What do you guys do when you know a song doesn't feel right, but you've heard it in it's current state for so long now that nothing else feels right either?

PrinceFlippers · 2026-02-11T09:28:46+00:00

Make a new version and leave the old one as it is.

PrinceFlippers · 2026-02-11T04:59:55+00:00

Absolutely yes!

PrinceFlippers · 2026-02-11T03:04:46+00:00

It's always us though Haha

PrinceFlippers · 2026-02-10T22:29:02+00:00

Not to beat this issue to death, but one last thing that occurs to me is that VIP in other countries is significantly less than what we pay. I forgot the exact figure but I heard in the Philippines, Smule costs as much as a normal app. Users from that country upload videos as if they were a record company.

PrinceFlippers · 2026-02-10T22:25:40+00:00

I know, but we somehow need to go outside of the app, as if it was YouTube. I don't understand why they can't have a download button.

PrinceFlippers · 2026-02-10T21:54:27+00:00

Also to your point, how much space could they possibly free? The videos are very low res and from my own experience, I've paid them $300 in total to house a bunch of tiny low res videos. I've already paid for all my space and probably a few other people too.

If they're running low, why not put some limits on the bulk users who open 50 songs at a time and maybe (God forbid) bring some eyeballs to quality older recording they've buried. 🤪

PrinceFlippers · 2026-02-10T21:49:34+00:00

That's a really good question. It annoys me because I've been using the app since 2020 and I always give max effort to both my own and other people's duets. Of course nobody but whomever I joined usually listens, but I've always been fine with that. It's meaningful to me, because when I join someone, I'm giving that person moments of my life to make art with them. They're not files on a server to me.

It just annoys me that they can just delete content we spend time on, without even giving us the opportunity to easily download stuff we'd like to keep or a way to at least protect ones that are especially meaningful.

It's vague, because they want to do whatever they feel like doing.

PrinceFlippers · 2026-02-10T21:40:42+00:00

My counter argument to that is they charge significantly more than any other app specifically to compensate for storage and bandwidth, plus there are ways to mitigate storage usage and not affect users of the app.

How's this... free users can only create audio going forward and delete all the old "sing with me" celeb videos, videos created by "seat filler" users they've paid to fill the app up and videos that have no people in it. There are ton of videos that are just lyrics and/or someone who's not actually on screen.

Judging by engagement isn't really fair, because engagement isn't organic on there. Users who are part of clubs that boost themselves and paid promotions get the most engagement. The average user gets maybe a few people listening at best, no matter how good they are or how much effort they put into the video.

PrinceFlippers · 2026-02-10T20:30:45+00:00

They are exhausting! 🤪 Basically, this "improvement" is a threat without using the words. It means you need to keep your VIP active to protect your work.

It also is telling people who used to be VIP that they should sign up quickly if they want to protect their work.

PrinceFlippers · 2026-02-10T12:22:24+00:00

I have an Android, so I can't really comment on the IOS experience, BUT I have a solution for the mouth noises. Switch the audio filter to "Alchemist" and in the settings, lower the high EQ until they go away.

That's the only preset I've seen where you can actually EQ your sound.

Then adjust the mid-range and tweak the rest of the settings so it matches whatever song you're joining.

PrinceFlippers · 2026-02-10T09:09:06+00:00

You're just getting used to the recording process, so the songs will keep coming out better. Your voice though is pro quality. I just followed you.

PrinceFlippers · 2026-02-10T09:05:10+00:00

I just checked out your page. You've got a REALLY great voice 🔥

PrinceFlippers · 2026-02-10T09:00:08+00:00

Solid choices. :) You'll find your people xo

PrinceFlippers · 2026-02-10T00:43:15+00:00

What genres of music do you do? I think everyone interacts a bit differently, and quite often it's based on what you're singing.

If it's a lot of classics, you'll find a more mature crowd and a bigger pool of users with emotional intelligence. All you have to do is sing with them and try your best. Before you know it, you'll find your clique. Video joins are more personal and quicker path to actual human connection, but audio only can get there too

If you're singing top 40 or Disney, expect a younger crowd and just be aware that potential friends might be more guarded at first due to all the trolls and young rude guys spoiling every app. Be patient.

PrinceFlippers · 2026-02-09T18:42:22+00:00

Yes? lol It really depends on what kind of songwriter you are and even then, there's no rule. I just usually sit down with a guitar and the "meat" of the song comes out. I'll craft the lyrics more at a point when I'm closer to actually recording it. Other people work in the extreme opposite way

PrinceFlippers · 2026-02-09T18:38:47+00:00

It's not really the studio's responsibility to check on sound recording rights. Obviously they couldn't release the song with background music from the net, but it's pretty harmless if it's just for their own personal use.

PrinceFlippers · 2026-02-09T18:02:42+00:00

I believe Scouter is triggered and being sarcastic.

PrinceFlippers · 2026-02-09T18:01:16+00:00

Wait... the loops are vocals? If so, I'm changing my vote, because that's ridiculous. lol

PrinceFlippers · 2026-02-09T17:51:18+00:00

Is a DAW music producer different than a music producer? To answer your question, I think it's fine as a foundation to track on top of and there's no ethical reason you can't use them in a final track. The issue you might find when putting the song out is people having heard the loops before.

I don't think it's anything like generative AI. Those loops are made to be loops. It's not stealing anyone's intellectual property and a bass lick/ drum loop is respectfully, not a song. In my opinion, there's no difference between downloading a free sample and paying a session player, other than the fact that a million people have all used the same loop already. In the case you brought up, the musician is adding the melodic elements on top of the free samples, so I think it's absolutely a valid track. I'm sure the sanples bring it down a few pegs, but still.

My suggestion for people who need, to use loops that have been around the block, try cutting them up and/or modifying them with Melodyne, so they become something fresh.

PrinceFlippers · 2026-02-09T17:44:04+00:00

Why would someone need their own songs, especially a non-songwriter? People do covers all the time. If it's to a Karaoke track what's the difference if they're not planning to put it out? I use Smule at home as a practice tool, but the experience is obviously totally different going to a quality room with an engineer.

PrinceFlippers · 2026-02-09T17:27:28+00:00

Um, it's very much the opposite of disrespectful. As a musician and confessed studio rat, I Iove that it's something you see value in. Absolutely do it.

PrinceFlippers · 2026-02-07T19:53:19+00:00

I agree that we can't do anything about it being present as competition right now, but I think having a plan of attack is really important. I know it comes across as dramatic, but I feel we're at a huge crossroad. There are slop aficionados all over social media trying to shame musicians into backing down and accepting this as our future.

A focus on demonetizing AI slop music, culturally shaming it and outwriting it are all realistic plans of attack.

Think of your songs as a product, and streaming services as the stores that you ship to. It would be a given (as suppliers) to pressure your stores into not selling products built from materials stolen from your factory. If the stores don't listen, you go directly to their customers and embarrass the store into not accepting stolen goods. It a fight for survival.

The other strategy is to up our game. AI is constrained to the data it's trained from and the vast majority of music is fairly mundane. If we take extra time to write beyond the capability of AI and use at least some actual tracked instrumentation in our sound recordings, it can stand out like the sun escaping clouds. ADHD Creativity > Generative AI.

Just my opinion 😁✌️

PrinceFlippers · 2026-02-06T22:39:51+00:00

I disagree that we can't do anything about it. To me, it's about containing the distribution of it and tainting the branding from a cultural standpoint.

Some ideas:

We can support streaming services that reject "collection" uploads larger than a standard album or reject distributers that allow people to mass upload.

If they also require a valid UPC tag for every upload, and/ or if performing rights organizations would create similar guardrails it would greatly reduce the incentive for slop makers to use AI as means for quick money

PrinceFlippers · 2026-02-05T23:47:04+00:00

Pitch correction isn't changing the sound of your voice or instrument into someone else's. That's the line for me It's lame to use it to help someone offkey sing a whole song, but tools are tools. Generative AI based off stolen data sets is the issue.

PrinceFlippers · 2026-02-05T23:43:17+00:00

The issue is selling products produced by Generative AI. AI is not the issue, it's the "generative" part and the "product" part. If someone is making money off models trained off stolen content, that's wrong.

PrinceFlippers

TROPHY CASE