Music Tech

Waves' New ILLUGEN App Turns Text to Tunes, But Subscriptions Sing the Chorus

Source: waves.com

Key Points

  • Waves Audio launches ILLUGEN, an AI-powered app that transforms text prompts into original audio samples, marking its entry into generative AI for music.
  • ILLUGEN operates on a credit-based subscription model, offering users audio variations for integration into Digital Audio Workstations.
  • The app's AI was trained on legally owned material, with users owning generated sounds for creative use, but not for resale or AI training.
  • ILLUGEN currently produces loops only in 4/4 time, with musical key precision not yet guaranteed, highlighting areas for future development.

Waves Audio has launched

, an AI-powered desktop app that transforms text prompts into original audio samples, operating on a subscription-based model. The move positions the veteran audio software company squarely in the burgeoning field of generative AI for music creation.

Prompt to production: ILLUGEN's text-to-sound engine generates original one-shots, loops, and SFX. Users type a description, receive three audio variations, and can drag them into their Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). A history page tracks these sonic creations.

Subscription's second act: Access comes via a credit-based subscription, with tiers from around $8 to $20 monthly. This isn't Waves' first subscription play; a previous move to make its plugins subscription-only

before the company reversed course.

AI's current cadence: Waves states its AI was trained on "legally owned material" and users own their generated sounds for creative use, though not for resale or training other AIs. Functionally, ILLUGEN currently produces loops only in 4/4 time, and as

, Waves says achieving precise musical key results isn't guaranteed yet.

Sounding out the future: ILLUGEN marks Waves' clear step into generative AI for audio, betting that unique, prompt-generated sound will appeal to creators, even with a subscription model that has proven contentious for the company before. The tool's evolution, particularly in musical precision, will be key to its long-term harmony with artists.

Reading Recap:

The AI orchestra tunes up: Beyond specific tools like ILLUGEN, the music landscape in 2025 sees AI assisting artists with everything from melody generation to production tasks, making professional-quality sound creation more accessible for independent musicians. This swift adoption also stirs important conversations around intellectual property, with many creators viewing AI as a powerful, though not always straightforward, new collaborator.