Emerging Audio Technologies in Music Production (Gen AI Tools)

This advanced graduate-level course explores the cutting-edge landscape of emerging audio technologies in music production, with a particular focus on generative AI tools and their transformative impact on the creative process. Students will engage critically with the latest developments in AI-assisted composition, sound design, mixing, mastering, and audio restoration. The course examines how technologies such as neural audio synthesis, large language models for music, AI-powered virtual instruments, and intelligent audio processing are reshaping traditional production workflows and opening new creative possibilities. Through a combination of hands-on experimentation, critical analysis, and theoretical inquiry, students will develop both technical proficiency and a conceptual understanding of these emerging tools. The course places significant emphasis on the ethical, legal, and aesthetic implications of AI in music production, examining questions of authorship, copyright, artistic authenticity, bias in training data, and the socioeconomic impact of AI on music professionals. Students will be challenged not only to master these technologies but also to critically evaluate their role in shaping the future of music production, technology, and innovation. Given the nature of this course, students will be encouraged to use AI tools for their assignments when appropriate. However, all work must be accompanied by transparent documentation of AI use, and critical reflection on the role of AI in the creative process is essential. Any use of AI must be disclosed and contextualized.