AWS DeepComposer Chartbusters: generate compositions in the style of Bach and compete to top the charts

We are excited to announce the launch of AWS DeepComposer Chartbusters, a monthly challenge where developers can use AWS DeepComposer to create original compositions and compete to top the charts and win prizes. AWS DeepComposer gives developers a creative way to get started with machine learning (ML) and generative AI techniques. With AWS DeepComposer, developers, regardless of their background in ML, can get started with generative AI techniques to learn how to train and optimize their models to create original music. The first AWS DeepComposer Chartbusters challenge, Bach to the Future, requires developers to use a new generative AI algorithm provided in the AWS DeepComposer console to create compositions in the style of Bach.

Every month through October, 2020, AWS will release a new Chartbusters challenge that has a different monthly theme to introduce you to a variety of generative AI techniques. You don’t need any musical knowledge to participate in the challenge. Before participating in a challenge, you can use learning capsules available in the AWS DeepComposer console to learn the generative AI concepts required for each month’s challenge. Learning capsules provide easy-to-consume, bite-size content to help you learn the concepts of generative AI algorithms.

How to participate in the challenge

The challenge is open worldwide for developers to participate. To get started, you will need to use one of the generative AI algorithms available in the AWS DeepComposer console to create compositions. Once you are ready to submit your composition for the challenge, select Submit a composition in the console to submit your creations to SoundCloud. AWS DeepComposer will add your submission to the Chartbuster challenge playlist on SoundCloud.

You can invite your family and friends to listen and like your composition by using the social sharing buttons available on SoundCloud. At the end of each challenge period, AWS will shortlist the top 20 compositions using a sum of customer likes and count of plays on SoundCloud. Our human AWS experts and DeepComposer AI judge will evaluate the shortlist based on musical quality and creativity to select the top 10 ranked compositions. The DeepComposer AI judge is trained on original Bach compositions and scores how similar your composition is to Bach’s style.

At the end of each challenge period, we will announce the top 10 compositions in an AWS ML blog post and feature them in an exclusive AWS top 10 playlist on SoundCloud and in the AWS DeepComposer console. The winner for each month’s challenge will receive an AWS DeepComposer Chartbusters gold record mailed to their physical address. Additionally, we will interview the winner to share their experience and feature them in an AWS ML blog post. You can continue to participate in multiple challenges so that if you don’t make it to the top 10 in one challenge, you can participate in the next challenge for another chance to top the charts.

Bach to the Future challenge

The first AWS DeepComposer Chartbuster challenge titled Bach to the Future launches today and is open until July 25^th. To participate in the challenge, you will need to use the autoregressive CNN (AR-CNN) algorithm available in the AWS DeepComposer console to create compositions in the style of Bach. AWS will announce the top 10 compositions for the Bach to the Future challenge and the theme for the next challenge on July 31st, 2020, in an AWS ML blog post.

The AR-CNN algorithm enhances the original input melody by adding or removing musical notes from the input melody. If the algorithm detects off-key or extraneous notes, it may choose to remove them. If it identifies additional specific notes that are highly probable in a Bach composition, it may decide to add them. Listen to the following example of a composition that is generated by applying the AR-CNN algorithm. You might recognize this tune from Jonathan Coulton, as it is available as a sample input melody in the AWS DeepComposer console.

Input: me-and-my-jar-with-extra-missing-notes.midi

Enhanced composition: me-and-my-jar-enhanced.midi

You can use the Introduction to autoregressive convolutional neural network learning capsule available in the AWS DeepComposer console to learn the concepts. To access the learning capsule in the console, navigate to learning capsules using the left navigation menu. Choose Introduction to autoregressive convolutional neural network to begin learning.

Creating and submitting a composition

To get started, log in to the AWS DeepComposer console and navigate to the music studio using the left navigation menu. You can use either the sample melodies provided in the console, record a custom melody using the keyboard, or import your own input track. You can adjust the tempo and pitch for your melody in the music studio.

Choose Autoregressive generative AI technique, and then choose Autoregressive CNN Bach model. You have four parameters that you can choose to adjust: Maximum notes to add, Maximum notes to remove, Sampling iterations, and Creative risk. For this example, let’s choose the defaults and select Enhance input melody.

The AR-CNN algorithm allows you to collaborate iteratively with the machine learning algorithm by experimenting with the parameters; you can use the output from one iteration of the AR-CNN algorithm as input to the next iteration.

To submit your composition for the challenge, choose Chartbusters using the left navigation menu, and select Submit a composition. Choose your composition from the drop-down menu, provide a track name for your composition, and select Submit. AWS DeepComposer will submit your composition to the Bach to the Future playlist on SoundCloud. You can select the Vote on SoundCloud button in the console to review and listen to other submissions for the challenge.

Congratulations! You have submitted your first entry for the AWS DeepComposer Chartbusters challenge. Invite your friends and family to listen to and like your composition.

To celebrate the launch of the first Chartbuster challenge, we are offering the AWS DeepComposer keyboard at a special price of $79 for a limited period from 6/23/2020 to 7/15/2020 on amazon.com. The pricing includes the keyboard and a 3-month free trial of AWS DeepComposer services.

Learn more about AWS DeepComposer Chartbusters at https://aws.amazon.com/deepcomposer/chartbusters.

About the Author

Jyothi Nookula is a Principal Product Manager for AWS AI devices. She loves to build products that delight her customers. In her spare time, she loves to paint and host charity fund raisers for her art exhibitions.