awesometastic
Member
... by composing original music indistinguishable from human composed music. Can the robot apocalypse be far behind?
So here's the article. It's REALLY long but well worth the read. I'll give you the one paragraph summary of it though.
Basically, a composer has created a software program that can simulate human creativity, in the form of composing classical music. At first, he started with a program that could compose in the style of say Bach or Mozart, and make pieces that experts couldn't differentiate from original Bach or Mozart pieces. Which is impressive in itself, but not terrifying.
What is both awesome and terrifying is that the next evolution of the program can compose entirely original symphonies in seconds, in its own unique style, based on combinations of stylistic influences from multiple musicians and composers, combined with a set of parameters that dictate some guidelines for the music. Apparently, in it's debut concert, the compositions were indistinguishable from human composed music.
I'm reserving judgement here as to how successful the program really is, because the article only provides two brief excerpts of the programs thousands of compositions. I think we need to wait till he releases the album it recorded using a player piano before I can make an accurate judgement. But just from those two clips, I am initially impressed. It's far more sophisticated than I thought it would be, or maybe hoped it would be. I wouldn't call it Mozart quality, but I'm not going to write it off yet either. I'm inherently biased against it as I already know it was composed by a robot and am therefore being extra critical. It is also being played by a player piano (I think), a technology that CERTAINLY is not quite up to the task of simulating human playing.
So two reactions. First: this is terrifying. Thousands of passable compositions in minutes. Indistinguishable from human composition. The creator has already been approached by a pop group to use it to help them write music. Can major record labels be far behind? This seems like the kind of thing corporate douchebags would be all over. No more need for royalties. Ever. Just program some P-Funk tracks, Lil' John beats, a touch of Outkast, and a smattering of Lady Gaga and you have an instant dance hit if you slap some lyrics about a club over it. Pop is already so derivative and safe today that this should be about a dozen times easier to simulate than full on classical symphonies.
Second: This is absolutely incredible. It's crazy awesome that we can make programs that can do this. If nothing else, it could be one of the most interesting social experiments ever. Certainly the most interesting musical one since John Cage's "3:16." Furthermore, what if instead of using it as a crutch to make derivative crap, we found a way for it to incorporate it into genuine song writing, using it as a creative tool, like finale on steroids. As a TOOL used by creative people it could enable them to do even more creative and exciting things. But would that cheapen the effort? Help artists to function at their very best and open them up to thousands of new possibilities?
I have no idea. And I'm kind of interested in your opinions.
So here's the article. It's REALLY long but well worth the read. I'll give you the one paragraph summary of it though.
Basically, a composer has created a software program that can simulate human creativity, in the form of composing classical music. At first, he started with a program that could compose in the style of say Bach or Mozart, and make pieces that experts couldn't differentiate from original Bach or Mozart pieces. Which is impressive in itself, but not terrifying.
What is both awesome and terrifying is that the next evolution of the program can compose entirely original symphonies in seconds, in its own unique style, based on combinations of stylistic influences from multiple musicians and composers, combined with a set of parameters that dictate some guidelines for the music. Apparently, in it's debut concert, the compositions were indistinguishable from human composed music.
I'm reserving judgement here as to how successful the program really is, because the article only provides two brief excerpts of the programs thousands of compositions. I think we need to wait till he releases the album it recorded using a player piano before I can make an accurate judgement. But just from those two clips, I am initially impressed. It's far more sophisticated than I thought it would be, or maybe hoped it would be. I wouldn't call it Mozart quality, but I'm not going to write it off yet either. I'm inherently biased against it as I already know it was composed by a robot and am therefore being extra critical. It is also being played by a player piano (I think), a technology that CERTAINLY is not quite up to the task of simulating human playing.
So two reactions. First: this is terrifying. Thousands of passable compositions in minutes. Indistinguishable from human composition. The creator has already been approached by a pop group to use it to help them write music. Can major record labels be far behind? This seems like the kind of thing corporate douchebags would be all over. No more need for royalties. Ever. Just program some P-Funk tracks, Lil' John beats, a touch of Outkast, and a smattering of Lady Gaga and you have an instant dance hit if you slap some lyrics about a club over it. Pop is already so derivative and safe today that this should be about a dozen times easier to simulate than full on classical symphonies.
Second: This is absolutely incredible. It's crazy awesome that we can make programs that can do this. If nothing else, it could be one of the most interesting social experiments ever. Certainly the most interesting musical one since John Cage's "3:16." Furthermore, what if instead of using it as a crutch to make derivative crap, we found a way for it to incorporate it into genuine song writing, using it as a creative tool, like finale on steroids. As a TOOL used by creative people it could enable them to do even more creative and exciting things. But would that cheapen the effort? Help artists to function at their very best and open them up to thousands of new possibilities?
I have no idea. And I'm kind of interested in your opinions.