01
Neon Afterglow
French electro-pop · French touch · 126 BPM
SongForge · macOS · Available now
Local music generation for Mac.
SongForge is a native Mac studio for turning a musical direction into a playable take. After model setup, generate locally, rework a source from your Library, then play or export the result.
macOS 14 Sonoma or later · Apple Silicon recommended · On-Device AI
At a glance
What is SongForge?
SongForge is a native Mac AI music studio. Set a direction, lyrics, BPM and key, generate a playable take locally after model setup, then rework, compare and export it from a local Library.
- Platform
- macOS 14 Sonoma or later; Apple silicon recommended
- Best for
- Turning a musical idea into a local take, then refining it in a Mac Library
- Processing
- Normal standalone generation runs locally after model setup
- Availability
- Available on the Mac App Store
Product facts and Mac App Store availability reviewed on . See the verification method and corrections policy.
Local
Standalone generation after model setup
On-Device
ACE-Step 1.5 running locally
Local-first
Models, prompts, and outputs live on your Mac
70 s
One measured 2 min 13 s track; hardware-dependent
What is SongForge?
A local music-generation workspace for Mac
SongForge (bundle ID: com.hrs.songforge.app) is a native macOS application built by HighRoad Software (COBI Management SRL). It uses a compatible ACE-Step 1.5 model to create vocals and instruments after model setup. Start with a prompt, lyrics, BPM, key and vocal language; then keep a take in the Library, play it, create a Rework from that source or export it. Normal standalone generation runs locally on the Mac. Network access is limited to model downloads, App Store purchase handling, support links, and an Audio Unit remote backend only when you explicitly configure and confirm one. SongForge requires macOS 14 or later and is available on the Mac App Store.
The local workflow
Music generation workflow
The app keeps the prompt-to-play workflow together: create, revisit a Library source, make a Rework, then listen or export.
Made locally with SongForge
Hear the result before you download the engine.
Five original, unedited SongForge generations from the local ACE-Step engine. Headphones recommended.
02
Golden Hour Run
Alt-pop · liquid drum & bass · 174 BPM
03
No Signal, All Night
UK garage pop · duet · 132 BPM
04
Late Checkout
Afro-house · alternative R&B · 122 BPM
05
Main Character Sunday
Indie dance · nu-disco · 118 BPM
Real product footage
Watch a SongForge Rework, end to end.
This 30-second capture shows a Library source, the Transformed setting, a new take and playback on Mac. It demonstrates the Rework workflow; it is not performance evidence for every Mac.
Features
Make music locally on your Mac
Make the first take, choose a source you want to revisit, then keep each new direction close to the rest of your work.
01 — Text-to-Song Generation
From an idea to a playable track
Type what you hear in your head. SongForge's generation panel gives you full control: add a text prompt, paste your lyrics, pick a style preset, set the BPM and key, choose a vocal language, and hit Generate. In a signed-build measurement, a 2 min 13 s dance-house track rendered in 70 seconds with Turbo Q8_0 on the test Apple-silicon Mac. That is one measured run, not a speed promise: model, duration, Mac and current load all matter. Read the method and limits.
- Simple and Custom generation modes
- Lyrics, style, BPM, key and vocal language controls
- Variation groups — generate siblings from the same prompt
- Re-roll individual songs without losing the rest
- Generation queue — line up several prompts to run one after another
- Keyboard shortcut ⌘G to generate from anywhere
02 — Local AI Engine
Your Mac is the studio
SongForge runs a compatible ACE-Step 1.5 model on your hardware using GGUF quantization and Apple Metal GPU inference. After model setup, normal standalone generation can run locally. Model delivery, purchase or licence checks, support links, and any remote Audio Unit backend you deliberately configure still use a network connection.
- ACE-Step 1.5 — compatible local music model
- GGUF quantized for efficient on-device inference
- Metal GPU acceleration on Apple Silicon
- Normal standalone generation can work offline after model setup
- No SongForge analytics or account for normal standalone generation
- Clear disclosure of the limited network exceptions
03 — Library & Playback
Songs stored in a local library
Every song you generate lands in your Library. Browse, search, and organise your creations with a full-featured player bar: scrubbing, shuffle, repeat, playback rate control, and keyboard shortcuts. Liked songs, variation groups, and smart search keep your library tidy as it grows.
- Full player bar with scrubbing and playback rate
- Shuffle and repeat modes
- Liked songs & variation group organisation
- Full-text search across all songs
- Library backup and restore
- Keyboard shortcuts: ⌘P play/pause, ⌘2 Library, ⌘L like song
04 — Rework & Export
Use the take as the next starting point
Choose a source from your Library, set the Rework direction and create a new take without losing the original. The current workflow then lets you keep both in the Library, play them side by side and export MP3 or WAV when you are ready to take the file elsewhere.
- Choose a Library song as the Rework source
- Keep original and new takes together
- Library playback, search, favourites and song details
- MP3 & lossless WAV export
- Export destination chosen by the user
How it works
Three steps from an idea to a new take
Choose your model
On first launch, SongForge downloads or links a compatible ACE-Step 1.5 GGUF model set, approximately 6–15 GB depending on quantization. Once the model is available, normal standalone generation runs locally on the Mac. Network access remains necessary for model delivery, App Store purchase handling, support links, and any remote Audio Unit backend the user explicitly configures.
Describe your song
Enter a text prompt describing the song you want. Optionally add lyrics, choose a style preset, set BPM and key, and select the vocal language. Use Simple mode for a short description or Custom mode for detailed musical controls. Creative Assistant previews an editable New direction or Improve brief. Apply all fields, choose only selected fields, or dismiss the preview without changing your draft.
Generate, then Rework
Press Generate (⌘G), listen in the built-in player, then select a source in the Library to create a Rework. Speed depends on the selected model, requested length, Mac and system load. One signed-build measurement and its limits are published separately.
Privacy
Local by default, explicit when connected
Standalone generation and the project library run locally, with no SongForge account or analytics. Model delivery, purchase validation, support links, and an Audio Unit remote backend you explicitly configure are the documented network exceptions.
Local SQLite
All song data and settings stored in a local database on your device — no sync, no cloud backup.
No Account
No SongForge account is needed for standalone generation. Purchases are handled by the Mac App Store.
On-Device Inference
In the normal standalone path, ACE-Step inference runs on the Mac, and prompts or source audio are not uploaded to a SongForge inference service. Model delivery, App Store purchase handling, support links, and an optional user-configured remote Audio Unit backend are the documented network exceptions.
Hardened Engine
SongForge uses the macOS sandbox and hardened runtime, and is distributed through the Mac App Store.
Mac App Store
Download SongForge for Mac
Create three tracks free after model setup. A one-time SongForge Pro purchase unlocks continued creation and song export, with no subscription. Apple shows the current local price and purchase terms before you confirm.
SongForge for macOS
Mac App Store
A native workspace for local AI music generation.
- Local text-to-song workflow
- Full Library & Playback
- Keyboard shortcuts ⌘G ⌘P ⌘2 ⌘L
- Liked songs & variation groups
- Library backup & restore
Available now
What you control
Your Mac your music
Create, organise and export within a local-first Mac workspace.
- Lyrics, style, tempo and key controls
- Variations, playback and local library
- Current terms and price shown by Apple at checkout
- Model training is not included in this release
SongForge is distributed through the Mac App Store. Apple confirms availability, local price, licence scope and refunds at the point of sale.
FAQ
Common questions
Creative Assistant previews an editable New direction or Improve brief. Apply all fields, choose only selected fields, or dismiss the preview without changing your draft.
SongForge is a native macOS app that generates full songs — vocals, instruments, and structure — from a text prompt you provide. It uses a compatible ACE-Step 1.5 model locally on your Mac via Metal GPU acceleration. In the normal standalone path, your prompts and generated audio stay on your device. A remote Audio Unit backend is used only if you explicitly configure and confirm one.
Normal standalone generation runs locally with a compatible ACE-Step 1.5 model. Network access is still used for model downloads, purchase or direct-build licence validation when applicable, support links, and an Audio Unit remote backend only when you explicitly configure and confirm one.
SongForge uses ACE-Step 1.5, an open-source music generation model. The model weights are distributed in GGUF quantized format (a 4-file set) for efficient on-device inference. You download the model set on first launch from Hugging Face — the app guides you through this automatically.
The GGUF model set is approximately 6–15 GB depending on the quantization level you choose. SongForge guides you through the download on first launch. Once available locally, the model can be used for normal standalone generation without downloading it again unless you choose to change or replace the model files.
Standalone prompts, lyrics, projects, and generated audio stay on the Mac. SongForge has no analytics or SongForge account. Network exceptions are model delivery, Store or direct-build purchase validation, support links, and an optional Audio Unit remote backend that you configure yourself.
Yes. Select a source in the local Library, choose a Rework setting and generate a new take. The source stays in your Library so you can compare, play and organise both takes.
SongForge Pro unlocks MP3 and WAV song export. Choose a destination on your Mac and keep the exported file with your other project files. Apple shows the local Pro price before purchase.
SongForge is available on the Mac App Store.
It suits people who prefer a Mac-native, local-generation workflow and accept a substantial model download plus hardware-dependent generation speed. Suno and Udio are cloud products with different workflows and terms. See the Suno comparison and Udio comparison; always verify competitors' current plans on their own sites.
After model setup, normal standalone generation can work offline. Model downloads, purchase or licence validation, support links, and any Audio Unit remote backend you choose to configure require a network connection.
HighRoad Software claims no ownership of your output and requires no separate commercial licence. You may publish, distribute, monetise, modify, perform, or incorporate generated audio into other work. Applicable law and third-party rights or licence terms attached to your inputs and model files still apply; see the SongForge Terms of Use.
Yes. Three completed creations are included. A one-time Pro purchase unlocks continued creation and MP3/WAV song export. There is no subscription; Apple shows your local price before purchase.
Available on the Mac App Store
Download and access
Download the native Mac workspace for private, local-first AI music generation.
macOS 14 Sonoma or later · Apple Silicon recommended · On-Device AI · Bundle ID: com.hrs.songforge.app