns and theory
• Genre characteristics
• Production techniques

Generation Techniques

Diffusion models: Start with noise, refine to music Transformer models: Generate sequences of audio tokens Hybrid approaches: Combine multiple techniques

Writing Effective Music Prompts

Basic Structure

Include these elements:

Genre: Pop, rock, jazz, electronic, classical Mood: Happy, sad, energetic, calm, dark Tempo: Fast, slow, moderate, specific BPM Instruments: Piano, guitar, drums, synth, orchestra Vocal style: Male, female, choir, no vocals

Example Prompts

Pop song: "Upbeat pop song with female vocals, catchy chorus, summer vibes, acoustic guitar and light drums"

Electronic: "Dark electronic track, pulsing synths, heavy bass, 128 BPM, no vocals, cyberpunk atmosphere"

Orchestral: "Epic orchestral piece, building tension, strings and brass, cinematic, dramatic climax"

Lo-fi: "Chill lo-fi hip hop beat, mellow piano, vinyl crackle, relaxing study music, no vocals"

Advanced Techniques

Specify structure: "Start with a soft intro, build to an energetic chorus, quiet bridge, then powerful finale"

Reference styles: "Indie folk in the style of early 2010s, acoustic guitar, harmonica, thoughtful lyrics"

Technical details: "Minor key, 90 BPM, 4/4 time signature, emphasis on bass frequencies"

Working with Lyrics

AI-Generated Lyrics

Let the AI write lyrics based on themes.

Prompt example: "Write a song about finding hope after difficult times, uplifting message, universal themes"

Custom Lyrics

Provide your own lyrics for the AI to set to music.

Tips:

• Write clear verse/chorus structure
• Consider syllable counts for melody
• Mark sections clearly
• Keep rhythm natural

Lyric Editing

Most platforms allow iteration:

• Regenerate specific sections
• Modify AI lyrics
• Adjust delivery style
• Change emotional tone

Creative Applications

Content Creation

YouTube and video:

• Background music
• Intro/outro themes
• Mood-setting tracks

Podcasts:

• Theme songs
• Transition music
• Ambient backgrounds

Social media:

• Short-form video audio
• Brand sounds
• Attention-grabbing clips

Music Production

Inspiration:

• Generate ideas quickly
• Explore new genres
• Overcome creative blocks

Prototyping:

• Demo songs for clients
• Quick concept testing
• Pre-production references

Sampling:

• Generate elements to sample
• Create unique sounds
• Build sample libraries

Gaming and Apps

Background music:

• Adaptive soundtracks
• Level themes
• Menu music

Sound design:

• Ambient sounds
• Musical stingers
• Interactive audio

Personal Projects

Learning:

• Explore music theory concepts
• Understand genre characteristics
• Practice composition ideas

Fun:

• Create personalized songs
• Make custom ringtones
• Gift unique music

Quality Tips

Generation Settings

Maximize quality:

• Use highest quality settings available
• Generate multiple variations
• Choose best sections from different takes

Post-Processing

Improve output:

• Basic equalization
• Volume normalization
• Noise reduction if needed
• Add reverb for space

Combining Generations

Build longer pieces:

• Generate complementary sections
• Edit together in DAW
• Ensure smooth transitions
• Match keys and tempos

Limitations to Understand

Current Constraints

Duration: Most generate 30-120 second clips Consistency: May vary between generations Control: Limited fine-tuning options Vocals: Can be imperfect Originality: May echo training data

Workarounds

For length: Generate sections, edit together For consistency: Generate many, select best For control: Detailed prompts, iteration For vocals: Accept stylization or go instrumental

Legal Considerations

Copyright

Key points:

• Generated music is generally new
• Avoid copying specific songs
• Some platforms provide ownership
• Check terms of service

Commercial Use

Varies by platform:

• Free tiers often non-commercial
• Paid tiers usually allow commercial use
• Enterprise licensing for large-scale use

Attribution

Requirements vary:

• Some require credit to platform
• Others allow anonymous use
• Check specific terms

Best Practices

Experimentation

Explore freely:

• Try unexpected genre combinations
• Experiment with detailed prompts
• Save successful prompt patterns

Iteration

Refine results:

• Generate multiple versions
• Combine best elements
• Iterate on prompts

Documentation

Keep records:

• Save successful prompts
• Track what works
• Build personal templates

Ethics

Use responsibly:

• Respect copyright
• Disclose AI use when appropriate
• Support human musicians too

Getting Started

First Steps

1. Choose a platform - Start with Suno or Udio free tier
2. Write simple prompts - Genre, mood, and basic description
3. Generate multiple versions - Compare outputs
4. Refine your prompts - Learn what works
5. Explore advanced features - Custom lyrics, longer pieces

Building Skills

Practice regularly:

• Daily generation experiments
• Study successful prompts
• Join community forums
• Analyze what makes good output

Integration

Add to workflow:

• Identify where AI music helps
• Combine with traditional production
• Develop hybrid approaches

The Future of AI Music

Near-Term

• Longer generation capability
• Better vocal quality
• More control options
• Real-time generation

Long-Term

• Fully customizable productions
• AI collaboration tools
• Interactive music experiences
• Seamless integration with DAWs

Conclusion

AI music generation has made creating original music accessible to everyone. While the technology has limitations, it offers remarkable creative possibilities for content creators, musicians, and anyone interested in music.

Start with free tiers, experiment with prompts, and discover how AI music can enhance your creative projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I release AI-generated music commercially?

It depends on the platform and subscription tier. Suno and Udio Pro subscriptions allow commercial use of generated music. Free tiers typically restrict commercial use. Always review the specific terms of service before commercial release.

Will AI replace human musicians?

AI music tools are creative aids, not replacements. They help with ideation, prototyping, and specific production tasks. Human musicians bring creativity, emotional depth, live performance, and artistic vision that AI cannot replicate. The tools work best alongside human creativity.