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You can generate background music from JSON in .NET by sending a JSON request to the ElevenLabs Music API at POST https://api.elevenlabs.io/v1/music. The JSON describes the track, either as a short text prompt or as a structured composition_plan, and the response body is generated audio that you write to a file. The vendor’s documentation shows Python and TypeScript examples, not C#, so the .NET side is a plain HttpClient call with System.Text.Json serialization. No official .NET SDK method is involved.
JSON is the control format here, not the output format. You never receive a JSON music file back. Also note that speech-focused audio APIs with C# examples, such as OpenAI’s Audio API, generate speech or transcription, not music, so they do not solve this task.
Before you write code
- Paid access is required. The ElevenLabs Music quickstart states: “The Music API is only available to paid users.” A free account will not complete the request.
- Create an API key in your ElevenLabs account and store it outside your source code, in an environment variable such as
ELEVENLABS_API_KEYor a secret manager. The key travels in thexi-api-keyrequest header. - Check the current reference. Request fields, model IDs and paid-plan rules are volatile. The details below reflect the vendor documentation as of October 2026; confirm them against the live Music API reference before you ship anything.
Choose between a prompt and a composition plan
Every request uses exactly one of two inputs. Sending prompt and composition_plan together is rejected by design.
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| Factor | Text prompt | Composition plan |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Quick prototypes from a plain-language description | Controlled section order, lyric timing and arrangement |
| Input shape | prompt string |
composition_plan object with an ordered chunks array |
| Length control | music_length_ms, documented range 3,000 to 600,000 ms |
Per-section duration_ms values; confirm total-length validation in the current guide |
| Instrumental switch | force_instrumental: true guarantees an instrumental result |
Not available; the field is accepted only with a prompt |
| Models in the reference | music_v1, music_v2, music_v2_5 |
Chunk-based plans are documented for music_v2 and music_v2_5 |
How a composition plan is structured
The composition-plan guide describes an ordered array of chunks. Each chunk is one section of the track, and it carries these fields:
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- text: a section label and optional directions, such as
[Intro]. Lyrics can appear here and may be in a language other than English. - duration_ms: the length of that section in milliseconds.
- positive_styles: style descriptors to include. The guide asks for these in English.
- negative_styles: styles to avoid, such as
vocalsfor a background bed. - context_adherence: how closely the section should follow its styles and directions.
According to the guide’s explanation, the first chunk’s styles set the overall tone of the track, so put your most important mood descriptors there. The following JSON is an illustrative shape that uses the documented field names. It is not vendor-tested output, and the exact sound you get will vary.
{
"model_id": "music_v2_5",
"composition_plan": {
"chunks": [
{
"text": "[Intro]",
"duration_ms": 12000,
"positive_styles": ["ambient", "warm piano", "soft strings"],
"negative_styles": ["vocals", "lyrics", "percussion"],
"context_adherence": "high"
},
{
"text": "[Main Theme]",
"duration_ms": 48000,
"positive_styles": ["calm", "cinematic", "gentle movement"],
"negative_styles": ["vocals", "lyrics", "abrupt changes"],
"context_adherence": "high"
}
]
}
}Generate and save the track in C#
Set up the project and key
- Export the key. On Linux or macOS, run
export ELEVENLABS_API_KEY="your-key". In PowerShell, run$env:ELEVENLABS_API_KEY = "your-key". - Create a console project with
dotnet new console -n BackgroundMusic, then runcd BackgroundMusic. - Replace the contents of
Program.cswith the prompt-based program below. - Run
dotnet run. A file namedbackground.mp3should appear in the output directory.
Prompt-based request
using System.Text;
using System.Text.Json;
var apiKey = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("ELEVENLABS_API_KEY")
?? throw new InvalidOperationException("Set ELEVENLABS_API_KEY first.");
var request = new
{
prompt = "Calm cinematic background music, warm piano, soft strings, no vocals",
music_length_ms = 30000,
model_id = "music_v2_5",
force_instrumental = true
};
var json = JsonSerializer.Serialize(request);
using var http = new HttpClient();
using var message = new HttpRequestMessage(HttpMethod.Post, "https://api.elevenlabs.io/v1/music")
{
Content = new StringContent(json, Encoding.UTF8, "application/json")
};
message.Headers.Add("xi-api-key", apiKey);
using var response = await http.SendAsync(message);
if (!response.IsSuccessStatusCode)
{
var error = await response.Content.ReadAsStringAsync();
throw new HttpRequestException($"Music request failed: {(int)response.StatusCode} {error}");
}
var audio = await response.Content.ReadAsByteArrayAsync();
await File.WriteAllBytesAsync("background.mp3", audio);
Console.WriteLine($"Saved {audio.Length} bytes to background.mp3");The status check runs before the file is written, so a rejected request never leaves a corrupt file behind. The example assumes an MP3 output. If you request a different output format, change the extension to match, and check the response Content-Type header to confirm what came back.
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Plan-based request
For a composition plan, replace the request object with the object below. Everything from JsonSerializer.Serialize onward stays the same. The object contains no prompt field, and the chunk durations determine the arrangement.
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var request = new
{
model_id = "music_v2_5",
composition_plan = new
{
chunks = new[]
{
new { text = "[Intro]", duration_ms = 12000, positive_styles = new[] { "ambient", "warm piano" }, negative_styles = new[] { "vocals" }, context_adherence = "high" },
new { text = "[Main Theme]", duration_ms = 48000, positive_styles = new[] { "calm", "cinematic" }, negative_styles = new[] { "vocals", "abrupt changes" }, context_adherence = "high" }
}
}
};Troubleshooting and limits
- Both inputs sent: a request containing
promptandcomposition_planis invalid. Remove one. - Instrumental flag with a plan:
force_instrumentalworks only with a prompt. For a plan, control vocals throughnegative_stylesinstead. - Prompt length out of range:
music_length_msmust be between 3,000 and 600,000 milliseconds. - Plan on an unsupported model: chunk-based plans are documented for
music_v2andmusic_v2_5. - Non-success status: the code above throws and writes nothing. Read the error body first, then fix the request. A 401-style rejection usually points to a missing or wrong key, or to an account without paid access.
- Repeat requests differ: the reference says a seed can improve consistency, but exact reproducibility is not guaranteed, and output can change when the service is updated. Store the generated files if you need a specific track again.
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