Udio’s New Audio Upload Is a Game-Changer for AI Music Creation

Udio, a popular AI music generation platform, has just announced a new feature called Audio Uploads. The feature is already a hit with early testers, who highlight the whole new level of creative control that they have.

For those new to Udio, it’s an AI music creation tool that’s been making waves in the industry. Founded in December 2023 by former Google DeepMind researchers, Udio has quickly gained attention for its user-friendly approach and impressive output quality since its launched in April. The company has raised $10M in seed funding from notable investors in both the tech and music industries, including a16z, will.i.am, Common, and Mike Krieger, co-founder and CTO of Instagram.

As the name suggests, Audio Uploads allows users to upload their own audio clips to guide the tempo, mood, and overall direction of their songs. Think of it like "audio prompting". It is currently only available to paid users on the Standard and Pro plans.

So, how does it work? Let's say you have a catchy guitar riff but aren't sure how to turn it into a full song. With Audio Uploads, you can upload that riff and let Udio work its magic. The platform will use your audio as a foundation, generating various directions for you to explore and build upon.

The process is straightforward: simply upload your audio clip, and then choose to extend it either forward or backward by 32 seconds, using up to 2 minutes of context. This means that you can steer the AI towards a particular style, emotion, or energy level, making the creative process more intentional and personalized. Udio's AI will then generate a unique musical composition based on your input, with the resulting track lasting up to 15 minutes. This generous length allows for ample experimentation, iteration, and refinement.

One of the most exciting aspects of this feature is its ability to blend your unique sound with Udio's AI-generated content. This hybrid approach allows for more dynamic and personalized music creation. Whether you're an experienced musician or a hobbyist, Audio Uploads opens up a world of possibilities, making it easier to transform your musical ideas into reality. Here are some examples to check out:

The potential applications for Audio Uploads are vast. For example, if you have a catchy intro that needs development, you can use it as a starting point and let Udio's AI generate ideas for the rest of the song. Alternatively, if you have a nearly complete mix that could use a perfect bridge or outro, Audio Uploads can help you find that missing piece. The feature is also a powerful tool for remixing and reinterpreting existing music, as you can upload segments of songs and explore new directions.

It's important to note that, at this time, tracks generated using uploaded audio cannot be published directly on Udio, likely due to potential copyright concerns. However, you can still download your creations for personal use or further editing in your preferred music production software.

As with any AI-powered tool, it's crucial to use Audio Uploads responsibly and ensure that you have full usage and distribution rights over any audio you upload. Udio's terms of service provide guidance on this matter, and the company encourages users to engage with them if they have any questions or concerns.

Udio's announcement comes amidst growing competition in the AI music generation space, particularly from rival platform Suno. Earlier this week, Suno also teased a similar capability coming to its platform.

I'm really liking this trend towards features that provide more creative control. It recognizes that the heart of music lies in creativity and self-expression, and it aims to facilitate that. By empowering users to guide the creative process with their own audio, Udio is blurring the lines between human and machine creativity, opening up new possibilities for collaboration and innovation.