The developers of Samplab, an AI-based sample editing software, have released a new VST3 plugin called TextToSample. This plugin allows you to generate samples from text prompts, such as typing "bubbly synth melody" to create a bubbly synth melody that you can manipulate as needed. TextToSample utilizes the open-source AI-based sound generation toolset called MusicGen, developed by Meta, and it was trained using data provided by the algorithm. Additionally, you can also drag and drop pre-existing sounds into the plugin to generate related samples, in addition to typing commands. The plugin has a minimal and simple user interface, which makes it easy to use but does come with some limitations. For example, it does not consider pre-existing music in your track, so the initial attempts may not match the desired tone. It also struggles with understanding basic music concepts like keys, scales, and BPM. Like most AI-creation platforms, it will require tweaking, augmentation, and additional instructions to achieve desired results.

However, once you reach that point, it becomes quite enjoyable, leading to serendipitous discoveries that you might not stumble upon otherwise. As an example, check out the demo video where a guitar flourish adds a unique touch to the sample. You can sign up to receive great deals on consumer electronics from Engadget's editorial team, delivered straight to your inbox. It is worth noting that being an AI tool in the year 2023, there may be some bugs. During experiments, the plugin occasionally added drums even when instructed not to include percussion. Samplab emphasizes that this tool is not intended to replace human musicians, as it lacks that capability. Despite its imperfections, being a free tool, it's worth checking out, and with more people using it, the technology is expected to improve over time.