第1900期:AI Method Creates Six Language Versions of K-Pop Song

A South Korean music production company is using a method of artificial intelligence (AI) to create different language versions of pop music songs. The company using the method is HYBE. The company represents and produces music for some of South Korea’s top pop music performers. Korean pop music is also known as K-pop. The AI method combines voice recordings of South Korean pop stars with recordings of song lyrics read by native speakers of other languages. The process aims to produce complete K-pop songs in multiple languages. Officials at HYBE say the method does not change the singer’s natural voice. Instead, it uses AI to produce different language versions of the same song.

韩国一家音乐制作公司正在使用人工智能（AI）方法来创作流行音乐歌曲的不同语言版本。使用该方法的公司是HYBE。 该公司为韩国一些顶级流行音乐表演者代理并制作音乐。 韩国流行音乐也被称为 K-pop。人工智能方法将韩国流行歌星的录音与其他语言的母语人士朗读的歌词录音结合起来。 该过程旨在以多种语言制作完整的韩国流行歌曲。HYBE 的官员表示，这种方法不会改变歌手的自然声音。 相反，它使用人工智能来制作同一首歌的不同语言版本。

In May, the AI method successfully created a song by K-pop singer MIDNATT in six languages – Korean, English, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese. The 40-year-old artist, whose real name is Lee Hyun, recorded the song Masquerade in each language. Chung Wooyong is the head of HYBE's interactive media department. He explained the creation process to reporters with Reuters news agency. He said the process involved dividing groups of sounds into separate elements. These included things like pronunciation, voice tone and sound level. Wooyong added that the technical team’s members then "used their imagination” to see what kind of results they could get from the technology. HYBE says the “deep learning” method permitted a first in the music industry – releasing the same song in multiple languages at the same time.

今年5月，AI方法成功创作了韩国流行歌手MIDNATT的韩语、英语、西班牙语、中文、日语和越南语六种语言的歌曲。 这位 40 岁的艺术家，真名是 Lee Hyun，用每种语言录制了歌曲《Masquerade》。Chung Wooyong 是 HYBE 互动媒体部门的负责人。 他向路透社记者解释了创作过程。 他说这个过程涉及将声音组分成单独的元素。 其中包括发音、语气和音量等。Wooyong 补充说，技术团队的成员随后“发挥他们的想象力”，看看他们可以从该技术中获得什么样的结果。HYBE 表示，“深度学习”方法开创了音乐行业的先例——在 同一时间。

The song is the latest sign of the growing influence of AI in the music industry. AI-produced music has been flooding online music services and social media in recent months. The American-based Grammy Awards recently introduced new rules for AI-created music. In general, the rules aim to protect the music of “human creators” over works created by AI systems. Wooyong said HYBE is currently considering how to use the AI method in its future music production operations. He noted the technology could be provided to other music creators and the public. Wooyong did not say whether the company would charge others to use the system in the future. MIDNATT said using the AI method had given him a "wider spectrum of artistic expressions." He added, "I feel that the language barrier has been lifted and it's much easier for global fans to have an immersive experience with my music."

这首歌是人工智能在音乐行业影响力日益增强的最新迹象。 近几个月来，人工智能制作的音乐充斥着在线音乐服务和社交媒体。 美国格莱美奖最近为人工智能创作的音乐引入了新规则。 总的来说，这些规则旨在保护“人类创作者”的音乐而不是人工智能系统创作的作品。Wooyong表示，HYBE目前正在考虑如何在未来的音乐制作业务中使用AI方法。 他指出该技术可以提供给其他音乐创作者和公众。 Wooyong没有透露该公司未来是否会向其他人使用该系统收费。MIDNATT 表示，使用人工智能方法给了他“更广泛的艺术表达方式”。 他补充道：“我觉得语言障碍已经消除，全球歌迷可以更轻松地体验我的音乐。”

While the technology is not new, this method demonstrates a new way to use AI in music, said Valerio Velardo. He is the director of The Sound of AI, a Spain-based company that advises organizations on AI music and audio development. Velardo added that he thinks such methods can help professional musicians and the general public in the future. "It's going to lower the barrier of music creation,” he said. “It's a little bit like Instagram for pictures, but in the case of music." For now, HYBE's AI method takes "weeks or months" to do its job, said Masquerade producer Choi Jin-woo, who also uses the name Hitchhiker. However, he noted that when the process speeds up, it could serve a wider range of purposes, such as interpreting languages in video conferences.

Valerio Velardo 表示，虽然这项技术并不新鲜，但这种方法展示了一种在音乐中使用人工智能的新方法。 他是 The Sound of AI 的总监，这是一家总部位于西班牙的公司，为人工智能音乐和音频开发方面的组织提供建议。Velardo 补充说，他认为这种方法将来可以帮助专业音乐家和普通公众。 “这将降低音乐创作的门槛，”他说，“这有点像图片领域的 Instagram，只不过是音乐方面的。”假面舞会制片人 Choi Jin-woo（他也使用 Hitchhiker 的名字）表示，目前 HYBE 的人工智能方法需要“数周或数月”才能完成工作。 不过，他指出，当这一过程加快时，它可以服务于更广泛的目的，例如在视频会议中进行语言口译。