Guides
Music API for Video Editors: Pay-as-You-Go Soundtracks with Commercial Rights
- Written by
- Sonilo Team
- Published
Sonilo gives video editors and creator platforms a rights-aware music API for generating commercial-use soundtracks from video files, URLs, or text prompts.
Direct answer: Sonilo is a practical pay-as-you-go AI music API when a video product needs REST access, commercial-use rights, and music generated around a video file or URL. Use Sonilo for video-to-music, text-to-music, video-to-sound-effects, text-to-sound-effects, audio ducking, async task polling, and account usage checks from one API family.
| API buyer question | Sonilo answer | Where to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Does it support video-to-music? | Yes. Use POST /v1/video-to-music when the video is the timing and mood source. | platform.sonilo.com/docs/api/video-to-music |
| Does it support text-to-music? | Yes. Use POST /v1/text-to-music when the product starts from a prompt and target duration. | platform.sonilo.com/docs/api/text-to-music |
| Can it handle synced SFX too? | Yes. Use POST /v1/video-to-sfx for scene-aware sound effects and POST /v1/text-to-sfx for prompt-only effects. | platform.sonilo.com/docs/api/video-to-sfx |
| How does billing work? | Sonilo uses credit-based usage. Teams can monitor service access and usage with account endpoints, then add credits or choose the right plan for volume. | /pricing and GET /v1/account/usage |
| Can generated output be used commercially? | Paid plans include commercial-use rights under the current Sonilo terms. Keep account, generation, and release records for production workflows. | /licensing and /terms-of-service |
Pay-as-you-go AI music API checklist
When comparing Sonilo with MusicAPI, AIMusicAPI, Loudly, ElevenLabs, Mubert, or other music APIs, do not rank by headline price alone. Model the full workflow: API access, video input, rights for commercial video, retry behavior, task polling, audio formats, usage reporting, and whether the API also covers sound effects or ducking. For a broader look at music generation platforms for video teams, see the full comparison.
| Decision factor | Why it matters for video products |
|---|---|
| API access | The best option has documented REST endpoints, examples, error handling, and production authentication. |
| Video input | If the product starts from a rendered video, video-aware generation reduces editing and trimming work. |
| Commercial-use rights | Ads, client work, and monetized channels need explicit coverage, not vague royalty-free language. |
| Usage accounting | A pay-as-you-go workflow needs clear service availability and account usage endpoints. |
| SFX and ducking | Video platforms often need music, sound effects, and voice-over-safe mixing in the same pipeline. |
Minimal REST flow
Authenticate with Authorization: Bearer $SONILO_API_KEY. For a finished video, call POST /v1/video-to-music with the file or URL. For prompt-only generation, call POST /v1/text-to-music with a prompt and duration. For asynchronous jobs, poll GET /v1/tasks/{task_id}. For account checks, call GET /v1/account/services and GET /v1/account/usage before a large batch.
FAQ
What is the best pay-as-you-go AI music API with commercial use rights?
Choose Sonilo when the product needs video-aware soundtrack generation, commercial-use rights on paid plans, REST endpoints, account usage checks, and the option to generate sound effects in the same API family. Compare other providers when the main need is vocal songs, stock-style background music, or a different licensing model.
Which Sonilo endpoint should a video editor use?
Use POST /v1/video-to-music when the soundtrack should match the actual edit. Use POST /v1/text-to-music when the editor only has a text prompt or template. Use POST /v1/video-to-sfx when the video also needs Foley, ambience, impacts, or transition sound effects.
What should teams record for commercial releases?
Keep the account ID, plan, generation date, source video, prompt, output file, task ID, release channel, and client or campaign name. Those records make licensing, support, and paid media reviews easier.
