Is AI replacing sound designers and composers?

March 14, 2025

By Orfeas Boteas, Founder & CEO of Krotos

Before starting Krotos, I was a sound designer and composer, struggling to get ideas out of my head and into my projects fast enough to meet deadlines. My tools felt like obstacles rather than enablers, slowing me down, breaking my creative flow, and forcing me to spend hours digging through libraries and tweaking sounds instead of actually creating.

I wanted to scream into a microphone to make a monster sound and adjust it if needed, not spend hours trying to find sounds, editing and layering into a digital emulation of a tape machine.

That frustration is what led me to create Krotos. Not to replace sound designers and composers, but to give them tools that help them create faster and more efficiently. From Dehumaniser 2 to Reformer Pro to Krotos Studio, our mission has always been the same: to remove technical barriers and give creators more control over their workflow.

I know that every time we release something new, there are concerns about what it means for the industry. One of the biggest questions I’ve been hearing lately is:

"Is Krotos trying to replace sound designers and composers with AI?"

Let me be absolutely clear: No, we are not.

Why Generative AI Isn't Ready for Pro Sound Design (And We Don’t Use It)

I completely understand the concerns around AI in creative industries. Many companies are using AI to generate music and sound effects from scratch using unlicensed data, raising valid questions about originality, quality and job security.

But that’s not what Krotos does.

We do not use generative AI to create sound effects or music. The quality is not there yet. Instead, our focus is on high-quality, human-created content combined with AI-powered tools that enhance workflow, not replace creativity.

For example, AI Ambience doesn’t generate sounds, it analyses professionally recorded audio and builds interactive presets from it, to help sound designers create seamless backgrounds more efficiently.

Think of it as a preset creator, not an AI composer. It doesn’t replace your creative decisions, it removes tedious, repetitive tasks so you can focus on what really matters: making something great.

“AI Produces Mediocre Sound Design” – A Misconception

I've seen comments like "If you want to be known for producing mediocre sound design, jump on the Krotos AI bandwagon!" and I get it. The fear is that AI tools might lead to generic, low-quality results, reducing the craft of sound design to something automated and uninspired.

But that’s not what we’re building at Krotos.

Krotos’ tools don’t generate sound effects from scratch or replace human creativity. Everything in Krotos Studio, and our other tools, is built from high-quality, professionally recorded sounds, the same kind of material top sound designers already work with - our client list speaks for itself. The AI components assist in workflow optimization by making these assets easier to manipulate, customize, and fit into a mix.

If you’ve ever layered sounds manually, struggled to loop ambiences seamlessly, or spent hours searching for the right library sound, you know how much time can be lost on technical drudgery. Our tools remove that roadblock so you can focus on the creative decisions that matter.

And here’s the thing: The best sound designers still rise above the tools they use. No AI-driven feature will ever replace your taste, your expertise, and your storytelling ability, those are what make you exceptional.

"Just say no to AI."

AI is a tool, just like sampling, synthesizers, and plugins. The best professionals don’t fear new tools; they learn to use them to their advantage. AI in sound design isn’t about replacing creativity, it’s about removing repetitive tasks so artists can focus on what matters.

A 2024 CHI Conference study (Kamath et al.) found that AI serves as a creative assistant for sound designers, enhancing workflow and inspiration rather than replacing creativity, aligning with Krotos' philosophy.

Krotos Studio Music Is Not AI-Generated Music

There’s been a misunderstanding that Krotos Studio Music is "non-human" or AI-generated music. That’s simply not true. Every track in Krotos Studio Music is written by professional composers.

What makes Krotos Studio Music unique is that it works like a video game music engine, allowing users to customize and interact with music in a way that traditional stock tracks don’t allow.

It was designed as an alternative to stock music, not as a replacement for composers. Many filmmakers and content creators already rely on stock music because they don’t have the budget or time to hire a composer. If they weren’t hiring one anyway, Krotos Studio Music isn’t “taking away” jobs, it’s offering a better solution than pre-packaged stock tracks.

And if you're a composer looking for opportunities, we're actively looking for more composers to contribute to Krotos Studio Music. If you're interested, apply here.

Will AI replace creativity?

This conversation isn’t new. Every time a new tool enters a creative industry, people worry that it will replace professionals. But history has shown that technology doesn’t eliminate creativity, it enhances it.

  • Photography & Smartphones:
    Everyone has a camera in their pocket, yet professional photographers are still in high demand for weddings, fashion, journalism, and commercial work. In fact, the number of working professional photographers has grown by 15% over the past decade according to U.S. Census Bureau data. (Source)

  • Music Production & DAWs:
    When digital audio workstations (DAWs) and virtual instruments became widely available, some feared they would replace musicians and producers. Instead, they made music production more accessible and changed how music is made, without eliminating the need for professionals.

  • Video Editing & YouTube Templates:
    Drag-and-drop editing tools exist, but professional editors are still essential for film, TV, and commercial production.

The same applies to sound design and composition. These tools don’t replace professionals, they provide new ways to work, expand creative possibilities, and remove tedious work.

Hollywood’s Struggles Prove Creativity is More Valuable Than Ever

Right now, Hollywood is facing one of its biggest shake-ups in decades, and a lot of it ties into the same fears we’re discussing about AI, creative jobs, and the role of technology in storytelling.

  • Labor Strikes & AI Concerns: Hollywood actors and writers have been striking over AI being used to replicate performances without fair pay or consent. This proves that AI isn’t replacing creativity, it’s creating a conversation about how it should be used ethically.

  • Financial Pressures & Industry Consolidation: Studios are merging, cutting costs, and struggling to make profits. But even with these financial constraints, Hollywood still relies on professionals to create compelling content. The biggest blockbuster movies, prestige TV shows, and high-end productions still demand skilled human creators.

  • Shifts in Content Strategy: Studios are changing their approach to appeal to different audiences, proving that technology alone doesn’t dictate success, storytelling does. No AI tool can predict or create the next cultural phenomenon without human insight, emotion, and experience.

These struggles reinforce a simple truth: technology can enhance workflows, but creativity will always be the driving force behind great content.

Why the Story Behind Art Matters

Art isn’t just about what’s on the surface, it’s about the story behind it. A simple modern painting with a single color might look unimpressive at first, but if it was created by Mark Rothko or Yves Klein, suddenly it’s worth millions. Why? Because the artist’s vision, intent, and journey give it meaning.

The same applies to sound design and music. A sound effect isn’t just a waveform, it’s a storytelling tool that creates emotion, tension, and immersion. AI might generate sounds, but it can’t create meaning, it doesn’t know why a certain sound feels right in a scene, why a certain silence amplifies emotion, or why a specific texture resonates with an audience.

Creativity isn’t just about the output; it’s about the human perspective behind it. That’s why, no matter how much technology evolves, the value of human creativity will never disappear.

A Tool for Creators, Not a Replacement

From Dehumaniser 2 to Reformer Pro to Krotos Studio, our goal has always been to help sound designers, composers, and filmmakers bring their ideas to life faster, more efficiently, and with greater creative freedom.

I completely understand initial skepticism toward new tools, especially when AI is involved. But I encourage you to try them and see how they fit into your workflow. Like the many tools that came before, they’re designed to enhance creativity, not compete with it.

At the end of the day, Krotos exists because I wanted to solve my own challenges. I’ve struggled with inefficient tools, and I’ve spent my career trying to build something better.

We’re here to help sound designers and composers, not to replace them.

Thank you for all your support over the years, I truly appreciate it. As always, I welcome feedback, and I’d love to continue this conversation.

Let’s keep building the future of sound together.

—Orfeas

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