Staccato
Staccato is an AI MIDI music & AI lyrics generator that helps musicians, DJs, rappers and lyricists overcome writer’s block, learn new ways to compose, or get i...
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What is Staccato?
Staccato is an AI co-writer designed specifically for music producers and composers, offering AI-powered MIDI generation and extension capabilities. The tool's core feature is the AI Instrument™, which creates unique and original MIDI that fits your music by understanding any genre, mood, or artist-style. Users can turn words into unique music loops, samples, and drum tracks through text prompts, or upload existing MIDI files for the AI to analyze, enhance, extend, rewrite, or complete.
Key features include text-to-MIDI generation with support for mood, feel, groove, genre, style, instrument, key signature, chord progression, and tempo prompts; a piano roll editor for adjusting individual notes, volume levels, panning, and instrument choices; AI MIDI extension that references any file and generates new MIDI material in real time while retaining the original key signature and chord shapes; and DAW integration via VST/VST3/AU/AAX plugins compatible with Ableton, FL Studio, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Cubase, Studio One, Reason, GarageBand, Reaper, and more. The platform also includes Staccato Lyric Tools for songwriting, perfect for rappers, lyricists, and songwriters.
Staccato is ideal for music producers, DJs, trendsetters, composers, rappers, lyricists, and songwriters who want to beat writer's block, discover new ideas, shape composition foundations, and stay in constant creative flow. The tool respects artists' copyright by training AI models responsibly using only data that respects artists, ensuring anything created with Staccato is yours to use however you want. Users can work online in Staccato's intuitive interface or upload MIDI from computer or notation software like Sibelius or Finale.
Staccato pricing
Pricing model: Paid
Staccato offers a free Starter tier with 7-day core features trial, no credit card required, limited access to Lyric Tools & AI Instrument™. Paid plans include: Lyrics plan at $6.49/month for unlimited Lyric Tools (perfect for rappers, lyricists, songwriters); Music plan at $9.99/month for unlimited AI Instrument™ (perfect for music producers, DJs, trendsetters); Pro plan at $12.49/month (best deal) for unlimited access to all Lyric Tools & AI Instrument™. All prices in USD, automatic renewal, cancel anytime, no refunds.
Staccato pros
- AI MIDI extension is the best tested to date, grasping core musical concepts
- Text-to-MIDI supports BPM, key signature, chord progressions, and 7th chords
- DAW integration skips learning curve with direct VST/VST3/AU/AAX compatibility
- Works with major DAWs including Ableton, FL Studio, Logic Pro, Pro Tools
- AI understands any genre, mood, or artist-style for unlimited songwriting solutions
- Piano roll editor allows note, volume, panning, and instrument adjustments
- Extend feature continues songs in same key, style, and mood automatically
- Upload MIDI from computer or notation software like Sibelius and Finale
- Chat-based interface is approachable for creating custom MIDI stems from prompts
- Can rewrite tracks in different genres without losing unique musical style
- Generate new bridge sections or extend tracks in new directions instantly
- Create funky basslines or gritty hip-hop verses with drums, chords, melody
- Real-time MIDI generation with adjustable creativity, complexity, and length parameters
- Internal MIDI routing allows recording directly in DAW with virtual instruments
- Lyric Tools perfect for rappers, lyricists, and songwriters
- Copyright-responsible AI training ensures creations are yours to use freely
- Upload audio files that convert to MIDI for single-track best conversions
Staccato cons
- Genre prompts like bossa nova less performant, don't match rhythms/harmonic style
- Creativity, Complexity, Length parameters technical and not intuitive
- Lower creativity values make extensions too close to original, higher too novel
- Requires your own sound design, mixing, and mastering - not all-in-one generator
- Plugin currently on waitlist, not yet available for download
- Learning curve steep to fully leverage all AI features initially
- AI-generated music may sometimes lack unique human touch or emotional depth
- Reliance on AI could potentially limit spontaneous human creativity
- No refund policy on premium plans
- Audio files convert to MIDI best only with single-track files
Frequently asked questions about Staccato
What is Staccato AI?
Staccato is the AI co-writer for music producers and composers. It's a powerful AI MIDI generator designed to help beat writer's block and sound like no one else. The AI Instrument™ creates unique original MIDI that fits your music, understands any genre/mood/artist-style, and can turn words into music loops, samples, and drum tracks or extend/finish your songs in the same key, style, and mood.
How does the text-to-MIDI feature work?
The text-to-MIDI prompt interface has a prompt field and preset buttons for mood, feel, grooves, genres, styles, instruments, key signature, chord progressions, and tempo. You can browse presets, click to paste text into the prompt field, or enter your own commands. Staccato is music theory literate and understands BPM, key signature, chord progressions, and 7th chords. The AI generates custom MIDI stems from your prompt instantly.
Can I upload my own MIDI files to Staccato?
Yes, you can upload MIDI files from your computer by dragging and dropping them into the app, or clicking File > Open to browse your hard drive. Staccato will take you directly to the editor view where you can make changes to MIDI notes. The AI Instrument™ can analyze and enhance your uploaded files, extend tracks in new directions, rewrite in different genres, or generate new bridge sections without losing your unique musical style.
How does the AI MIDI extension feature work?
AI MIDI extension references any file created with Staccato's text-to-MIDI, edited in piano roll, or uploaded from your computer. In the piano roll's toolbar, click EXTEND and adjust Track parameters: Creativity, Complexity, and Length. Starting between 0.8-0.9 is recommended. Lower values keep extensions closer to original; higher values introduce more novelty. Staccato generates new MIDI material in real time, maneuvering into different registers while retaining original key signature and chord shapes.
What DAWs does Staccato work with?
Staccato's AI Instrument™ plugin is compatible with VST/VST3/AU/AAX and works with Ableton, FL Studio, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Cubase, Studio One, Reason, GarageBand, Reaper, and more. You can use Create and Extend features right in your DAW to elevate musical compositions, skip the learning curve with direct DAW integration, and seamlessly fit into your music production workflow without leaving your favorite production environment.
How do I connect Staccato to my DAW for internal MIDI routing?
In Staccato, set Audio Out to external out rather than Default Staccato Sounds. For Windows, install loopMIDI: download and install it, open loopMIDI, click Add Port to create a new virtual MIDI port. For macOS, use built-in IAC Driver: open Audio MIDI Setup (Applications > Utilities), select Window > Show MIDI Studio, double-click IAC Driver icon, check 'Device is online'. This makes AI Instrument feel like an instrument connecting to your production workflow, allowing you to record directly in your DAW with your virtual instrument of choice.
What are the pricing plans for Staccato?
Staccato offers a free Starter tier (7-day core features trial, no credit card, limited access to Lyric Tools & AI Instrument™). Paid plans: Lyrics at $6.49/month (unlimited Lyric Tools, perfect for rappers/lyricists/songwriters); Music at $9.99/month (unlimited AI Instrument™, perfect for music producers/DJs/trendsetters); Pro at $12.49/month (best deal, unlimited all Lyric Tools & AI Instrument™). All prices in USD, automatic renewal, cancel anytime, no refunds.
Is the music I create with Staccato copyright-safe?
Yes. At Staccato, they train AI models responsibly using only data that respects artists and their copyright. This means anything you create with Staccato is yours to use however you want. The safety of your music is important to them, and they ensure creators maintain full ownership of their Staccato-generated content.
What is the piano roll editor in Staccato?
The piano roll editor is exactly what it sounds like - a tool for editing MIDI notes. You can change individual notes, adjust volume levels, panning, and instrument choice on any track. The text-to-MIDI and AI extensions can also be accessed here. Any notes and rhythms can be adjusted directly in the piano roll. If you don't like what Staccato generated, you can delete those notes, adjust parameters, and extend again to experiment until hitting a sweet spot.
How do I export MIDI from Staccato to my DAW?
You have two options: 1) Connect Staccato directly to your DAW using internal MIDI routing (set Audio Out to external out, use loopMIDI on Windows or IAC Driver on macOS), then record directly in your DAW. 2) Export MIDI files to your local drive, then drag and drop them into your DAW to keep working. The simplest technique is direct DAW connection, which makes AI Instrument feel more like an instrument in your production workflow.