.jpg)
Article by Astrid Carlson
Artificial intelligence (AI) benefits different industries, including music. One of its contributions is in composition. In 2022, an Idaho State University professor successfully developed Pop* (pronounced "pop star"), an AI system that composes short songs. This can help musicians with writer’s block complete their lyrics.
A more recent use of AI—which guitarists will appreciate—is its ability to create pedal rigs. This task is often time-consuming, since you need to figure out which devices you want to put on a rig in the first place. It can also be costly, especially when you’ve already purchased a pedal only to discover it’s not cohesive with your setup.
Fortunately, AI can help you avoid these issues. Below, let’s dive deeper into how exactly it does this.
How was AI used for guitar pedals in the past?
Creating pedal rigs isn’t the first application of AI for guitars. In the past, it was used to save pedal presets. Traditionally, guitarists would take photos of their pedals or manually write down their pedal settings. This would help them set their pedals later on, especially if the knobs get knocked over when packing or in transit.
The KnobsAI app was developed and released in 2021 to address this problem. The mobile app records and saves your preferred settings when you upload a picture of your pedal setup. AI analyzes the photo and then creates a computerized collection of the knobs. As a result, you can refer to the app and copy the knobs’ positions to get your desired preset. This brings convenience to guitar players, particularly those performing or practicing often.
Today, AI can help guitarists do even more.
AI can make guitar pedal rigs inspired by genres
Although we’re only a few months into 2023, AI has already advanced enough to successfully make guitar pedal rigs inspired by specific genres or artists. ChatGPT, the AI chatbot by OpenAI, is responsible for this achievement.
In their article “We Asked AI to Build Us Guitar Rigs Inspired by Artists and Genres,” staff from Guitar World, a monthly magazine for guitarists, put ChatGPT to the test. They asked ChatGPT to assemble rigs suitable for blues music, and it delivered. The AI suggested a blues driver and multiple pedals: an overdrive, compressor, tremolo, and reverb—not bad for a bot. Included in its list was the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer, one of the most classic distortion pedals on the market. It features Level, Tone, and Drive knobs, allowing you to dial in the right amount of overdrive for blues. Another notable suggestion was the MXR Dyna Comp, which blues players commonly use. Its Output and Sensitivity knobs let you tighten your signal or produce a clicky sound when playing.
Yet despite this notable achievement, ChatGPT also made some significant errors. Its recommendations included the Ibanez Blues Driver BD9 and Fulltone Blues Bender—two pedals that don’t exist. It most likely jumbled up the brand and model names, leaving room for improvement. Still, this is an excellent start for AI’s ability to make guitar pedal rigs.
What’s to come for AI and guitar pedal rigs
Though the AI for making rigs still isn't perfect, it shows a lot of potential that developers are likely to tap into moving forward. One thing to watch out for is the IK Multimedia ToneX Pedal, an AI-powered guitar rig that can replicate an entire setup. It can host amplifiers, cabs, and effects pedals, so you only need one device instead of multiple pedals. You only have to make a digital emulation, save it on the pedal, then plug it into a speaker to make it work. This presents a more portable way for guitarists to travel with their equipment. With AI, the future of music is bright. It makes guitarists' lives easier by recording pedal settings, helping them create pedal rigs, and replicating a rig setup. If you liked this post, check out our other articles here at Galaxy Magazine.