General User Manual

Creating a track, Composition Workflow & Import MIDI

Creating a track
Creating a track from a Chord Progression
Creating a track Step by Step
Import MIDI
Duplicating a track
Downloading a track
Sharing a track

Style Designer
Creating a Style
Personalising a Style
Creating a track
Publishing a Style
Using your Custom Style with the Composition Workflow Feature
Styles Library
Organising

Editing a track
Opening a track in Editor
Changing the zoom
Viewing multiple layers at once
Adding Effects
Section Editing
Changing the BPM
Adding a custom layer
Instrument Editing
Note editing
Listening to the changes
Saving the changes
Percussion Editing

Uploading an Influence
Upload an Influence (MIDI, MP3 or WAV)
Using an existing track as an influence
Changing the instrumentation
Changing the key signature
Creating a new track from the uploaded influence

Organising the tracks

Single entry
Liking a track
Renaming a track
Creating a folder
Moving a track to a folder
Downloading a folder
Deleting a track / folder

Bulk selection
Selecting multiple entries
Moving multiple entries to a folder
Deleting multiple entries

Using the Billing page

Terms
Payment Method
Subscribing

Listening to the AIVA radio

Listening to the radio
Liking / disliking a track

Creating from Chord: Composition Workflow

Selecting the Style

Creating a track

Create a new track by clicking on the green Create Track button on top.
Here you can select to create a track:
- From a Style
- From a Chord Progression
- From an influence
- Presets (legacy)

From Style
Select the Style and then choose between various customisable parameters.

Filters: Click here to select the style category.

Sort by: Click here to sort the styles by Creation Date, Generated Compositions, Imports or Name.

Creating a track from a Chord Progression

Click here for a video tutorial.

Create a full composition based on a chord progression.

Start by clicking on the green Create Track button then selecting Chord Progression.
After, choose the style.
Text-to-Harmony

Check our recommendations for text prompts here.

Using the Settings option you can select the Style, choose to display in numerals, set up the Key Signature,
the Time Signature and the Tempo.

Display Numerals is a function to enable Roman numerals display. When it is disabled you can see all the
chords labeled with chord names. By enabling the toggle you can see the chord progressions in Roman
numerals.

You can use websites like Chordify to search for the chord progression for the song you like.
The benefits for using websites like this is that in addition to getting the full chord progression you can also
get other key information such as the the Key Signature and the Tempo.
You can use this information to set up the Settings.

By hovering to any of the chords you will see 2 options.

Use the pen icon on the left to change the chord that you selected.
Use the Symbol drop-down menu to pick the chord's symbol.

Use the Extension drop-down menu to pick the quality and the type of the chord.
The + icon on the right allows to add a chord after the initially selected chord.

You can add more chords in until the chords block becomes small.
Once it does, you will see a 3 dot (...) icon. Click on that icon to see the options for modifying the selected
chord block.
Split in half - splits your chord into half (this will only work for chords longer than 1 beat)
Delete - removes the selected chord
Note: Deletion only works for chords shorter than 1 measure (the longest any chord can be is 1 measure)

Use the Zoom slider on top to resize the chords.

Hover your mouse to the edge of the chord block to stretch or shorten your selected chord.
Instead of typing in the same chord over and over stretch it.

Use the magic Generate button to generate a brand new chord progression.
Click Next to move to the next step where you can name and save your workflow.

Create a new composition from your workflow.

Use the Composition workflow name space to name your workflow.

Use the Composition duration to set the duration of your composition.
Use the Number of compositions to choose the number of tracks you want to create.
Enable Save workflow to your account to use your workflow in your future compositions.

Reuse the same chord progression in your future compositions.

To edit the chord progression click on edit.

Creating a track Step by Step

Using this feature you can turn a specific melody, an accompaniment, percussion rhythm or even an
instrument into a full composition.
Next - Enter the chord progression
To enter the chords please either check the Creating a track from a Chord Progression or the video tutorial.

After filling in the chords follow this video tutorial.

Import MIDI

Import your own MIDI files into AIVA, and be able to edit them in our piano roll editor, with our built-in virtual
instruments.

Additionally, AIVA can assist you with making improvements to your music through the layer in-painting
feature, also available for imported MIDI files.
Personalise your MIDI

Duplicating a track

Duplicate your track by clicking on the More Options icon and then selecting Duplicate.
Downloading a track

Download your track by clicking on the Download icon.

Sharing a track

Share your track by clicking on the More Options icon and then scrolling down to Share.
Creating a Style

The Style Designer feature allows you to create your own Musical Style.

You can create a style by selecting Styles on top of the page and then clicking + Create on the right.
Personalising a Style

Rename

Tutorial Mode

Settings
Tip
For example if your Layer Priorities field is set as Melody, Bass, Chords, Percussion, Extra and if you
choose the Minimum number of layers as 3, this means that your composition will start with Melody, Bass
and Chords and the other layers will start later.

Harmony

Customize manually
Or use the Upload Influence Feature

Drag and drop an audio file into any component (Settings, Harmony, Melody, etc.) of a Style to automatically
populate it with parameters that best relate to that file.

Adding a new layer

Add a new layer by clicking on the + Add new layer button and then selecting the type of layer you want to
add.

New Melody layer

Customising new layer

Add swing
The Swing here is the same as Groove or Shuffle meaning that in case of adding, it will make tiny delays to
every other hit of a beat.
A demo of the effect here.

Similar instruments
Find instruments similar to other ones from the pack instrument selection window.
Instrument recommendation
When selecting instruments inside a Style, you will be shown which instruments we don't recommend
selecting and why.
Add doubling instruments: Using this feature you can combine two instruments of your choice to create a
more interesting sound, or you can use doubling instruments already created by AIVA.
Please see the tutorial here.

Note tie

When enabled, this feature will automatically tie repeated notes that are directly adjacent to each other,
except when a new section starts.

Chords layer
Click on the Settings icon to:
- Synchronise to another pack
- Duplicate
- Change pack type
- Add instrument
- Edit instrument
- Clear instruments
- Edit Pitch range
- Delete pack

Accompaniment Designer
Accompaniment Packs define the types of musical ideas that a Style should use when generating a
composition.
In addition to selecting a pre-designed pack, you can also create and edit your own packs.
See how to use this feature here.

Pitch Range control

Customize the pitch range for the Chords, Bass, Extra and Ornament layers by clicking on the Settings icon
and then selecting Edit Pitch range option.
Bass layer

Percussion layer
Filters

In order to make pack selection easier, you can filter the type of views by multiple labels at the same time,
including pacing.

We recommend avoiding fast-paced packs when using a higher tempo value.

Extra Layer
Ornaments Layer

Creating a track
View generated compositions

See all the compositions generated with a specific style by clicking on the 3 line menu icon on top and then
selecting View generated compositions.

Publishing a Style

Publish a Style by clicking on the Publish to the Library button on top of your Style's edition window.
Once published, your Style will be reviewed.
And when approved it will appear in the Styles Library.

Using your Custom Style with the Composition Workflow Feature

See a detailed video tutorial here.

Styles Library

Use existing Styles by clicking Create Track and then selecting Styles on top.
In the Styles Library you can:
- Search for Styles
- Create new composition from an existing Style
- Add a Style to your library
- See forked Styles
Forks are Styles that have been imported from the library and modified by a user. AIVA displays forks based
on relevance and difference from the original Styles they were sourced from.

Organising

Create a folder to organise your Styles by clicking Create and then selecting Folder.
Duplicating

Duplicate a Style by right clicking on it and then selecting Duplicate.

Deleting

Delete a Style by right clicking on it and then selecting Delete.

Opening a track in Editor

Please note that you can undo your action by clicking ctrl + z and ctrl + shift + z.

Open your track in Editor by clicking on the More Options icon and then scrolling down to Open in Editor.
Changing the zoom

Change the zoom level by using the Slider bar on the left top of the page.

Viewing multiple layers at once

View multiple layers at once by using the eye toggle on the left.
Adding Effects

Add effects by clicking on the Effects button on top of the page.

Bass Boost will add a little more bass to the overall sound.
Vinyl Effects will add some vinyl, old school scratchy noises and saturation.

Section Editing

Edit the sections of your composition by clicking on the Section headers on top of the composition and then
selecting the type of change you want to make.
By clicking on the Section header you can:
Insert a section before
Insert a section after
Delete a section

Check the video tutorial here

Customise further after making the selection by choosing between:

Enabling Empty section
Number of Measures
Source section
Copy section - toggle this option to copy without changing the notes of the source section into the newly
inserted section

Changing the BPM

Change the BPM by clicking on the Edit button next to Tempo, then enter the value.
Lower number will make the piece play slower
Higher number will make the piece play faster
Adding a custom layer

Add a new custom layer by clicking on the + New Layer button on top:
Pitched layer: Choose it if you'd like to add layers with distinct pitches, such as a chord progression or a
bass line.
Percussion layer: Choose it if you’d like to add a rhythmic beat of some kind (e.g. something a drum kit
would play).
Click on the Magic button to generate notes for your layer.

Instrument Editing

Change an instrument in one of your layers by first selecting the layer containing the instrument you want to
change, then clicking on the drop down menu for the instrument track.

Adding an instrument

Add an instrument by first selecting the layer where you want to add the instrument, and then clicking on the
+ Add Instrument button.
Muting / Soloing

Mute or Solo an instrument or a layer by clicking on the M (mute) & S (solo) buttons next to the instrument /
layer.

Changing the octave of the instrument

Changing the dynamics of the instrument

The Dynamics button on the right allows you to draw an automation curve which affects how loud or soft the
instrument is playing.

Low Frequency Cut is a filter which will remove lower frequencies.

High Frequency Cut is a filter which will remove the higher frequencies.
Reverb allows you to virtually place instruments in bigger or smaller spaces, which will make them sound
more or less distant and reverberant.
Delay allows you to create a stereo echo effect.
Auto Staccato will try to intelligently choose the appropriate articulation for each note.
Changing the instrument play time

The Pointer mode allows you to drag the instrument block around to make the instrument play time longer or
shorter.
In Pencil mode you can draw new blocks or remove sections of an existing block.

Note editing

Using the Pointer mode you can click the notes and drag them around to change what notes are playing and
where are they playing.
Drag the end of of the note to change how long the note plays.

Add new notes by switching to the Pencil mode and clicking where you want to add new notes.
Deleting notes

Select a note then press Delete to remove it.

Check the Shortcuts button above for helpful shortcuts.

Copying and pasting notes

Press Ctrl C and V to copy and paste a section of notes.

Regenerating notes

Click on the Magic button to regenerate notes.

Percussion editing
Selecting a pattern

Select a pattern by clicking on the Pattern menu on the left.

Adding, Duplicating, Renaming and Deleting a pattern

Adding channels
Changing a channel

Deleting a channel
Changing the resolution

Choose a higher resolution for a fine grade editing.

Choose a lower resolution for a simple editing.

Selecting the pattern length

Adding notes in the pattern

Add notes by clicking where you want to add the notes.

Undoing the edits

Undo the edits by clicking Ctrl + Z or Cmd + Z like elsewhere.

Looping a pattern

Use ⟳ for looping

Moving a pattern inside a composition

Upload an Influence (MIDI, MP3 or WAV)

Upload a MIDI or an Audio file in MP3 or WAV formats as an influence by clicking on the Create Track button
and then selecting Upload an Influence.

Upload an Audio (MP3 or WAV)

Minimum duration - 60 seconds

Please note that higher quality or more recent audio recordings will perform better than the older or lower
quality ones.

Upload a MIDI
Minimum length - 8 bars
If you upload a MIDI file longer than 100 bars, AIVA will automatically trim it.

Only specify the key signature if you are sure of it.

Please check our recommendations for better results.

Uploading an Audio (MP3 or WAV) longer than 5'30 minutes

If you upload an MP3 or a WAV file longer than 5'30 minutes you will have the option to Trim and upload
only 5'30 minutes of your composition.

Using an existing track as an influence

Changing the instrumentation

Changing the key signature

Creating a new track from the uploaded influence

Organising the tracks

Single entry

Liking a track

Like a track by clicking on the Heart button next to the track.

Renaming a track

Rename a track by clicking on the More Options icon and then selecting Rename.
Creating a folder

Create a folder by clicking on the New Folder button.

Moving a track to a folder

Move a track into a folder by dragging and dropping it into the folder.
Alternatively, click on the More Options icon next to the track then scroll down to Move to and select the
folder.

Downloading a folder

Download a folder by clicking on the Download icon next to the folder and selecting the file type.
Deleting a track / folder

Delete a track / folder by clicking on the More Options icon and then selecting Delete.

Bulk selection
Selecting multiple entries

Select multiple tracks / folders by holding Shift and clicking on what you want to select.

Moving multiple entries to a folder

Move multiple tracks to a folder by first selecting multiple entries and then dragging and dropping into a
folder.
Alternatively, click on the More options icon next to the track and select Move to and choose the folder.
Deleting multiple entries

Delete multiple tracks / folders by selecting what you want to delete and then clicking on the More options
icon and choosing Delete.
Using the Billing page

Terms

See the Terms by going to the Billing page and clicking on Terms of License button.

Payment Method

Enter your payment method by clicking on the Payment Method button on top of the Billing page.
You have the option to select one of those as your preferred payment method:
Card
PayPal
Apple Pay

Subscribing

Subscribe by clicking on the Subscription Plans button on top of the Billing page and then selecting
between Monthly and Annual plans.
After, click on the Select button underneath the plan you want to subscribe to and Confirm your subscription.

Cancel your subscription by clicking on the Downgrade button.

Listening to the radio

Listen to the AIVA radio by clicking on the Radio button on the left and then selecting the Station you want to
listen to.
Liking / disliking a track

Like a track by clicking on the Heart icon and dislike by clicking on the No icon.

At the moment, Liking and Disliking a track is only for providing us your feedback.