Or in other words - What's the difference?
Bedroom producers always (well most of us):

Used loops (for drums)

Used samples and presets for melody or instruments

Get chord suggestions or arrangements from Sclaer / Chord pad

Mixed and mastered with plugins and presets like Ozone that will make your music sounds like you're in Abbey Roads.

Added effects and extra sounds by taking recorded sample and put it into a plugin that will make it a different polished sound

So you basically, "produce" tools and samples into a working piece.

Enters AI: when used correctly, it's just a different easier approach for the same thing:
You get melody or progression ideas, you can make any sample or humming become an instrument, and even prompt your way to an almost full song.

If something is easier - does it make it less valuable (music wise)?

At the end you're producing these elements together. If I had a magic tool for my cubase that I could TELL what to do, life would be easier. If you treat AI like a tool and not "do edm track" I don't really see the difference in workflow.

Most electronic producers these days don't even know "in depth" music theory (maybe some basic concepts) and in these days, you don't have to - something will tell you what will work best next.

Thoughts?

(Disclosure: been producing since 2010, studied Music Production at Dubspot, created tracks note by note on Cubase 5 and super excited about the new opportunities these days)

 

There are multiple lines. One is right before all electronic music anyone wants to complain about. Another is right after hearing something they couldn’t make better and wanting to complain anyway. There’s one between the pristine Kontakt sample libraries people don’t make and might not even use legally, trigger with downloaded MIDI, and any synth sample you might use, or vocals you didn’t sing yourself. Then there’s the line between being a hypocrite, and being whatever some people convince themselves of. At the end of the day, the only line that matters is the one between someone telling you what you can’t do, and telling them to pound sand.

Then of course, there’s the actual technical line everyone seems to hype and use merrily AI-based stem separation. This is where you go from real DAW multitracks to reconstructing elements from a finished mix (even straight from AI site like Suno), delivering all the usual artifacts, bleed, phase issues, smeared transients, and wideband algo damage. Who doesn’t love mixing stems with some AI swirl to them? It doesn't matter, because they don't even notice.

 

Everyone has the personal freedom to use everything that is available, and this freedom should be granted to everyone.

Of course, one can express criticism—that too is a human right—that using AI, etc., doesn't promote or train one's own abilities, but in the worst case, leads to a loss of some cognitive skills.

 

If you ask me, the line is drawn at training a tool to replicate, even duplicate other musicians, styles, vocals, melodies, every possible instrument, beat, etc. with stolen data, ignoring copyright and any form of respect towards the people who's ideas you built upon, and making it require close to ZERO knowledge to use and to disrupt actual musicians and artists trying to make a living in today's bleak enough world.

Everything before this, required lots of knowledge, skill, practice, learning and actual investment to become proficient at it. And the most important difference, you have full creative control over what you produce. AI does have a learning curve, but it's laughable when compared to anything else.

With AI, you do NOT have full creative control. AI is a black box, trained on other people's processes, you can nudge it here or there, but you will never have complete control over the output. It's more like a slot machine that you can only kind of influence in the direction it spins.

But my biggest gripe with it is the utter disrespect towards the arts and music industry, and selling people a vision of "creativity", which was stolen from others.

ALSO (the other side of the coin):

I thought using loops was cheating, so I programmed my own using samples. I then thought using samples was cheating, so I recorded real drums. I then thought that programming it was cheating, so I learned to play drums for real. I then thought using bought drums was cheating, so I learned to make my own. I then thought using premade skins was cheating, so I killed a goat and skinned it. I then thought that that was cheating too, so I grew my own goat from a baby goat. I also think that is cheating, but I’m not sure where to go from here. I haven’t made any music lately, what with the goat farming and all.

Conclusion: Both extremes are dumb. The true way is the middle path, as it has always been.

P.S. I could go into LENGTHS how AI use degrades your brain functions (proven by science), since you rely on AI slop instead of engaging with your own braincells, but I think it's pretty clear to those that understand, and will be never clear to those that do not want to.

Use it, or lose it.

 

Interesting.
Isn't it the same way with using GPS instead of navigating by yourself? You lose that skill in the long run. Same as auto correct etc. Half the kids today can't spell correctly.

Anyway, of course "creating" a full track using AI is "cheating" but more importantly can't be controlled.
But what about using it to generate parts of YOUR ideas or music? I want to explore different directions with my music but unfortunately I'm stuck in the same key and chords as this is my generation soundtrack. But when combining AI or whatever you'd like to call it, I can be suggested progressions I never thought about.

I tried learning in depth piano music theory but spent 5 months learning music theory instead of producing.
Or sometimes you're stuck at programming the drum loop and you just end up ditching the track. Sometimes creativity dies on the technical process so I'm wondering is it that bad leaving the technical and even theory to the machine while you arrange everything together?

Real music production, same deal, you're the producer, you get a guitar player, keys player, a singer, bass etc. You tell them what to play because that's THEIR expertise. So now I can just replace these with AI. I tell my DAW create a chord progression in this key that will fit my drum loop and correspond with the melody I have in my head but can't really "put it out there" as to my lack of playing skills.

As a kid I had tons of tracks and songs in my head, I could play each part by mouth but had ZERO knowledge on how to transfer them to music. DAWs and later plug-in tech and now AI open a whole new world for creative people with ideas, basic knowledge in theory, zero skill in a specific instrument, but solid skills in production to grow their tracks and music.

In the end people will create 1000s of similar tracks using Suno etc, they will all sound the same, and 95 percent of them (which don't dedicate their life to music creating and skill developing) will ditch the idea pretty fast. The 5 percent that's left will be the same producers that produce music from passion and will eventually rose above the noise. But it'll be easier for them to improve their music and actually get their ideas into life.

 

Last edited: Feb 3, 2026 at 8:27 AM

It's your life; if you make the wrong decisions, you'll have to face the consequences. Only you decide what you want to do or not. Keep in mind that humans are very lazy and always take the easy way out. You can't learn an instrument if it doesn't appeal to you; you can only pursue what you love and where you have some talent.

Instead, buy a book about how your brain works and what AI can do and change, and then decide what you want to do based on that knowledge. Sometimes you'll fail; that's part of life. Be very critical, question everything, and think for yourself. Who profits from AI, and what is its purpose? You will have little influence on what others do and believe, but you yourself are in control of your actions; it's your life, do the right thing.

 

Sorry mate, still can't understand your take on AI in music - as a working process, not all in one solution.
Yes I know drums, I learned drums, I drum, but if I would only produce drums no one will listen to it.
What about the other instruments? Ok so I know basic music theory, but that's a bit of a small place to play in as there dozens of chords you don't usually play.

If I can have a tool that will control Cubase in terms of saying "loop that drum kit for 4 bars, quantized to the bass" and then "hi hats kind of harsh, fix that" and it'll do the heavy lifting for me (open eq, adjust highs etc), then why not?

If I can ask a copilot - what do you think will work best with this progression? I have an idea here I'll hum it for you, and it'll produce a midi or God forbid the instrument audio itself, why not?

I always like to think about infected mushrooms for example, one is a creative genius that can ONLY sing and mouth play his ideas and the other is a musical genius that can create it technically on the computer. Now you can be both.

So other than the extremes, are you pro or against?

 

It is, it is exactly the same. But using GPS doesn't infringe on anyone's copyright or steals anyone's work without permission.

You are exactly where I am right now. After almost 2 years of making music with very little knowledge about music theory, I found myself stuck repeating the same basic stuff over and over, and I'm getting kind of frustrated.
But I decided I will spend the next couple of years (because nothing good comes fast, or easy) learning music theory and practicing to play the keyboard, so I can develop my ideas further and better.

If I resorted to using AI for that, I would never develop these skills.

This is where the learning process shines. It's easy to imagine something sounding good in your head, but getting that translated into the real world is where the skill and experience come into play. I've imagined tons of good songs in my head, but learned that they are impossible in the real world and sound only good in my head.

AI use is more of a moral problem, than a technical one. Technically, there is no reason not to use AI, if you want to use AI, it's a valid shortcut. But art has always been seen as an expression of oneself, through skill and dedication to the craft.

AI cuts a lot of that short, and I have to repeat myself, it being trained on real people's hard work without any respect towards the craft is something that most people, like myself, will never be able to justify or stomach.

Not to mention, almost every AI system was developed by assholes and tech bros with very questionable morals and practices, who care about nothing else other than money, plus the stealing part.

And that is just something I can never respect, nor the people who partake in the whole circus.

 

All valid points!
But you're missing the thread idea - I'm not talking about CREATE things via AI like "give me a song like Diplo" more of a "you know the entire music theory what is the best chord that will be in harmony with my melody".

Or - I have this part in my head, it sounds like this, can you create it as a trumpet?

 

I would grab a Synth with a trumpet preset, and try to recreate it myself. If you don't have ear training, you can use some kind of note detection software to see what notes are being played. Learn to manipulate the sound until I get what I want. Having learned valuable skills in the process.

 

I advocate for the sensible, controlled, and intelligent use of AI. In creative fields, AI is not only detrimental to your mental health but also detrimental to your cognitive abilities. Without restrictions on its use, you risk losing some of your cognitive skills.

Cognitive Skills at a Glance:

Attention: The ability to focus on specific stimuli or information.
Memory: The ability to store, retain, and retrieve information.
Problem Solving: The ability to analyze challenges and develop effective solutions.
Creativity: The ability to generate original and innovative ideas.
Language Processing: The ability to understand and use spoken or written language.
Spatial Reasoning: The ability to understand and manipulate spatial relationships between objects.
Logical Reasoning: The ability to draw logical conclusions and make rational decisions.
Perception: The ability to recognize and interpret stimuli from the environment.
Information Processing: The ability to efficiently process information and extract relevant details.
Problem recognition: The ability to identify potential problems or challenges.
Concentration: The ability to remain focused over an extended period.
Learning ability: The ability to learn from experience and assimilate new information.

I'm a sound designer. If AI does all this for me—operating the controls—I'll be unemployed and robbed of my creativity.
My world will be filled with boredom. My brain will atrophy a little because it's no longer being stimulated.

Whenever you let a machine do what you used to do yourself, you'll eventually lose those skills—your expertise.
If you don't have an internet connection or the AI isn't available, you'll be completely helpless.

That's why books, the best way to impart knowledge, are always available offline, even without electricity.
If you have a musical problem, you consult a music textbook and you'll make progress.

Like you, I wish for voice control for PCs. It would make many things easier and save time. However, if we let machines run rampant, unchecked, and without legal regulation, we will soon become slaves to our own inventions. Work is the spice of life; the human body is designed for work and movement.

These digital devices lead to a lack of exercise and consequently to illness. Furthermore, we have more psychological problems today due to information overload and sensory overload. The only remedies are thinking, reading, and learning. In short, do what is good for your brain and your body.

We must stop this dumbing-down, otherwise we will have even fewer specialists who can understand and manage this entire complex technological progress. The lack of mathematical skills and the partial loss or impairment of cognitive abilities will produce few skilled workers.

We need pilots and skilled workers who design, build, and repair aircraft. If you look at school performance today, the misuse of smartphones and the internet already renders some children unsuitable for certain professions later on.

Manufacturers simply sell these things and services; there are no warnings or "How do I stay healthy" guidelines, they just want sales, so it's up to the legislature to regulate this. Do something about it – above all, switch everything off and think carefully about what you should and shouldn't do. Inform yourself about the advantages and disadvantages and then make a decision.

Machines are meant to support us, not enslave us. Many technologies have made our lives more comfortable and easier, such as electricity, our own toilets, running water, the internet for communication and information, and much more.

 

In anything, if there is no proverbial line drawn in the sand, people in droves will cross it.
Spotify, iTunes and Amazon made billions because nobody drew a line in the sand as to what they could do and could not do, so people who did all the work get a tiny % pittance while they reap the rewards.
Where is it now? Who knows but if it isn't drawn, there won't be any line, that simple.

 

It depends on how you frame it.

You can’t call yourself a great chef if you take credit for someone else’s dish. To become great, you have to learn, apply what you learn, and accept that even skilled chefs can still ruin a meal. Practice minimizes that risk, but you won’t become good at anything without taking the first steps to learn it.

But what if a great chef makes an apple pie but cant be bothered making the crust because it’s time consuming or they lack the knowledge? Are they still a chef?

As @Somnambulist said, there’s no clear line. In the end it’s up to you to decide.

 

None of this has happened overnight.

This isn't a new dilemma that's just dropped. It's been a slow, steady, deliberate reshaping of the entire landscape to get to now.

Music has been dumbed down, homogenised, genrefied to the point AI can join the game & take over.

It started with karaoke, which led on to Simon Cowell-esque talent shows, and providing members of the general public with the means & tools to be famous.

Maybe an EMP will take out the power grids and music production will reset itself to a creative pastime for humans.

What a world we live in!

 

Last edited: Feb 3, 2026 at 2:39 PM

Easy: I draw the line where you as an artist become replaceable in your own "art". When you've reduced your involvement down to something so basic that anyone could do it and all sense of identity is gone.

Now, i don't think using AI is wrong, AI doesn't "necessarily" push you to do that, but i think it enables it more than other tools, so it's kind of a slippery slope.