The boundaries of AI are always stretching out and going beyond. Previously, creators of artistic content such as music and songs had to handle everything independently unless they had the financial means to outsource the task. Now, AI has simplified these processes, eliminating the requirement for expert intervention. Recently, the tech giant Google seemed to kick start their December by dipping their toes into the realm of music with the new Google AI experiment – Google Instrument Playground that can generate new music from over 100 world-renowned instruments.
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Google Instrument Playground
The Google Instrument Playground is an AI experiment that enables users to generate distinct music influenced by a variety of instruments worldwide. By this, users can utilise this tool to craft music influenced by instruments worldwide.
Developed by Simon Doury, an artist in residence at Google Arts and Culture Lab, this project is driven by Google’s MusicLM, a text-to-AI tool that was made available to the public in May. Just by entering the name of an instrument and an optional adjective, the AI tool produces a 20-second audio clip to ignite your musical imagination.
Google said in their blog:
Start your journey by discovering 10 lesser-known instruments from around the world, and learn more about traditional instruments and music from India, Korea, Japan, or Brazil.
Google
Based on their quote, let’s continue to take a look at how Google Instrument Playground works.
How Does Google Instrument Playground Work?
Google Instrument Playground is trained with 100 musical instruments worldwide, including the ‘Veena‘ from India, the ‘Dizi‘ from China, and the ‘Mbira‘ from Zimbabwe. This tool allows users to input an instrument’s name and an optional adjective. MusicLM then generates a 20-second audio clip to spark creative musical endeavours. Users can add adjectives like “Moody”, “Happy”, or “Romantic” to shape the results.
It’s worth noting that certain adjectives may be inexplicably rejected, and the generated music might not precisely match the entered instrument’s sound. For example, typing “Angry tuba” might produce a synthesised pipe organ sound instead of an intense brass solo. Similarly, “Strange didgeridoo” may result in an ominous section reminiscent of a Hans Zimmer score. The outcomes appear as abstract compositions with layered sounds that capture the ”Feeling” more than the specific ”Sound” of the prompt.
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In their blog post, the company highlights that users can incorporate terms like ”Merry” or ”Joyful” to craft a festive jingle. After generating a preferred clip, users have the flexibility to customise various components of the composition, such as “Ambient”, “Beat”, and “Pitch”, adding a unique touch. The tool also permits users to play and experiment with the sound clip, exploring different sound effects.
Furthermore, users can explore the sequencer in advanced mode, allowing them to layer and loop up to four instruments. Google has curated festive jingles, including “Chime Chime Ya”, a classic jingle-inspired composition with festive chimes, and “Ho Ho Ho”, an ode to Santa Claus layered with “Festive church bells” and “Heavenly gongs”. Once satisfied with the creation, users can download it as a “.wav file”.
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How to Use Google Instrument Playground?
Google have streamlined the process of creating abstract music with Google Instrument Playground. Users only need to log in using their Google account on the official website to enjoy experimenting with various prompts and instruments.
Users can enjoy themselves and produce diverse tracks using different prompts and instruments. While the tool worked improperly for some prompts, it outright rejected others. Occasionally, an error message appeared, stating that it doesn’t permit prompts referencing specific artists. It is hoped that Google will address these issues promptly. Indeed, it is important to understand that Google Instrument Playground is relatively new and may come with its own learning curve mistakes. Till the official product is rolled out, testing the waters is the best an artist can do with this product.
Some Thoughts by Looking on Google Instrument Playground
The Google Instrument Playground serves as an AI enhancement that inspires individuals to explore creating straightforward music with AI assistance. This AI experiment acts as a catalyst for imagination, effortlessly giving life to musical ideas and potentially bringing small doses of joy, as music has the power to uplift everyone’s spirits.
The realm of AI in music creation is progressively expanding, with platforms like AIVA AI showcasing remarkable advancements. The evolution of AI into assisting creativity and art-related projects is intriguing. However, the surge in AI-generated music raises concerns, particularly for musicians. Notably, YouTube’s AI-powered tool that can make users sound like idols poses risks of copyright issues and may evoke unfavourable reactions from musicians.
Examining the advantages and drawbacks of AI-generated music, it’s crucial to emphasise that tools like Google Instrument Playground are intended for assistance rather than misuse. AI tools within our reach should be used in line with their purpose — aiding humanity in completing tasks or deriving pure joy from the initial creation facilitated by AI. In doing so, the true essence and potential of AI can be realised.