“AI is a powerful tool, but like any instrument, it responds best when guided with clarity, respect, and intention.” — Howard Conder

How to Use AI to Create Music and Videos 

These are my personal notes on how I have learned to use AI in music and videos.

My hope is that this may help others — especially young people who may not have access to traditional music industry opportunities — to realise that doors are now open in ways they never were before.

I am continually amazed at how songs begin to form and develop using modern tools. When a track starts to come together and I hear the end results, I am often in awe.

I use ChatGPT as a creative assistant. Over time I have learned that clarity, respect, and thoughtful prompting produce far better results than simply demanding quick answers. AI is a tool, but it responds best when guided with intention.

Starting With Real Ideas

Nearly everything I create begins with something authentic.

Sometimes it is:

• A fully recorded song from years ago
• A partial recording or unfinished idea
• A melody, riff, or groove I recorded decades earlier
• Previously released material, such as my EMI track “Who’s Gonna Save The World”

For years I labelled many of these as “Howard’s Music Ideas.” They sat unused. AI has now allowed me to revisit them and reimagine them for today’s generation.

I upload these ideas into AI music software and start to prompt it to help structure verses and choruses or create a modern interpretation. Where I use previous recordings, I already have the lyrics so I input these into Suno or whatever AI package you chose to use. Be sure to use headers in closed brackets when separating verses from choruses etc. But this is only the beginning.

The Real Work Begins

Once the AI generates material, I extract what are called “stems” — the separate instrument and vocal tracks — and import them into your preferred editing package, for me I use Logic Pro.

This is where experience matters.

As a sound engineer, I shape, balance, EQ, compress, and refine the mix. AI may assist creatively, but producing a professional record still requires judgement, discipline, and musical understanding.

The goal is not “AI slop” — a term used for low-quality mass-generated AI music — but something crafted, meaningful, and worthy of releasing to the public.

AI does not replace craftsmanship. It enhances it when used properly.

Creating Videos

The process is similar with video.

Once the master audio is complete, next you need to upload your audio track into your choice of AI video software and carefully prompt it with visual directions. I am blessed to have a dear friend Jason who helps me with this, but what we have discovered is the software does not give you exactly what we prompt it to do. Often, we create two or three versions, so we have more to choose from in the next stage.

I then bring those versions into my editing software; I use Final Cut Pro as I have used it for decades now producing documentaries for television but there are several more packages available. Selecting the strongest scenes from each video and shaping them into a cohesive story. As an editor, this stage excites me just as much as creating the music.

Mastering

Traditionally, mastering is handled by an independent mastering engineer. Recently, I have taken time to learn this process myself to save both time and resources.

I now use LANDR for mastering — including on my Bob Marley tribute “The World Needs You Now More Than Ever”— and I am using it on all productions that will appear on the BLACK WHITE MUSIC YouTube channel.

When used correctly, it is an excellent and efficient tool. However, mastering still requires preparation and judgement. Your mix must be properly balanced before uploading, and you must choose the appropriate intensity and style settings for the genre.

If anyone would like guidance on using LANDR effectively, I would be more than happy to share what I have learned.

Recap: Practical Tools I Currently Use

For those interested in the practical side of production, here are some of the tools in my current workflow:

• ChatGPT – creative structuring and lyric development
• AI music software – arranging and expanding musical ideas
• Logic Pro – detailed mixing and production
• LANDR – mastering final mixes
• AI video software – visual generation
• Professional editing software – final video assembly

I am also a strong admirer of Solid State Logic. Over many years I have respected their hardware consoles, and today I make significant use of their plugin range using SSL Controllers in a 360 environment.

For me, SSL plugins are a major part of what gives my final mixes that polished, professional sound — the kind of sound a RECORD should have.

AI may assist creativity, but high-quality tools combined with mixing discipline are what allow a production to stand shoulder to shoulder with professional releases.

Why I Share This

My heart is to reach young people — especially those without the privileges I have had and who may believe the music industry is closed to them. After all, in my day we could present our music to a Record Label. It’s not that easy today therefore, we must do our best to find other ways to distribute our music and we begin by using distrokid.

AI has opened many doors.

But the key principles remain:

Start with something real.
Develop your skills.
Work with integrity.
Create with purpose.

The opportunity to create, learn, and grow is now open to everyone and remember; “AI is a powerful tool, but like any instrument, it responds best when guided with clarity, respect, and intention.” — Howard Conder