What Was Amper Music?
Amper Music was one of the original pioneers in the AI music generation space. It was a highly respected platform that used artificial intelligence to help users create unique, royalty-free instrumental music without any musical knowledge. It was known for its professional quality and was a favorite among video creators and marketers. However, in late 2020, Amper Music was acquired by Shutterstock. The original Amper Music website was shut down, and its technology and team were integrated into Shutterstock's platform. Today, the legacy and power of Amper Music live on as Shutterstock's AI Music Generator.
Features of Shutterstock's AI Music
The spirit of Amper now powers a streamlined, professional tool within Shutterstock:
- Mood & Genre-Based Generation: Create music by selecting a genre, a mood, and the specific instrumentation you want to include or exclude.
- Track Customization: The AI generates several track options. You can then fine-tune your selected track by adjusting its length to the exact second.
- Loop Variations: A powerful feature that allows you to generate multiple different loop variations within the same track, giving you more creative options for your video's background.
- Integration with Stock Assets: The biggest advantage is its location. You can find AI-generated music right alongside Shutterstock's massive library of video, images, and sound effects, making it a one-stop-shop.
Pricing Plans
The AI music generator is not a standalone product; it's part of Shutterstock's overall subscription model.
- No Standalone Music Plan: You cannot subscribe only to the AI music generator. Access is included with Shutterstock's broader subscription plans.
- All-In-One Subscriptions: Plans like the "FLEX Subscription" provide a certain number of credits per month that can be used to download images, video clips, and music tracks (both human-made and AI-generated).
- Enterprise Plans: Custom plans for large teams provide full access to the entire library, including AI music creation.
How to Use It
The tool is embedded within the Shutterstock ecosystem.
1. Go to shutterstock.com and navigate to the "Music" section.
2. Look for the "AI Music Generator" or "Generate Music" feature.
3. Select your desired genre, mood, and instrumentation.
4. The AI will generate track options. Preview them and select one to customize.
5. Adjust the length and use a subscription credit to download the final, high-quality track.
Final Verdict
Amper Music was a true pioneer whose technology was so good it was acquired by an industry giant. In its current form, Shutterstock's AI Music tool is a powerful, professional, and commercially safe option for creating high-quality background music. Its biggest strength is its convenience for existing Shutterstock subscribers or for creators who need a single platform for all their stock asset needs. However, since it's locked behind a broader (and more expensive) subscription, it's not the ideal choice for someone *only* looking for an AI music tool. For that, dedicated platforms like Soundraw or AIVA offer more direct and affordable access.