What negatives are best for

• Instrument control: removing one problem element (pads, hi-hats, distortion) without rewriting the whole prompt.
• Vocal control: getting true instrumentals for beds, cues, karaoke, or toplining later.
• Mix clarity: clearing space so the main idea reads on first listen.

1) Pure instrumentals (clean)

Prompt: cinematic orchestral build, no vocals, no choir, wide reverb

Use when you want underscore, trailer cues, or topline later.

2) Remove a problem instrument (without losing the groove)

Prompt: reggae groove with bass and percussion, no electric guitar

If the mix gets “thin,” add a positive replacement: replace with clean organ stabs.

3) Clear a muddy mix

Prompt: lo-fi hip hop with piano and vinyl crackle, no synth pads

If pads keep sneaking in, try: no sustained pads, no ambient wash.

4) Stop “random solos”

Prompt: pop-rock anthem; tight rhythm guitars; no guitar solo

This keeps energy without stealing the hook.

5) Keep vocals clean

Prompt: modern pop; clear lead vocal; no vocal chops, no glitch vocal fx

1) Pair negatives with a replacement

Best for keeping the arrangement “full” after you remove something.

acoustic focus; fingerpicked guitar + warm bass; no distortion; add soft brushed drums

2) Precision stacking (avoid over-banning)

• no lead guitar solo (don’t ban “guitar” if you still want rhythm)
• no harsh hi-hats (don’t ban “hi-hats” if you still want air)
• no 808 sub (if you still want a bassline, just not that bass)

3) Genre-aware negatives (common cleanup)

• Conflicting instructions: “instrumental only” + “strong vocals” in the same prompt.
• Style defaults: some styles tend to introduce backing vocals, pads, or certain drums unless you block them.
• Too many exclusions: removing 4–6 things can hollow the arrangement or cause weird substitutions.
• Vague targets: “no bad sounds” doesn’t give the model a clear removal target.

Fast decision tree

Still hearing vocals?
  → Use "instrumental only, no vocals, no choir, no spoken words"
     → Still there? Add "no oohs/ahhs"
        → Still there? Export stems and remove vocals in a DAW

Mix feels too empty after removals?
  → Reduce negatives to 1–2
     → Add a replacement instrument (what you DO want)
        → Regenerate 2–3 variations and pick best

Wrong element keeps returning?
  → Use more specific wording (e.g., "no synth pads / no ambient wash")
     → Keep the rest of the prompt stable (don’t change everything at once)