Initial D

I have always loved Initial D. The anime is awesome (first few seasons that is), but I think it’s mostly because of the very distinct type of music it featured, which I guess is some kind of high energy eurobeat for the most part. Like Dave Rodgers and his Space Boy. All good memories. I already attempted this style somewhat with Gundam Wing, but I wanted to try again and make it specifically about Initial D.

How it was made

It was made in FLStudio 20 Producer Edition with these VST instruments:

This became somewhat of a science project for me. And I kinda regret it. Actually considered taking the song down. As I was making this I got curious about what AI could actually achieve with music these days. So I did a lot of experimenting and got some guitar-solos exported, and some sound effects. Anastasia recorded the vocals, and then I managed to create almost identical vocals for the chorus and some of the high notes. Blending all this crap with my FLStudio project just muddied everything up and I felt like I had no control of the final version. Mastering also became a chore.

I don’t like the final mix at all. So altough this is an original song, the lyrics are fun and the melody is catchy, I still came out of this one with some mixed feelings. I am not touching that stuff ever again. So after this song was finished I purged my entire computer of instruments and software, installed FLStudio 25 fresh and installed instrumentations I actually own – and I started all over. So the next song can be as pure as I can possibly make it. I felt dirty. Lesson learned. AI is not for me.

Making the music vidoe was fun though. Watching through old episodes of the first seasons and syncing up footage with the music. Want to do more of that.

Fun thing is though, this shit experience gave me motivation to start producing again. And right now that feels like it’s gonna be something obscure from the Nintendo 64.

What I think about A.I music?

Well. It’s pretty bad. I will never ever use it again in my productions. Ever. It feels wrong. It is wrong. And it sounds like absolute dogshit. Who wants to listen to bland prompt generated music? Who wants to pretend to be a musician? So this was my one and only attempt at partially doing that, and I am not touching it again. I would rather release something with mistakes, weird choices, mastering that missed the mark and vocals that’s not pitch perfect. So that is what I will do.

Luckily more and more services are getting real good at catching AI-generated music and filtering it out, or simply refusing to have it uploded and hosted on their platforms. So there is hope for us all. Hopefully soon your AI music will be stamped with a big fat warning that this was not made by anybody. Until then, you can be sure there won’t be any fucking clankers messing with the sound on this website.

The Lyrics

Neon signs in the pouring rain.
Akina is in my burning veins.
From the dark side to victory.
I hear the road calling me.

MP3’s on the stereo.
Red hot turbo afterglow.
Legends born on the starting line.
SkyMarshall Arts in a Skyline.

Initial D, set me free.
Faster. Faster. Destiny.
Initial D, hear our creed.
The need … the need for speed.

Beat syncs up with the dump valve blow.
Lines that only racers know.
From downhill runs to uphill fights.
I chase the edge through endless nights.

Engines roar, the silence breaks.
One mistake is all it takes.
The fear I had is now a dream.
Muscle memory, part machine.

When the fear comes crashing in.
I won’t slow down. I’ll race again.
Trust the road, trust the beat.
The synth and engine finally meet.

Initial D — overdrive.
Faster- Harder. Stay alive.
Initial D — legacy.
Terminal velocity.

Initial D, feel the heat
Fire. Fire. In the street
Initial D, hear our creed
The need … the need for speed.

The Lore

I have always loved Initial D. The anime is awesome (first few seasons that is), but I think it’s mostly because of the very distinct type of music it featured, which I guess is some kind of high energy eurobeat for the most part. Like Dave Rodgers and his Space Boy. All good memories. I already attempted this style somewhat with Gundam Wing, but I wanted to try again and make it specifically about Initial D.

How it was made

It was made in FLStudio 20 Producer Edition with these VST instruments:

This became somewhat of a science project for me. And I kinda regret it. Actually considered taking the song down. As I was making this I got curious about what AI could actually achieve with music these days. So I did a lot of experimenting and got some guitar-solos exported, and some sound effects. Anastasia recorded the vocals, and then I managed to create almost identical vocals for the chorus and some of the high notes. Blending all this crap with my FLStudio project just muddied everything up and I felt like I had no control of the final version. Mastering also became a chore.

I don’t like the final mix at all. So altough this is an original song, the lyrics are fun and the melody is catchy, I still came out of this one with some mixed feelings. I am not touching that stuff ever again. So after this song was finished I purged my entire computer of instruments and software, installed FLStudio 25 fresh and installed instrumentations I actually own – and I started all over. So the next song can be as pure as I can possibly make it. I felt dirty. Lesson learned. AI is not for me.

Making the music vidoe was fun though. Watching through old episodes of the first seasons and syncing up footage with the music. Want to do more of that.

Fun thing is though, this shit experience gave me motivation to start producing again. And right now that feels like it’s gonna be something obscure from the Nintendo 64.

What do I think about AI music?