D'Addario admits Suno Studio made its NYXL HD demo track after weeks of denials
D’Addario confirmed on August 10, 2026 that its NYXL HD string demo track was made with Suno Studio, after weeks of denying any generative AI use. The admission came in an Instagram statement that opens with the 4 words the guitar community had been waiting for: “We got this wrong.”
The company says a full review confirmed Suno Studio was used to regenerate the original track, and that it was fed false information about the track’s origin, per Guitar World. D’Addario’s position: it shared the demo without knowing it came from an AI music generator.
We got this wrong. We've completed a full review and confirmed that Suno Studio was used to regenerate the original track.
How D’Addario’s story changed across 3 statements
The admission caps a saga that produced a different explanation at every step. D’Addario first denied AI outright and shared the track’s Logic session as proof. When YouTubers picked apart the proof video, the company blamed AI mixing and mastering tools from LANDR and Logic, used without its knowledge.
That explanation collapsed on a technical point: mixing and mastering cannot rewrite tempo or melody, and the final track differed from the Logic session in both. LANDR’s official account confirmed its tools could not have made those changes.
The disclosure rules D’Addario is adopting after the admission
The statement sets new internal policy: employees and creative partners must disclose any generative AI use going forward, and content gets reviewed more closely before it ships. “Music is made by people,” the company says, “their ears, hands, taste, and emotions.”
D’Addario also owned the second controversy it created along the way. The company had deleted critical comments and blocked accounts during the denial phase. It now says honest criticism should not be erased and it is changing how it moderates its channels.
The pattern extends past one string maker. Fender’s CEO spent July defending AI comments to the same audience, and the guitar community has proven willing to run forensic analysis on brand content. For music-gear marketing, the cost of a quiet AI shortcut now includes a public, week-by-week unraveling.
Frequently asked questions
What did D'Addario admit about the NYXL HD demo track?
In an Instagram statement on August 10, 2026, D'Addario said a full review confirmed Suno Studio was used to regenerate the original track in its NYXL HD string demo video. The company opened the statement with the words "We got this wrong," reversing its earlier denials.
Why did LANDR push back on D'Addario's earlier explanation?
D'Addario had claimed the differences between the demo track and its Logic session came from AI mixing and mastering tools by LANDR and Logic. Commenters noted mixing and mastering cannot change tempo or melody, and LANDR's official account confirmed its tools could not have produced those changes.
What AI rules did D'Addario announce after the Suno Studio admission?
D'Addario says it does not support AI-generated music and will require employees and creative partners to disclose any use of generative AI going forward, with content reviewed more closely before release. It also pledged to change how it moderates its channels so honest criticism stays visible.
Did D'Addario know the NYXL HD demo track was AI-generated?
The company says no. Its position is that it was fed false information about the track's origin and shared the demo without knowing it had been created with Suno Studio. The admission followed weeks of external analysis by YouTubers and commenters who kept pointing out inconsistencies.
About the author
Covering AI music tools, industry shifts, and news for music creators and professionals. Twice-weekly newsletter at aimusicpreneur.com.
