AI Songwriting Documentation: Version Control & Authorship Discipline
Gary WhittakerLyric Engineering Deep Dive #9 (Free Edition)
Authorship Strengthening & Documentation
Version control is no longer optional in AI-assisted songwriting.
Why This Matters More Than You Think
If you’ve written music for years, you probably already save drafts.
But AI changes the speed of creation.
Modern AI music tools can generate usable ideas quickly. Finding a sound close to what you want can happen in minutes. That means you may create far more drafts than you realize.
Even experienced musicians underestimate how fast versions stack up when AI is involved.
Without tracking, you lose:
- Which lyric draft produced which generation
- Which small edit improved the hook
- Which structure created the strongest result
AI speed increases the need for discipline.
This article gives you the basics.
You do not need to follow this perfectly. You need to stay consistent.
Why Saving Versions Matters
If you only keep one file, you lose your revision history.
- You cannot compare improvements
- You cannot recover better lines
- You cannot track structural changes
Clarity now prevents confusion later.
Minimum Viable Documentation
For every song, save three versions:
| Version | Purpose |
|---|---|
| V1 — Raw Draft | First complete idea. Minimal edits. |
| V2 — Edited Draft | Improved structure and clarity. |
| FINAL — Generation Copy | Clean version used for AI generation. |
Three files minimum. Do not overwrite earlier versions.
Basic Revision Log Format
| Date | Version | Changes Made |
|---|---|---|
| (YYYY-MM-DD) | V2 | Example: Shortened chorus lines, moved strongest word to line ending, cleaned bracket tags. |
Short, clear descriptions are enough.
Simple File Naming Structure
SongTitle_V1_Raw.txt SongTitle_V2_Edit.txt SongTitle_FINAL_GenCopy.txt
Keep naming consistent across your entire project.
Lightweight Documentation Template
Song Title: Project: Version: Date: Purpose of Version: Summary of Changes: - - -
Save once. Reuse for every track.
HTML Workstation
V1 — Raw Draft
First complete idea. Don’t polish yet.
V2 — Edited Draft
Structure, clarity, stress, hook cleanup.
FINAL — Generation Copy
Only what you want performed. No notes. No comments.
Quick Revision Log
One line per change. Keep it simple.
Discipline Check
If two are unchecked, correct before generating again.
FAQ
Do I really need three versions?
Yes. Raw, edited, and final keep your workflow clean and recoverable.
Is this about copyright?
No. This is workflow clarity and version control. It helps you stay organized and consistent.
How detailed should logs be?
Short and clear. One sentence is enough as long as it helps you understand what changed.
Can I customize this system?
Yes. Keep the structure (V1, V2, FINAL + a log) and adapt the details to your workflow.
Want the Full Documentation System?
The VIP version expands this into:
- Creative Audit Trail System
- Professional Version Control Tables
- Contribution Statements
- Mixtape-Level Documentation Scaling
VIP access is included with purchase of the Bee Righteous Suno V5 Complete Training Bundle.