MashupMuse: A Web Application for Easier Music Mashup Creation

Abstract

The intersection of music and technology enables a form of musical expression known as a music mashup—a creative work that combines elements from multiple existing songs into a new, cohesive piece. The traditional process for creating a mashup with standard music editing software can be time-consuming for experienced mashup creators and intimidating for new creators. This software has a steep learning curve and more functionality than required for mashup enthusiasts. Over the last fifteen years, researchers have attempted to simplify this process through solutions with user-friendly interfaces for streamlined mashup creation. With the rise of artificial intelligence, some recent tools automate the mashup process entirely, which strips users of creative control and potentially leads to musically unsatisfying results. Current mashup software falls short either in functionality or userfriendliness, leaving a need for a platform that balances technological assistance and creative freedom. In response to this need, we propose MashupMuse, a web application that simplifies music mashup creation by automating certain parts of the mashup creation process, while simultaneously leaving room for creative freedom. MashupMuse separates each song’s audio into individual tracks, such as vocals, bass, and drums. It allows users to select sections from these tracks and arrange them on a master track while automatically handling beat and key adjustments. This balance of automation and creative freedom offers users a streamlined yet flexible music editing experience. During user testing, we found notable advantages in comparison with a similar mashup creation application. Finally, we outline future work to further improve the user experience.