> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ozu.studio/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Song Node
> Generate AI music or upload an audio track as the score, then sync it to the Timeline's Music track.
The **Song Node** is where music comes from. Either generate a score with AI — describing mood, genre, and instrumentation — or upload an audio file you already have. Approved music syncs into the Timeline's Music track, underneath your dialogue.
## Two ways to get music
Describe the music you want — mood, genre, instruments, tempo — and Ozu generates a track. Iterate on the description until the feel is right.
Drop in a music file you own or have licensed. The Song Node handles it the same as a generated track — waveform display, trimming, volume control.
Most creators use both: generate a scratch track to time the scene, then replace with a licensed track for the final export.
## Generating music with AI
The Song Node's generation input is a **prompt** describing the music you want. You have three dimensions to specify:
* **Mood** — tense, hopeful, menacing, elegiac, playful, triumphant
* **Genre** — orchestral, electronic, ambient, jazz, folk, hybrid
* **Instruments** — piano, strings, synths, percussion, specific instruments like cello or 808
Example prompts:
> *"Slow, tense orchestral score. Low strings, distant piano, minimal percussion. Feels like the moment before a reveal."*
> *"Upbeat indie rock with acoustic guitar, tambourine, and driving drums. Warm and nostalgic."*
> *"Ambient synth drone with occasional bell tones. Weightless and uncertain."*
1. **Write a prompt.** Be specific — vague prompts generate generic music.
2. **Set target duration.** The Song Node will try to match it, usually within a few seconds.
3. **Click Generate.** A track renders with a visible waveform.
4. **Play it back.** If the vibe is right, approve it. If not, adjust the prompt and regenerate.
**Describe the feeling, not the scene.** Prompts like "sad" and "creepy" produce generic results. Prompts like "weightless grief, distant piano, no percussion" produce music with specific emotional shape.
## Uploading a file
If you already have music — licensed, original, or a placeholder — drag the audio file into the Song Node. It loads with the same waveform display and trimming tools as a generated track.
**Licensing is your responsibility**
Ozu does not verify that uploaded music is licensed for your use. Make sure any track you upload and export is legally yours to use for the project's intended distribution.
## The waveform visualizer
Every track — generated or uploaded — displays as a **waveform**: a horizontal graph of audio amplitude over time. You use the waveform for three things:
* **Spotting peaks and lulls** — where the music climaxes or drops out
* **Trimming** — dragging the edges in to start later or end earlier
* **Syncing to picture** — lining up a musical hit with a cut on the Timeline
## Trimming and volume
Two adjustments live on the Song Node itself (before the track reaches the Timeline):
* **Trim** — drag the waveform's left edge to cut silence or a slow intro; drag the right edge to cut a long outro.
* **Volume** — set the overall track volume. Music usually sits below dialogue; a default of around 60–70% is a reasonable starting point.
For finer moves (fades, ducking, cross-fades), use the Timeline after the track syncs.
## Pan
For stereo placement, the Song Node has a **pan** control — center is default, hard left or right places the track in one speaker. Most scores stay centered; pan is useful for specific effects.
## Syncing to the Timeline
The Song Node connects to the Timeline the same way other nodes do: draw a line from the Song Node's output to the Timeline's input. The Timeline's **Music track** picks up the approved song automatically.
1. **Approve the song** in the Song Node.
2. **Connect to the Timeline.**
3. **Open the Timeline editor.** The music appears on the Music track, usually at timecode zero.
4. **Drag to retime** if the music should start later. Use the Timeline's clip controls for fades.
## Multiple songs per project
One Song Node holds one track. For scenes with multiple pieces of music — an opening theme, a chase cue, a closing track — use multiple Song Nodes, each connected to the same Timeline. They stack on the Music track in the order you place them.
## Related
The other audio node — dialogue and voiceover, not music.
Where approved music lands — the Timeline's Music track.
The editorial layer that shapes the visual side of what the music scores.
How music mixes into the final MP4.
## FAQ
**Can I generate music in a specific tempo (BPM)?**
Include the tempo in your prompt — for example, *"80 BPM ambient synth."* The Song Node will aim for it but isn't frame-accurate to an exact BPM.
**Do generated tracks have vocals?**
Not by default. Ozu's generation is oriented toward score and instrumental music. Vocal generation is a separate flow planned as a future feature.
**What audio formats can I upload?**
Standard music formats: MP3, WAV, AAC, M4A, FLAC, OGG. If you have a file in an unusual format, convert it to MP3 or WAV before uploading.
**Can I loop a short music clip to cover a long scene?**
The Song Node doesn't auto-loop. Either generate a track at the full scene length, or place multiple copies of the same Song Node's output on the Timeline to approximate a loop.
**Is the generated music cleared for commercial use?**
Generation rights depend on the underlying AI model's terms. Check the Ozu terms of service for specifics — in general, generated music is yours to use for the project you created it in. For commercial release, verify the current policy.
**Can I edit the generated music outside Ozu?**
Yes. Export the Timeline as MP4 and the music is baked in. If you need the music as a standalone stem, download the track from the Song Node's playback controls.