Creative Music Tools Without AI
A Vinyl Bar, a new startup operating out of Shibuya, Japan, is releasing a series of small apps designed to encourage musical experimentation. The company, led by Máuhan M Zonoozy, formerly head of innovation at Spotify, aims to provide tools for users to create and modify sounds without relying on AI-generated prompts.
The startup has raised $5.5 million in pre-seed funding from a diverse group of investors including Mantis VC and former Spotify executive Dawn Ostroff. The apps include Speed Surfer, a Chrome extension that modifies audio playback speed and filters; Usersound, a website for creating audio usernames; Stacks, a stem player for building mixes; Drops, a pattern-based musical note generator; and Sampler, which transforms YouTube videos into music samplers. A more ambitious iOS app, bop, allows users to create mixes by placing instruments and effects in a grid, with plans for a multiplayer remixing feature.
Zonoozy’s decision not to incorporate AI prompting stems from a belief that human interaction and taste remain crucial in music. He notes that while streaming has solved access, the core of music engagement is still around consumption and participation. The company is open to using AI for infrastructure and development but prioritizes maintaining a focus on user-driven creativity. They plan to release a "musical sandbox mixer" product this year, allowing users to create instruments and experiment with various musical elements.
The startup’s initial app suite was initially released without prompt-based features, but recently added this functionality. This addition allows users to generate sounds based on prompts, expanding the toolset’s capabilities. The company is targeting younger audiences who engage with culture through games and creative tools, mirroring the approach of platforms like Spotify.
