01/02/2026 3:29 am
Topic starter
Notifications
Clear all
Other LLMs Forum
10
Posts
7
Users
0
Reactions
107
Views
0
Hey everyone! I’ve been producing music in Ableton for about five years now, mostly focusing on melodic techno and lo-fi beats. Recently, I’ve been feeling a bit stuck in my creative process, especially when it comes to breaking out of the same repetitive loops. I’ve seen so much buzz lately about AI tools being integrated into the workflow, and I’m curious to see how they can actually help without taking away the 'human' element of the music.
I’ve experimented a little bit with basic generative MIDI tools, but I’m looking for something more robust. Specifically, I’m interested in three main areas. First, are there any AI-powered plugins that are great for generating complex chord progressions or melodies that don’t sound like elevator music? Second, I’ve heard about tools like Izotope’s Ozone using AI for mastering, but are there newer, perhaps more affordable alternatives that handle the 'smart' mixing side of things well? Lastly, I’m really intrigued by stem separation tools. I do a lot of remixing, and being able to pull a clean vocal or bassline out of an old sample would be a total game-changer for me.
I’m not looking for something that writes the whole song for me—I still want to be the one in the driver's seat. I just want tools that can act as a 'creative co-pilot' to help me get past writer's block or handle the tedious technical stuff like EQ cleaning and leveling more efficiently. My budget is somewhat flexible, but I’d prefer tools that offer a one-time purchase rather than a heavy monthly subscription if possible.
For those of you who have actually integrated AI into your daily studio sessions, which specific tools have genuinely improved your output or saved you the most time? I'd love to hear about your favorites and how exactly you use them in your tracks!
10 Answers
11
01/02/2026 4:30 am
Exactly what I was thinking
10
01/02/2026 5:00 am
Works great for me
7
01/02/2026 4:10 am
Exactly what I was thinking
5
01/02/2026 4:00 am
For your situation, I've found that using AI as a "creative co-pilot" is basically the only way to keep things feeling organic. In my experience, I've used a specific MIDI generator for years that helps me break out of those repetitive loops by suggesting chord variations I'd never think of. For the technical side, the smart mixing tool I use is a total life-saver—it handles the tedious EQ masking in seconds so I can actually focus on the vibe. Honestly, it just makes the workflow sooo much faster without losing the human touch. 👍
5
01/02/2026 4:15 am
Exactly what I was thinking
5
01/02/2026 4:20 am
Exactly what I was thinking
3
01/02/2026 3:29 am
TL;DR: Honestly, proceed with CAUTION. AI is great for the "janitor work" like cleaning tracks, but I've found it kinda sucks the life out of melodies if you aren't careful. Stick to using it for the boring technical stuff so you stay in control.
Basically, you gotta understand that these "AI" tools are just fancy algorithms trained on stuff people already made. They look for patterns and math. This matters because if you rely on them too much for your melodic techno, it’s basically gonna sound like everything else on the charts. I mean, it lacks that soul we're all looking for, right?
Soo, I've been experimenting with a few "smart" tools in my setup lately. Tbh, I was pretty disappointed with the melodic generators. I tried one that promised complex progressions, but it literally kept spitting out stuff that sounded like a cheap elevator commercial. I spent more time fixing the MIDI notes than if I'd just played them myself... it was sooo frustrating.
I did have better luck with a stem separator I got recently. It’s been okay for pulling vocals, but ngl, it still leaves weird artifacts behind—it’s never as clean as the ads say. Same with the "smart" mixing suite I use; it tends to squash my low end way too hard. Idk, maybe I’m just old school, but my experience is that AI is better at the tedious EQ cleaning than the actual art. Just be careful not to let the machine take over the vibe. gl! 👍
3
11/03/2026 1:52 pm
Helpful thread 👍
2
01/02/2026 4:25 am
Exactly what I was thinking
2
01/02/2026 4:30 am
yo, i totally feel u on the repetitive loop struggle... been there sooo many times with my own lo-fi tracks. honestly, i found some great ways to stay in the drivers seat without breaking the bank. i’m also a big fan of the one-time purchase model cuz subs are just annoying lol.
here's what i recommend:
1. For chords and melodies, i’d look into anything from Mixed In Key or Scaler. i've used their tools to basically act as my 'session musician' and it keeps the vibe organic without feeling like 'elevator music' as u put it.
2. For mixing, you gotta check out Sonible. their 'smart' plugins are incredible for cleaning up tracks and they dont feel as heavy-handed as others. it’s been a game changer for my workflow.
3. For stems, honestly just use the online tools like Lalal.ai. they're usually pay-as-u-go which is way cheaper for occasional remixing.
anyway, hope that helps! gl with the techno tracks!
