ACE Music
Create and edit

Enter a melody with a keyboard or MIDI keyboard

Play notes using the screen, your computer keys, or a supported MIDI device.

You can capture a melody quickly in Idea or develop it with chords in Custom's Songwriting Assistant. Both use notes as a reference for a newly generated song.

Quick capture in Idea

  1. Open Create, select Idea, and choose Play with keyboard or the keyboard control.
  2. Play the on-screen keys or the indicated computer keys. Adjust the octave if needed.
  3. Start recording, play your melody, and stop.
  4. Listen back. Choose Start over for another take or Done to add the melody.
  5. Describe the song you want, check the model and cost, and generate.
1. Play using the on-screen keyboard or the corresponding computer keys. 2. Click the red button to start recording.
1. Play using the on-screen keyboard or the corresponding computer keys. 2. Click the red button to start recording.
1. Play back the recording to check it. 2. Click Done to use the melody.
1. Play back the recording to check it. 2. Click Done to use the melody.

Develop a melody in Custom

  1. Open Custom → Songwriting Assistant.
  2. Choose or adjust the chords, then select Write melody. You can also skip chords.
  3. Play, record, or draw notes in the melody workspace. Listen and edit as needed.
  4. Review the Lyrics and Style fields in Custom. While the assistant is open inline, Generate uses the melody currently in it; there is no separate Apply step for that inline sketch.

Connect a MIDI keyboard

In quick capture, choose Connect MIDI. In the Songwriting Assistant, open the keyboard's menu to find Connect MIDI. Allow MIDI access if your browser asks. Browser and device support vary; use the on-screen or computer keyboard if MIDI access is unavailable.

What is captured?

This captures the notes you play, not the hardware sound of an external keyboard. To import an existing MIDI file, use Sheet music. To edit an attached reference, use Edit melody.

Check the selected model

Melody and score references use ACE Music v1.1 Preview. Create can switch to this model when you add a reference that requires it; check the model name and generation cost before you generate. ACE-Step does not read these melody or score references.

When audio is already attached

If Custom already contains audio, opening Songwriting Assistant asks whether to continue. Choose Continue to temporarily set that audio aside: while the assistant is open, generation uses the assistant’s musical content instead. Choose Cancel to keep the current audio workflow. Closing the assistant brings the audio section back; review the active inputs before generating.

The Lyrics field remains separate. Lyrics you enter are sung to the assistant’s melody. In the melody workspace, use Expand for a larger editor; Collapse or Esc returns it to the page.

1. Read the notice: while Songwriting Assistant is open, its content is used instead of the attached audio. 2. Choose Continue or Cancel.
1. Read the notice: while Songwriting Assistant is open, its content is used instead of the attached audio. 2. Choose Continue or Cancel.

Using a phone

In the quick keyboard panel, swipe the keyboard range control to reach lower or higher notes. The phone keyboard spans C3–C6 and opens around C4; it does not use the desktop octave selector. On a computer, use the octave controls or Z and X.

In the Songwriting Assistant on a phone, tap a chord first, then use the buttons below it or the edit menu. Use the visible note controls instead of desktop mouse gestures or shortcuts; the phone note menu does not include Split.