ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, has launched a new app called Ripple that aims to simplify the process of composing and editing music for creators. Currently available only in the United States and being tested in a closed beta environment, Ripple is designed to assist creators in composing music for their content, particularly for short-form videos on TikTok and other platforms. It is especially useful for beginners and those who prefer not to deal with more complex musical systems.
One key feature of Ripple is its ability to generate songs in different genres based on a melody hummed by the user. The app prompts the user to hum into their phone’s microphone and then creates instrumental tracks, including drums, bass, and piano, that can be used for the music composition. However, the length of the generated song will match the length of the input, so it cannot create a full-length soundtrack from just a few seconds of humming. Additionally, Ripple focuses on instrumental music, leaving the vocal work to the creators themselves.
According to ByteDance, Ripple’s model was trained on music owned by the company, as well as music that was licensed to them. The company emphasizes its commitment to respecting the rights of its artists and rights holder partners. It is worth noting that concerns have been raised regarding the source of data used to train artificial intelligence systems and algorithms. Recent lawsuits, such as the one filed against OpenAI, allege the violation of copyrights and privacy due to the use of data scraped from the internet to train AI models like ChatGPT.
Currently, Ripple is available on an invite-only basis, and no further rollout plans have been announced by ByteDance. However, those interested in trying out the app before the general public can visit Ripple.club, where they can find a download link for the iOS app and request an invitation to join the testing phase.
The introduction of Ripple indicates ByteDance’s recognition of the importance of music in content creation, especially in the context of short-form videos. By providing a simplified music composition and editing tool, ByteDance aims to empower creators to enhance their videos with custom soundtracks tailored to their creative vision. This move could also help TikTok maintain its relevance and popularity among users by offering new ways to differentiate and enhance the content they share on the platform.
As the app is currently in its testing phase, there may be limitations and challenges that need to be addressed based on user feedback. It will be interesting to see how Ripple evolves and if it becomes widely available in the future. If successful, it could potentially revolutionize the way creators approach music composition for their videos, opening up new possibilities and creative avenues for content development.
Overall, Ripple demonstrates ByteDance’s dedication to innovation and its commitment to providing tools that further empower creators on their platforms. By simplifying music composition and editing, the app has the potential to revolutionize the creative process for many creators, making it more accessible and streamlined. With the expanding influence of short-form video platforms like TikTok, music will continue to play a significant role in content creation. Ripple aims to be the solution that allows creators to seamlessly integrate custom soundtracks into their videos, taking their creativity to the next level.