0) Quick Fact Sheet (3-second summary)
- Best for: first finished “shareable” vocal song from scratch (idea → draft → pick 1 → export)
- Time: ~30–60 minutes for a solid first version
- Tools in this Route: ChatGPT (brief + lyrics), Suno (draft generation), Filmora (quick polish/export)
- What you’ll end with: one mastered-ish MP3/WAV you can post, plus a reusable “song brief” template
1) What this Route is (and what it is not)
This Route is designed for one outcome: finish one full vocal track you can actually share. Not “experiment with AI music for 3 hours.”
Most beginners fail because they keep generating random versions without a plan. This workflow forces structure:
- You write a clear “song brief” (so the model doesn’t wander).
- You generate three controlled drafts (A/B/C), then pick one.
- You do a minimal “publish-ready” polish (level + fade) and export.
Not for: people chasing a perfect commercial release. This is “first finished song,” not “label-ready mastering.”
2) When to use this Route
Use this when you want:
- a simple vocal song for YouTube, Shorts, Reels, TikTok, a personal project, or a demo
- a consistent way to get repeatable results (instead of random generations)
- a workflow you can repeat weekly (one finished track per week beats 30 unfinished ideas)
3) When NOT to use this Route (important)
Skip this Route if:
- You need a song that must match a very specific artist’s voice/style (don’t do imitation)
- You plan to use the output as a final commercial release without review (always review licensing + originality risk)
- You’re trying to “fix” bad lyrics by generating 50 variations (better to rewrite the brief + chorus first)
If your drafts keep coming out “meh,” the problem is almost always the brief, not the generator.
4) The “Song Brief” template (this is your cheat code)
Before generating anything, write this brief. You can reuse it every time.
Song Brief
- Genre: (pick 1)
- Mood: (pick 1)
- Tempo/Energy: (slow / mid / upbeat)
- Theme: (one sentence story)
- Hook line: (1 line you want people to remember)
- Structure: intro / verse / chorus / verse / chorus / bridge / chorus
- Vocal vibe: (clean / emotional / powerful / airy)
- Forbidden words: (optional)
- Reference: “sounds like modern pop” (avoid naming exact artists)
The goal is constraints. Constraints create coherence.
5) Step-by-step workflow (the Route)
Step 1 — Write the brief + first draft lyrics (ChatGPT)
Why this step matters:
A strong brief prevents random outputs and wasted generations.
Do this:
- Write the Song Brief
- Generate lyrics that match the brief
- Keep it simple: 8–12 lines is enough for a first run
Copyable prompt (use in ChatGPT):
Create a “Song Brief” and a first lyric draft.
Structure: intro / verse / chorus / verse / chorus / bridge / chorus.
Output format:
- Song Brief (bullets)
- Lyrics (8–12 lines)
- 5 keywords for style
- 5 title ideas
Constraints: One genre, one mood, no clichés, simple vocabulary, strong chorus hook.
Success check:
You should be able to read the chorus and think: “Yes, that’s the one line people repeat.”
Step 2 — Generate 3 drafts (A/B/C) and pick 1 (Suno)
Why this step matters:
Beginners waste time because they keep rolling the dice.
A/B/C makes selection easy.
Do this:
- Use the same brief + lyrics
- Generate 3 versions:
- A) safe/clean
- B) energetic
- C) cinematic
Settings checklist (simple):
- Keep the same brief
- Keep structure consistent
- Don’t change 5 things at once (change only 1 dimension between versions)
How to pick the winner (fast rule): Pick the version where:
- chorus hook is clearest
- vocals feel most “confident”
- first 10 seconds are not boring
If none are good: don’t generate 10 more. Go back and rewrite the brief + chorus.
Step 3 — Quick polish + export (Filmora)
Why this step matters:
Even a good draft feels amateur if volume jumps or the ending is abrupt.
Do this (minimal mastering):
- Normalize level (or match loudness)
- Add a light limiter if available
- Fade in/out (short)
- Export MP3 for posting + WAV for archive
Action checklist:
- consistent volume start → end
- no harsh clipping
- clean ending (fade)
- export: WAV + MP3
This is “publish-ready,” not “studio mastering.” That’s fine.
6) Pro Tips (tiny rules that improve results a lot)
- Short lyrics win for the first draft. Complexity kills coherence.
- Choose one genre + one mood only. Hybrids make outputs muddy.
- Write the chorus hook like a slogan: simple, repeatable, visual.
- If the vocal delivery is weak: tweak the vocal vibe (airy/powerful) and regenerate, don’t rewrite everything.
- Keep a “winning brief library.” The brief is your real asset.
7) Common failure patterns (and fixes)
Problem: Drafts sound random and unfocused
Fix: Your brief has too many themes. Reduce to one story sentence.
Problem: Chorus doesn’t hit
Fix: Write 5 hook candidates, pick the best one, then regenerate.
Problem: Vocals feel unnatural
Fix: Simplify lyrics + reduce syllable density + choose cleaner vocal vibe.
Problem: You keep generating endlessly
Fix: A/B/C only. If none win, revise brief, repeat once.
8) What you get at the end (clear outcome)
By the end of this Route, you’ll have:
- 1 finished vocal track (MP3/WAV)
- 1 reusable Song Brief template
- a repeatable weekly workflow to finish songs consistently
9) Next best Route (optional)
If you liked this process, the next skill is: repurposing your track into short promo clips (15–30s hooks) and posting consistently.