AI in the Studio – Threat or Help for Music Creation?
- nicolaslinnala
- Jun 16
- 3 min read
Updated: 5 hours ago
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A couple of years ago, we had a recording session with a British voice actor. We were working on sound effects and voice lines for a Chinese video game. In sessions like these, we typically use the Neumann U 89 microphone. But during prep, I noticed the mic was only producing buzzing and popping. Time for a switch.
I grabbed the Aston instead and used emulation plugins through my Antelope interface. The sound was golden — but things got tense when the client’s sound engineer asked about the gear. I didn’t have the nerve to explain right away, so I just replied briefly: “Neumann.” Then came the request: “Could you send us a sample?”I hesitated for a second, then hit send.
The reply came back fast: “WOW, that sounds really good.”
I already knew the room had a warm sound. And the Aston delivered. In the end, I told them what actually happened — and the client said they wouldn’t have noticed a difference. So yes, the differences are small — but interesting.
AI in the Studio – Threat or Help for Music Creation?
This story also says something about the future — about the importance of combining the old and the new, and how tools can surprise us. "AI in the Studio – Threat or Help for Music Creation?" is no longer a distant question — it’s already part of our reality.
These days, AI is everywhere in music discussions — in studios, among artists, and all over social media. There’s real debate going on: will AI take over music, or kill creativity? But to me, the most important thing is this: don’t deny its existence. It’s here, and it’s going to change a lot.The real question isn’t whether it’ll stop us from making music — it’s how we choose to work alongside it, and what we can do that it can’t.
I’ve tested several AI tools for making music. One I want to highlight is AIVA, an AI composer that generates music in MIDI, WAV, and MP3 formats. The concept is interesting, but the results vary. Many of the tracks it generated sounded like random notes just thrown together, and most of them felt unfinished.Only after importing the MIDI into my DAW and tweaking it myself did I get something that sparked interest. (Just to be clear — I’m not getting paid for this. I’m just sharing my thoughts.)
As a comparison, if I ask ChatGPT for a chord progression based on a short description, I instantly get multiple ideas to build on. It’s effective — if you know what you’re doing.
That doesn’t mean AI is the answer to everything. But it is a tool — and a powerful one if you know how to kick it into shape. Especially for people with no musical background, AI can be a key to creating something new. And for those of us who’ve been making music for years, it can offer a new angle, a fresh spark, or a new playground.And it’s always worth experimenting — because you never know what might come out of it.
But one thing is clear: AI still doesn’t make music with a soul. I’ve talked to several musicians and listeners about AI-generated music, and everyone says the same thing — the sadness, the longing, or the love doesn’t come through. It often feels like a rough sketch — and that’s exactly why it can be refined. I’ve mixed songs made with AI and noticed how huge the difference is once the track is finished with human ears. That’s where humans still have a massive role.
Music isn’t going anywhere. What matters is that we keep making it. AI can be part of the story — but the heart and emotion still come from us.
Interested in AI, music, and studio work?
In my blog, I write about how AI is changing music production and reshaping studio work.
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-Nicolas
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