The AI music platform Suno, which continues to innovate amidst copyright disputes, has today announced a significant upgrade. As the fifth largest generative AI service provider in the world, Suno has officially released its fourth-generation model (V4) for paid users, bringing revolutionary technological breakthroughs and creative experiences.
The most notable improvement of this new model is the overall enhancement of sound quality. Not only has the quality of newly created music works been greatly improved, but users can also upgrade their existing works to V4 sound quality standards, breathing new life into past creations. In terms of creative tools, the V4 version introduces a more intelligent lyric creation system that can generate more creative and artistic lyrics. Additionally, the new cover design feature allows creators to craft visual presentations that perfectly align with their music style.
"The current music works have finally reached a level that makes people want to listen actively," said Mikey Shulman, co-founder of Suno, in the company's new office space near Harvard University. This expanding three-story office area is equipped with a professional recording studio, various musical instruments, and a top-notch sound system, showcasing the company's strict pursuit of music quality.
The V4 version also brings two major features: the cover song function allows users to explore the possibilities of different music styles, while the vocal consistency technology helps creators develop unique and stable vocal characteristics. By supporting more complex and diverse song structures, V4 greatly expands the possibilities for music creation.
Alongside these technological breakthroughs, Suno's team is rapidly expanding. In just a few months, the company's staff has grown from 12 to over 50. Despite facing competition for talent from tech giants like OpenAI, Shulman believes that Suno has a unique advantage in aligning AI with human aesthetics.
Unlike quantifiable large language models, Suno's engineers primarily optimize the model by analyzing user preferences. The new version has achieved a qualitative leap in sound quality, with significant improvements in clarity, vocal authenticity, and stereo effects. In composition, V4 demonstrates stronger creativity, capable of weaving surprising chord changes.
The platform has also launched several innovative collaboration features, allowing users to upload personal works, vocal recordings, or audio loops to achieve human-machine collaborative creation. The beta version even supports inspiring creativity through videos or photos. According to project manager Rebecca Hu, these new features are attracting more and more young music producers to join the platform.
However, copyright issues remain a significant challenge for Suno. While artists, including renowned producer Timbaland, have begun to embrace this technology, the entire recording industry remains cautious about AI music. In response, Shulman hopes to reach a consensus in the industry regarding the use of training data and also reminds the industry to pay attention to the challenges that may arise from future AI voice imitation technologies.
