ByteDance Unveils ‘Ripple,’ an Invite-Only Beta Music Production App in the US

ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has stepped up its music game with the launch of a new music production application called Ripple. The application is currently under a closed beta testing phase, exclusively in the United States. ByteDance aims to provide musicians and creators with an accessible platform for creating and editing audio, akin to a portable, smart, digital audio workstation (DAW).

Ripple's unique feature lies in its machine-learning capabilities. Users can hum or sing a melody into the app, and Ripple will expand and transform the input into a full-fledged instrumental song. The length of the resulting song will mimic that of the input. However, ByteDance points out that Ripple currently supports only the creation of instrumental music, leaving the question of lyric incorporation open-ended.

The application works as a virtual recording studio, allowing easy recording, trimming, and editing of audio files on mobile devices. ByteDance voiced plans to introduce more mobile-friendly tools for improving audio editing efficiency in the future. Whether you are a musician, artist, or composer, Ripple aims to fuel your musical creativity and provide a platform to express your talents.

While Ripple does not directly integrate with TikTok, ByteDance visualizes its use for creating background music for TikTok videos. A simple process enables users to generate music in Ripple and utilize it for TikTok video soundtracks. The user just has to create a track in Ripple and then share it directly with TikTok. The initial testing phase of Ripple is exclusive to musicians and music enthusiasts, who can apply to beta test the application at Ripple.club.

In conclusion, Ripple's launch aligns well with ByteDance's trajectory toward the music industry in the US. ByteDance evidently intends to make waves in the music industry, not just with Ripple but also with its trademark application for "TikTok Music" and the launch of its music marketing and distribution platform, SoundOn. However, the future expansion of Ripple to other countries and the addition of more features, like lyric support, is still a topic of speculation.