Artificial Intelligence: Our New Studio Assistant or a Rival? 

It’s time to put aside the fear that "AI will spell the end of audio engineering." I believe the real question we should be asking is: "How can we leverage AI to enhance our creativity?"

AI tools (iZotope RX, AI-based mastering assistants, Stem separators, etc.) are spreading rapidly in the world of audio engineering. While some resist this, I see these developments not as a threat, but as powerful "time-savers."

Why?

• It Takes Over the Grunt Work: It cuts down hours of de-noising or dialogue editing tasks to just minutes.

• It Offers New Perspectives: When we get stuck on a mix, AI-based tools can show us what is "technically" correct and serve as a reference point.

• It Makes Room for Creativity: Instead of getting bogged down in technical details, it gives us the time to focus on the artistic and emotional aspects of the work.

However, there is one truth we must not forget: Music and sound are about emotion.

AI might solve frequency clashes with mathematical perfection; but it cannot feel or interpret the "sense of lift" in a chorus or the sorrowful tremor in a vocal the way a human can. Technical perfection doesn't always translate to a result that "feels right."

The audio engineers of the future won't be those fighting AI, but those who manage it like a "hardworking studio assistant" and apply the final touch with the human spirit.