When it comes to AI-generated music, I've never given it the time of day. But at the recent AI-focused Google I/O 2024 event, something made me reconsider my feelings about the place of AI in music – I'm talking about the Google Music FX DJ mode. , which you can try at this link.
DJ Mode is an extension of Google Music FX, a creative AI tool that creates a 30-second track when you enter a writing prompt, or you can choose a random one. With DJ Mode, you can create an entire DJ set using a similar system by entering prompts like '808 Hip Hop Beat' and 'Viola', layering them to create a never-ending set. are You can even fine-tune each component to make it more present than the others.
Even as a fan of all things music, I didn't come across Google's AI DJ tool until musician and YouTuber Mark Rebellet appeared at Google I/O 2024, where he performed a chaotic demo. came out of a large coffee cup on stage for DJ Mod Tool. Then I started paying attention.
While never involved in AI music-making platforms, I make heavy use of AI integrations in the best music streaming services. To this day, I still think Daylist is the best AI feature on Spotify, and one of the best in music streaming overall.
But seeing Rebillet use an AI tool to fuse different sounds and instruments together made me want to check it out for myself in a somewhat awkward yet enjoyable way. It never occurred to me that AI-generated music could actually be… fun?
First impression
I went into my experiment thinking I'd put in a couple of sounds, get bored of it quickly, and call it a day. 45 minutes later and I'm still enmeshed in DJ Mode's endless sound vortex.
Its webpage adopts a very simple design, with a quick suggestion bar on the left and a playback box on the right – so it was very easy to get to grips with. Below the prompt bar, there's a list of random prompts you can choose from, including a 'More' button, which refreshes your options when clicked.
To start my test run, I entered custom prompts to create 90s house-inspired tracks, and that's where my concerns lay. My first cue – the 'deep 90s house bassline' – responded with a sound that resembled '80s synth pop, so I was immediately questioning the authenticity of DJ Mode's genre. Fortunately, things started to improve.
Listen and forget Spotify AI DJ.
MusicFX DJ has something that current AI music tools don't. Creative freedom. You can add as many cues as you want to the sounds, adjust their intensity, and take them out for an unlimited amount of time – something that platforms like Listen don't have.
I have to commend the Suno for its clever ability to accurately simulate and generate melodies, which MusicFX DJ lacks. But the fun is fleeting, lasting only two minutes per song.
With features similar to Spotify's AI DJ, this is another AI music integration that doesn't put you in the driver's seat like MusicFX. Instead, Spotify AI DJ literally plays you a mix of your 'on repeat' songs while inserting new suggestions here and there – plus the DJ's voiceover can be jarring, especially when you Don't want any interruptions and breaks in your listening sessions. I can't say I've ever been a fan.
A star (DJ) is born.
After my doubts in my ability to interpret the gestures, what surprised me was her fluidity, which allowed me to move seamlessly from one sound to the next. And after finally finding my footing, I became a self-described office DJ.
Starting with a deep house baseline that disappointed me, I quickly added 'piano chords' that had a jazzy feel. Entering 'jazz brass' as my next prompt and reducing the presence of the bass line, I went from house to soft jazz within minutes.
But the real highlight of my time using MusicFXDJ mode was putting myself to the test and trying to recreate the styles of my favorite artists. Starting this part of my experiment with the 'train chug beat' prompt, I layered 'orchestral strings', added 'earthy grit' and 'somber viola', and before I knew it I had Made a great early-Bjork track. Enter 'underground grunge' and remove the strings, and DJ mode conjures up a Nirvana-style sound.
From there, the reduction in 'subterranean grunge' and 'willing grit' made a perfect segue a little looser and less tense. I replaced the beat with 'up-tempo drums', overlapping a couple of 'banjo strums' and 'flamenco guitars' similar to the Fleetwood Mac track. Rumors far off. And of course I couldn't forget to add Stevie Nicks' classic tambourine to the mix.
So, I guess I have Marc Rebellet to thank for introducing me to the magic of MusicFXDJ mode and opening my eyes to AI-generated music for casual use. It probably has its place, and while the big fat question mark on it hasn't gone away for me yet, it's definitely a starting point for me to get comfortable with AI music-making tools.