What is AIVA?
AIVA (Artificial Intelligence Virtual Artist) is a creative AI designed to compose emotional and epic instrumental soundtracks. As one of the pioneers in the field, AIVA was the first AI to be officially recognized as a composer by a music society (SACEM). It specializes in creating classical, cinematic, and ambient music. Its ideal users are filmmakers, game developers, professional composers looking for inspiration, and content creators who need high-quality, royalty-free background scores. AIVA solves the problem of sourcing unique and emotionally resonant instrumental music without hiring a composer or relying on generic stock music libraries.
Key Features
AIVA is more than a simple prompt box; it's a composer's tool:
- Generation Profiles: Generate music by choosing from dozens of pre-defined styles (e.g., "Cinematic," "Fantasy," "Synthwave") or by specifying a particular chord progression.
- Influence Editor: This powerful feature allows you to upload an existing audio track or MIDI file as an "influence," and AIVA will compose a new, unique track inspired by its style.
- Full MIDI Editor: This is AIVA's biggest strength. After generating a track, you can open it in a built-in editor that functions like a simple Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). Here, you can edit individual notes, change instruments, and have granular control over the final composition.
- Multiple File Formats: Download your creations as MP3, WAV, or even as individual MIDI stems, allowing for further editing in professional software like Logic Pro or Ableton Live.
Pricing Plans & Copyright
AIVA's pricing is directly tied to copyright ownership, which is a critical distinction.
- Free Plan: Allows you to generate and download a few tracks per month. However, AIVA retains the copyright, and you must credit AIVA when using the music. It is not for commercial use.
- Standard Plan (~$15/month): Offers more monthly downloads and allows for limited monetization on platforms like YouTube and Twitch. AIVA still owns the copyright.
- Pro Plan (~$49/month): This is the professional tier. It grants you full copyright ownership of the compositions you create, making them truly royalty-free. It also provides more downloads and the ability to use the music in any commercial project.
How to Use It
The workflow is geared towards composers.
1. Go to aiva.ai and create a free account.
2. In the dashboard, click "Create" and choose a Generation Profile (e.g., Styles).
3. Select your desired style, key signature, and duration, then click "Create Tracks."
4. AIVA will generate several compositions. Listen to the previews.
5. Click the "Edit" icon on your favorite track to open the powerful MIDI editor for fine-tuning.
Final Verdict
AIVA is a serious tool for serious creators. It's not the right choice if you want to create a catchy pop song with vocals. However, if you are a filmmaker, game developer, or content creator in need of high-quality instrumental scores, AIVA is one of the best tools on the market. Its powerful MIDI editor gives it a level of professional control that most other AI generators lack. For anyone who needs to own the full copyright to their AI-generated music, the Pro plan is a must-have and offers incredible value compared to hiring a composer.
Pros
- Excellent for cinematic/classical music
- Powerful MIDI editor for full control
- Pro plan grants full copyright
- Can generate music from influences
- Great for instrumental soundtracks
Cons
- Not for generating songs with vocals
- Free plan copyright is very restrictive
- Interface can be complex for beginners