Convert MIDI Chords into AI Vocal Harmonies with ACE Studio and Band in A Box

Bob Doyle Media
25 Apr 202432:27

TLDRIn this informative video, the host demonstrates how to use AI technology to create music by combining two tools: Band in a Box and ACE Studio. The video begins with an introduction to both tools, highlighting their capabilities and updates. Band in a Box, a music accompaniment generation program, is shown to generate songs in various styles by inputting chords. The host then explores the advanced features of Band in a Box, including real tracks for a more authentic sound. Next, the video shifts to ACE Studio, which is used to add professional AI vocals to any production. The host guides viewers through the process of converting MIDI chords into AI vocal harmonies, emphasizing the flexibility and creative potential of these tools. The video concludes with a demonstration of how to blend the two tools to produce a unique song, offering a glimpse into the future of music creation with AI.

Takeaways

  • 🎼 The video demonstrates how to use Band in a Box and ACE Studio to generate music with AI, allowing for the addition of lyrics, harmonies, and vocal changes.
  • 🔄 Band in a Box is a music accompaniment generation program that can create a song in any style once chords are input.
  • 📈 The presenter has updated to the 2024 version of Band in a Box, which offers more advanced features and styles compared to the 2019 version.
  • 🎤 ACE Studio is another tool that adds professional AI vocals to productions, allowing users to generate vocals from MIDI and lyrics.
  • 📚 The video emphasizes the importance of understanding concepts that can be transferred across different tools, not just ACE Studio and Band in a Box.
  • 🎵 Band in a Box includes 'Real Tracks' which are performances by real musicians, offering a higher quality sound compared to MIDI-generated tracks.
  • 🔍 The software allows for extensive control, including changing instruments, keys, tempos, and adding voices to the generated music.
  • 📈 The video provides a tutorial on how to export MIDI files from Band in a Box and import them into ACE Studio to convert melodies into vocals.
  • 💰 Both Band in a Box and ACE Studio are paid tools, but they offer free trials for users to test their functionality.
  • 🎶 ACE Studio offers the ability to add harmonies and backing vocals, as well as edit individual notes for pitch and expression.
  • 🔧 The process involves meticulous work to ensure proper enunciation and melody, which may require multiple iterations and adjustments.
  • ⚙️ The video concludes with a demonstration of exporting the final composition as an audio file and suggests further refinement in a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW).

Q & A

  • What are the two tools discussed in the video for generating music with AI?

    -The two tools discussed are Band in a Box and ACE Studio. Band in a Box is a music accompaniment generation program, while ACE Studio adds Pro AI vocals to any production.

  • How has the Band in a Box software evolved since its initial release?

    -Band in a Box has evolved from initially relying on MIDI tracks and user's software or external synthesizer to generate sound, to including software synths with higher quality sound, and later introducing Real Tracks, which are performances by real musicians on real instruments.

  • What is the primary function of ACE Studio?

    -The primary function of ACE Studio is to generate vocals from various Pro AI vocalists by typing in MIDI and lyrics, which simplifies the process of producing lead vocals, harmonies, backing vocals, and choirs.

  • How does the Real Tracks feature in Band in a Box differ from MIDI tracks?

    -Real Tracks differ from MIDI tracks as they are performances by real musicians on real instruments, offering a more authentic and higher quality sound compared to the synthesized sounds of MIDI.

  • What is the process of converting a MIDI melody into a vocal track in ACE Studio?

    -The process involves exporting the melody track as a MIDI file from Band in a Box, importing it into ACE Studio, and then assigning a voice to the MIDI notes. After that, lyrics can be added to the melody, and the software will generate the vocal track.

  • How can users adjust the vocals generated by ACE Studio?

    -Users can adjust the vocals by changing the pitch, adding harmonies, creating vocal doubles, and editing individual notes or syllables. The software also allows for the addition of breaths, falsetto, tension, and energy to the vocals.

  • What is the significance of the 'Multi Picker' feature in Band in a Box?

    -The 'Multi Picker' feature allows users to choose and generate various elements of a song beyond just the style, such as melodies, solos, tracks, loops, and drums, providing more control and customization options.

  • How does the video demonstrate the concept of using AI for music inspiration?

    -The video demonstrates this by showing how Band in a Box can generate a song in a chosen style and how ACE Studio can convert a melody into a vocal track with lyrics. The presenter also discusses using these tools to create harmonies and layer vocals, showcasing the potential for AI to inspire and assist in the creative process.

  • What are the costs associated with using ACE Studio and creating custom voices?

    -ACE Studio offers a subscription-based pricing model, with options of $22 per month or $12.42 per month if paid annually. Creating a custom voice in ACE Studio is a paid feature, costing $279 for a single voice.

  • How does the presenter suggest using the output from Band in a Box and ACE Studio in a professional music production?

    -The presenter suggests exporting individual tracks from Band in a Box for further production in a digital audio workstation (DAW), where additional effects, mastering, and mixing can be applied. The output from ACE Studio can also be imported into a DAW for further refinement.

  • What is the presenter's view on the importance of the concepts discussed for musicians who want to integrate AI into their workflow?

    -The presenter believes that both Band in a Box and ACE Studio deserve attention from serious musicians who want to integrate AI into their workflow in a way that enhances their work without causing any legal or ethical issues.

Outlines

00:00

🎵 Introduction to AI Music Creation Tools

The video begins with an introduction to the topic of using AI for music creation. The presenter expresses excitement about demonstrating how to use two tools, Band-in-a-Box and Ace Studio, to generate music with AI capabilities. The focus is on the creative potential of AI in music, including changing lyrics, adding harmonies, and altering vocals. The presenter also mentions the importance of understanding concepts that can be applied across different tools.

05:00

🚀 Exploring Band-in-a-Box and Ace Studio Features

The presenter provides a brief introduction to Band-in-a-Box, a music accompaniment generation program that can create songs based on typed chords. The program has been updated to the 2024 version, offering more advanced features and styles. The video also introduces Ace Studio, which adds professional AI vocals to productions. The presenter discusses the process of generating vocals from MIDI and lyrics, and the ability to produce various vocal types like lead, harmonies, backing vocals, and choirs.

10:09

🎶 Customizing Music Styles and Real Tracks

The video continues with a demonstration of how to customize music styles and use real tracks in Band-in-a-Box. The presenter filters through various styles and previews them with the chords entered. The focus is on using real tracks, which are performances by real musicians, to achieve a higher quality sound. The presenter also shows how to export individual instrumental stems for further customization.

15:09

🎤 Creating Melodies and Converting to Lyrics

The presenter outlines the process of creating a unique song with its own melody using Band-in-a-Box. The aim is to generate a melody that can be easily converted into lyrics and vocals. The presenter emphasizes the importance of finding a catchy melody and discusses the process of generating and refining the melody until a satisfactory result is achieved.

20:12

🔄 Exporting and Importing Tracks for Vocal Conversion

The presenter demonstrates how to export the melody track as a MIDI file and the rest of the song as a wave file. These files are then imported into Ace Studio for further processing. The melody is assigned a voice, and the presenter discusses the process of adding lyrics to the melody and adjusting the pronunciation and phonetic spelling for better enunciation.

25:12

🎧 Adjusting Vocals and Creating Harmonies

The video shows how to adjust the pitch and octave of the vocals in Ace Studio. The presenter also adds a female voice to the mix and creates vocal harmonies by adjusting individual notes and using the create vocal doubles feature. The presenter discusses the level of control and customization possible with the software and provides a demonstration of the final vocal mix.

30:15

🌟 Finalizing the Song and Exporting

The presenter concludes by showing how to finalize the song by adding backing vocals and harmonies. The song is then exported as an audio file, and the presenter discusses the potential for further refinement and mastering in a digital audio workstation (DAW). The video ends with an invitation to subscribe to the channel for more content on creative uses of AI in music and other fields.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡MIDI Chords

MIDI Chords are a digital representation of musical chords that can be played using a MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) compatible device. In the context of the video, the host demonstrates how to convert these digital chords into AI vocal harmonies using specific software tools. MIDI Chords are fundamental to the process as they form the basis of the melodies that the AI will later harmonize.

💡AI Vocal Harmonies

AI Vocal Harmonies refer to the use of artificial intelligence to create and layer vocal harmonies. In the video, the host uses AI technology to generate harmonies that are then added to the music. This process involves the AI interpreting the melody and creating additional vocal parts that complement the original tune, enhancing the overall musical arrangement.

💡ACE Studio

ACE Studio is a software tool mentioned in the video that specializes in adding professional AI vocals to music productions. It allows users to generate vocals from various Pro AI vocalists by typing in MIDI and lyrics. The host uses ACE Studio to convert MIDI melodies into AI-generated vocals, showcasing its capabilities in creating harmonized vocal tracks.

💡Band in a Box

Band in a Box is a music accompaniment generation program that can create a backing track for any chords typed into it. It is used in the video to generate songs in various styles, providing the foundational music to which AI vocals are later added. The program is highlighted for its ability to offer extensive control over the musical elements, such as changing instruments, keys, and tempo.

💡Real Tracks

Real Tracks in the context of Band in a Box refers to recordings of real musicians playing real instruments, as opposed to MIDI-generated music. The host emphasizes the use of Real Tracks for a more authentic and higher quality sound in the generated music. This feature is significant as it contributes to the professional sound of the final product.

💡MIDI File

A MIDI File is a type of file that contains musical data as digital information. It is used in the video to export the melody track from Band in a Box, which is then imported into ACE Studio. MIDI files are crucial in this process as they allow the transfer of musical information between different software applications.

💡Wave File

A Wave File, often referred to as a WAV file, is an audio file format that contains 'waveform audio data'. In the video, the host exports the rest of the song as a wave file to create a backing track. This file format is used for its high-quality audio representation, which is essential for professional music production.

💡Vocal Doubles

Vocal Doubles is a feature in ACE Studio that allows users to create additional vocal tracks that are slightly varied versions of the original vocal track. This is used to add depth and richness to the vocal harmonies. The host demonstrates this feature by right-clicking on a track and using the 'create vocal doubles' option to generate more vocal layers.

💡Harmonies

Harmonies are multiple notes sounded together that create a chord or a rich, full sound. In the video, the host discusses creating harmonies by adjusting the pitch of the AI-generated vocals to match the melody in a higher or lower octave. This process is key to achieving a layered vocal sound that is characteristic of many professional music recordings.

💡Adobe Audition

Adobe Audition is a digital audio workstation used for recording and editing audio. In the video, the host uses Adobe Audition to apply effects like reverb to the final audio mix, demonstrating the use of post-production software to polish the AI-generated music. Adobe Audition is highlighted as a tool for mastering the final product after the AI and Band in a Box processes.

💡AI Generation Tools

AI Generation Tools refer to software applications that use artificial intelligence to generate content, in this case, music. The video focuses on using AI generation tools to create music with AI vocals. These tools are central to the video's theme, showcasing how AI can assist in the creative process of music production, from generating melodies to producing harmonized vocals.

Highlights

The tutorial demonstrates how to use Band in a Box and ACE Studio to generate music with AI, including changing lyrics, adding harmonies, and modifying vocals.

Band in a Box is a music accompaniment generation program that can create a song in any style by typing in chords.

The program has been updated to the 2024 version, offering more advanced features and styles compared to the 2019 version.

ACE Studio adds Pro AI vocals to productions, allowing users to generate lead vocals, harmonies, backing vocals, and choirs by typing MIDI and lyrics.

The interface of Band in a Box may appear outdated, but it remains a powerful tool with hundreds of features for music creation.

Users can export individual instrumental stems from Band in a Box, offering control over changing instruments, keys, tempo, and adding voices.

Real Tracks in Band in a Box provide performances from real people on real instruments, enhancing the quality of the generated music.

The video showcases how to blend Band in a Box and ACE Studio to create unique music by converting melodies into lyrics and voices.

ACE Studio allows for fine-tuning of vocals, including pitch adjustments, and the addition of breaths, falsetto, tension, and energy.

The process involves exporting the melody track as a MIDI file and the rest of the song as a wave file for further editing in ACE Studio.

Users can create vocal harmonies and layers by duplicating tracks and adjusting individual notes in ACE Studio.

The tutorial provides a step-by-step guide on how to use these tools for music production, from generating a song to adding vocals and harmonies.

Both Band in a Box and ACE Studio are paid tools, with ACE Studio offering a $22 monthly subscription or a yearly option for $12.42.

The video concludes with a demonstration of exporting the final audio file and applying effects such as reverb in a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW).

The presenter emphasizes the potential of these tools for serious musicians looking to integrate AI into their workflow without legal concerns.

The tutorial encourages viewers to explore the creative possibilities of AI in music production and to subscribe for more content on the topic.