AIVA: The "Serious" AI Composer You Didn’t Know You Needed
Most AI music tools are fun toys for making viral memes. AIVA (Artificial Intelligence Virtual Artist) is different—it’s a professional composer living in your browser. If you need an emotional soundtrack for a video, a game, or just a study playlist, and you want actual control over how it sounds, this is the tool you open.
The "Free Forever" plan is strict but usable: you get 3 downloads per month of high-quality, instrumental music. It’s not infinite, but for a polished background track without the copyright headache (if you follow the rules), it’s a solid deal.
🎼 What It Actually Does
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Genre-Specific Composition: You choose from 250+ styles (Cinematic, Lo-fi, Rock, Jazz).
- The Benefit: You don't get a weird "hallucinated" mess; you get a track that actually sounds like the genre you asked for.
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MIDI Export: Unlike most competitors, AIVA lets you download the notes (MIDI), not just the audio.
- The Benefit: If you use GarageBand or Logic Pro, you can change the instruments yourself. You aren't stuck with the AI's choice of piano; you can swap it for a synth later.
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The Editor: You can view a timeline and edit the "emotional curve" of the song.
- The Benefit: You can tell the AI to make the music intense at exactly 1:30 (when the monster appears in your video) and quiet at 0:45. Total control.
The Real Cost (Free vs. Paid)
AIVA is generous with creation but stingy with ownership. On the free plan, you can compose all day, but you can only take 3 tracks home with you per month.
| Plan | Cost | Key Limits/Perks |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 3 Downloads/month. Max 3 min/track. Must credit AIVA. Non-commercial use only. |
| Standard | ~€11/mo | 15 Downloads/month. Max 5 min/track. Limited monetization (YouTube/Twitch allowed). |
| Pro | ~€33/mo | 300 Downloads/month. Full Copyright Ownership. Commercial rights. WAV export. |
Note: Pricing is often listed in Euros (€), but converts roughly 1:1 to USD in practice.
How It Stacks Up
While everyone talks about Suno and Udio, AIVA occupies a different lane. It’s for creators, not just listeners.
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vs. Suno: Suno is the viral king. It gives you 50 credits/day (roughly 10 songs) and is amazing for vocals/pop songs.
- The Difference: Suno creates "radio hits" with lyrics. AIVA creates "soundtracks" (instrumental). Use Suno for a funny birthday song; use AIVA for your short film's background score.
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vs. Udio: Udio (approx. 10 credits/day) is complex and high-fidelity but can be overwhelming.
- The Difference: AIVA is more structured. You don't "prompt and pray"; you set parameters (key, time signature, mood) like a real producer.
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vs. Soundraw: Soundraw is a close rival for background music.
- The Difference: Soundraw is great for "infinite background noise," but AIVA’s compositions generally feel more emotive and "human-composed," plus AIVA offers that killer MIDI export feature.
The Verdict
AIVA is the "adult in the room" of AI music. It isn't trying to replace Drake or write a funny song about your cat. It is designed to replace the expensive stock audio subscription you forgot to cancel.
By offering MIDI export and precise editorial control, it bridges the gap between "one-click generation" and "manual composition." It forces you to treat AI as a collaborator, not a vending machine. If you are a YouTuber, a game dev, or a podcaster, use your 3 free downloads wisely—they might just save you hundreds of dollars in licensing fees.
