Brian AI Project.

[rab2591]

Fair enough :/ This is literally a bedroom project ahaha, I think it sounds pretty good but... valid criticism!

No offense meant toward thelonleyc, but to ask if people are using professional singers (that have the exact same muscle and breath control as the real Beach Boys) on what is clearly an unofficial project is kinda ridiculous. For this being a bedroom project, it is incredible what we've heard. I don't think SMiLE AD or FOTM claim that their works are without hiccups/flaws, but I gotta say that even with the flaws these tracks sound incredible - especially considering what Guitarfool wrote above: "none of this was available nor was it happening even a short few years ago"

No doubt constructive criticism should be given so these guys can work out the kinks in their AI models, tracks, etc. But asking these guys to hire multiple singers with 4+ years of studio experience is asking a bit much considering none of these guys are making money on any of this (and the tracks can disappear from YouTube quickly).

FOTM, I really like what you did with Song for Children! Those background vocals at :45-:50 seconds are amazing!

[thelonleyc]

><

[rab2591]

Well I see your point about it being a musical community. And I agree that it would be awesome if more people from across The Beach Boys musical community were more involved with these projects (kind of like The Beach Boys cover collaborations we did years back on this forum)...and I'm sure, in time, they will be. That these are the very first steps into this new musical landscape says a lot about the potential of this new technology.

Also, I'm not sure what Smile AD's musical background is, but there is definite talent there (I implore people to watch his behind-the-scenes videos on YouTube where he uncovers the layers of vocals/instrumentals he worked on for his Smile mix). And FatherOfTheMan has been making records for the last 10 years? I think it's just new technology, combined with time limitations, etc..

That being said, if it's not convincing for you then it's not convincing...and there's nothing wrong with that. Honestly, some part of me is happy that we can tell the difference between AI Brian and real Brian. Another part of me is excited to see just how convincing these tracks will become in the next few years.

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

All good conversations above, I would always love to collaborate with anyone interested in this tech!
I've noticed so far, most folks just want to pay me (or just beg) to have their songs made with Paul McCartney's voice... or a specific request from the Beach Boys...

One of the things I most want to show is that, honestly, ANYONE can use this tech. It really isn't that complicated! I am a programmer by day, but I'm just a bedroom musician by night. I do believe that is the biggest leg up that Dae Lims has... his knowledge of sound engineering, mixing, and just his skill as a musician is a HUGE asset to his productions with the AI. That said, I'm just a hobbyist and I believe any of you (with the right amount of passion and effort) could make some bomb stuff with these tools.

I've been trying to make more "behind the scenes" stuff for this project. A lot of folks, here and elsewhere, would assume that I used BWPS vocals to "de-age" Brian... but that isn't the case. While I personally wish to stick to the words and arrangements pretty closely, I am singing all the parts which as mentioned is a blessing and a curse in some cases.

I think it's important that people know this. It takes musical skill to do these things, and it's the main thing I'm trying to improve to catch up with Dae Lims... who has a pretty decent lead on that skillset!

Little clips like this may help to explain to the general public how this stuff works, and perhaps legitimize the tech a bit more?
https://youtu.be/8F5ljjBppSk

[Sam_BFC]

Is there a reason you wouldn't use BWPS vocals as the input where possible?

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

Made a quick video to answer this question

https://youtu.be/SED0pLJj844

[Sam_BFC]

Interesting. So it sounds like there would be potential to get good results from a later day Brian Wilson vocal if one could get their hands on a clean and dry track.

This provokes another question...what are the inputs for the machine learning thingy that generates the AI model? Presumably the ideal for that piece would be raw and dry vintage era Brian Wilson vocals.

[CAFeelin89]

Wow, the Dae Lims Do You Like Worms has to be the best version of that song I've heard thus far. That really blew me away.

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

I'm at a bit of a crossroads here, and I can't decide what to do.

I have a finished version of On A Holiday, with Mike and Al sharing the lead. On the middle section, the pirate rap, I had van dyke parks beat rapping the part I was so excited about it and couldn't wait to share.

I was encouraged to send it to the man himself, and I was excited to receive a reply. I told him that I wanted to make something special to celebrate my love of BWPS and the original tracks for the 20th anniversary. I made sure to let him know that if he didn't like it, I wouldn't release it as is.

Very respectfully, he responded that he didn't feel the track honored the legacy and that I should do something else with my talent (paraphrasing). He was very kind and I want to stress that I don't feel anything negative towards his response.

However, I can't help but feel that if he isn't a fan of the project... I should just drop it. I don't feel like a compromised version of my vision would be worth following through with. I'm not sure what specifically about my project he didn't like, like just the use of his voice on the track, but I just feel off about the whole thing now.

I know others have mentioned he gave some encouraging words to Dae Lims Smile, so that's cool... oof! 

Thoughts?

[thelonleyc]

><

[send me a picture and i'll tell you]

Very respectfully, he responded that he didn't feel the track honored the legacy and that I should do something else with my talent (paraphrasing). He was very kind and I want to stress that I don't feel anything negative towards his response.

Never should've asked him. *This* is the thanks integrity gets you!

[Alex]

I told my wife, when bookoff smile came out, that the best thing that could happen is that it would be "outdated by summer" and it seems my highest hopes are about to be met!!

https://youtube.com/shorts/YwGAn9QSVuk?feature=share

Is this Brian's vocals from BWPS getting the AI treatment? Or is it Dae Lims' voice?

And what apps are being used to do this? Or is that some sort of state secret?

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

Dae Lims and I both sing our parts, for reasons outlined in my video clip above.

AFAIK he is also using RVC, you can find some easy tutorials on YouTube, it's not that tough to get set up!

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

Well, despite the hang ups, I decided not to let my existing hard work go to waste! I had a different idea for the "rap" section... I hope you all enjoy it!!

On a Holiday!
https://youtu.be/Al3F7OD-fk8

[wavesoflove]

I had a go of it a few weeks back:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wOS9yPVgoo
For the rap part I used Paul McCartney, but I much prefer yours. Singing that pirate part just feels right.

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

I remember seeing yours on YouTube a while ago! Great to see others taking a swing at it. I definitely think it's cool to hear Paul doing the jaunty pirate rap ahahaha

So glad you enjoyed my version, thanks for listening!

[Old Rake]

Hey! Just wanted to alert y'all -- I have a new version of Child Is The Father up on YouTube, with some AI verse vocals. I have always posited that the coda melody for "Surf's Up" had its origin as the verses for Smile's "Child" especially as we have two verses essentially written on the lyric sheet (the 2nd was apparently partly forgotten and never used). This was my chance to do proof of concept and back up my theories with some backing vocals that really create a bed for that melody. I'd still bet a buck these started here.

UPDATE!! NOW WITH SLIGHTLY BETTER MIX!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKABpRkjWMA

And here's a link to my version of "The Old Master Painter," featuring OMP lyrics!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGI6EVJyfZY

[pixletwin]

Enjoyable take on Child. The melody doesn't really slide into the overall backing the way I think it would had Brian intended it that way.. at least not as a literal insertion. Maybe with a few changes to the melody?

I really liked the addition of the children playing in the background.

[Don Malcolm]

I'm at a bit of a crossroads here, and I can't decide what to do.

I have a finished version of On A Holiday, with Mike and Al sharing the lead. On the middle section, the pirate rap, I had van dyke parks beat rapping the part I was so excited about it and couldn't wait to share.

I was encouraged to send it to the man himself, and I was excited to receive a reply. I told him that I wanted to make something special to celebrate my love of BWPS and the original tracks for the 20th anniversary. I made sure to let him know that if he didn't like it, I wouldn't release it as is.

Very respectfully, he responded that he didn't feel the track honored the legacy and that I should do something else with my talent (paraphrasing). He was very kind and I want to stress that I don't feel anything negative towards his response.

However, I can't help but feel that if he isn't a fan of the project... I should just drop it. I don't feel like a compromised version of my vision would be worth following through with. I'm not sure what specifically about my project he didn't like, like just the use of his voice on the track, but I just feel off about the whole thing now.

I know others have mentioned he gave some encouraging words to Dae Lims Smile, so that's cool... oof! 

Thoughts?

Reading this again, I'm wondering if VDP remains just as abashed about his own vocals as he always seems to have been. He's clearly not much of a singer (as he has noted frequently himself), but he has had some good moments (such as on his arrangement of "H&V") but my sense is that he would somehow be appalled to be an actual part of the vocal SMiLE, seeing that as a kind of desecration of what Brian was trying to accomplish in stretching the band's vocals as far as possible.

Given that interpretation, you could take his response with a grain of salt and read between the lines as to why he was not so keen on your choice of using him.

It's a tricky business getting in touch with one's idols, you know--so much randomness is possible in their response, and they have their own issues with things in ways that will probably always remain opaque to us...

[rab2591]

Not sure if this has been posted here yet, but this is one of the coolest AI tracks I've heard (Old Man River):

https://youtu.be/IJjqmt7wrbE?si=Y1PRvl2MGnYr19KT