Key Takeaways:
- ILLUGEN generates completely original audio samples from text descriptions, eliminating the need to search through existing sample libraries
- The subscription-only model starting at $7.99/month has sparked debate about accessibility and ownership in music production tools
- This represents a significant shift toward AI-powered creativity tools that could fundamentally change how producers source and create musical elements
Waves Audio has just dropped ILLUGEN, an AI text-to-sample generator that’s shaking up how music producers create samples.
Instead of digging through the same old sample packs, you can now type “a violin made of ice playing in a frozen cave” and get three unique audio files that nobody has ever heard before.
AI Meets Music Production in a Desktop App
ILLUGEN works like a creative writing prompt for your ears.
You describe a scene, mood, or wild idea.
And the AI generates original one-shots, loops, and sound effects in seconds.
The desktop app lets you drag and drop these sounds straight into your DAW, making it dead simple to add fresh elements to your tracks.
The tool generates three variations for every prompt, giving you options to choose from.
You can set specific BPMs for loops, though it currently only works in 4/4 time signatures and doesn’t support musical keys or scales.
Each generated sound comes as a 16-bit, 44.1kHz WAV file that you own completely.
Breaking Free from Sample Library Limitations
This isn’t just another sample library with pre-made sounds.
ILLUGEN creates audio that has literally never existed before, trained exclusively on legally licensed material according to Waves.
The more creative your prompt, the more surprising the results.
Unlike AI-powered discovery that help you find existing samples like Splice does, ILLUGEN generates completely new material from scratch. This approach differs from tools that analyze your track like Output’s Co Producer does to suggest existing samples – instead creating sounds that have never been heard before.
The app encourages users to think in vibes rather than technical specs. Instead of asking for “808 bass in F#, distorted, 120 BPM,” you’d get better results with “a deep, earth-shaking sub bass that feels like the ground is splitting apart”. This approach opens up creative possibilities that traditional sample hunting can’t match.
For music professionals, this solves the constant problem of finding unique sounds that don’t appear in everyone else’s tracks. Sound designers get access to textures and effects that would be impossible to record naturally. Producers can break out of creative ruts by letting AI interpret their wildest ideas into actual audio.
How to best prompt ILLUGEN by Waves Audio
Credit: ILLUGEN (Waves)
The best prompts follow simple formulas: Mood + Instrument + Twist for loops, or Hit Sound + Metaphor for one-shots. Examples that work well include “haunted piano playing in an abandoned mansion” or “disco beat played by robots that are 20% funky and 80% malfunctioning”.
The app includes a Creativity Level setting with three modes:
- Tame gives predictable results, while Wild and Wilder push the boundaries but might get quirky with pitch or realism.
- A randomize button helps when you’re stuck for ideas, and a history page lets you revisit previous generations.
You can try ILLUGEN with 30 free credits before committing to a subscription.
The service uses a credit system where one-shots cost one credit, loops use two, and complex sound effects can require up to three credits.
Competing in the AI Sample Generation Space
ILLUGEN enters a growing market of text-to-sample generators like Twoshot that are transforming music production workflows.
The subscription approach has drawn mixed reactions from the music community. Many producers have criticized Waves for not offering a one-time purchase option, especially given the company’s previous subscription controversies.
Others question the ethics and quality of AI-generated samples, though early reviews suggest the technology produces usable results for most applications.
Subscription Model Sparks Industry Debate
ILLUGEN operates on a subscription-only model with three tiers: Basic ($7.99/month for 150 credits), Premium ($12.99/month for 300 credits), and Pro ($19.99/month for 600 credits). Unused credits roll over monthly, and new subscribers get bonus welcome credits.
This launch positions Waves as one of the first major music tech companies to fully embrace AI sample generation.
