Every prompt below goes in the Prompt (description) box in Udio. For a score, toggle Instrumental on and leave the Lyrics box empty, or keep instrumental, no vocals near the front so you get a clean cue with no singing. Udio's 2026 v1.5 model runs at 48kHz stereo and its high fidelity holds up well under thick orchestral layering, so you can stack strings, brass and choir without the mix turning to mud.
The subgenre and mood lead each prompt because Udio weights the earliest descriptors most. Build a short core cue, then lengthen it with Extend (+30s) to match your edit, or fix a clumsy swell with Inpainting on a roughly two-second region rather than re-rolling. Want vocal songs or a formula breakdown? See the best Udio prompts roundup, the Udio prompt cheat sheet, or ready-made Udio prompt templates.
Epic trailer & battle (1–4)
Big, forward cues built to sit in front of the mix and land a climax. Lead with the trailer subgenre and let the strings, brass and taiko carry the swell.
1. Epic orchestral trailer swell
epic orchestral trailer, triumphant and powerful, instrumental, no vocals, key of D minor, swelling strings, epic brass, thunderous taiko drums, booming timpani, deep braams, slow build to a huge climax, wide reverb, 48kHz stereo, film-score mix, 90 BPMBest for: launch trailers and title reveals that need one dramatic orchestral rise to a final hit.
2. Heroic battle march
heroic battle march, brave and relentless, instrumental, no vocals, key of E minor, driving staccato ostinato strings, blazing horn theme, marching snare, pounding taiko, crashing cymbals, steady forward momentum, wide reverb, 48kHz stereo, film-score mix, 128 BPMBest for: army-on-the-march sequences and heroic set-pieces that need a proud, driving pulse.
3. Rising trailer build with choir
epic hybrid trailer, ominous turning triumphant, epic choir, wordless vocal vowels, key of C minor, ticking staccato strings, low pulsing braams, huge brass stabs, rolling toms, riser into a massive downbeat, slow build to a huge climax, wide reverb, 48kHz stereo, film-score mix, 100 BPMBest for: blockbuster teasers where a textless choir lifts the final swell. Keep Instrumental off so Udio layers the choir.
4. Dark epic percussion hit
dark epic trailer percussion, menacing and intense, instrumental, no vocals, key of A minor, giant hybrid drum hits, distorted braams, low brass swells, metallic risers, sub-bass drops, sparse tension between hits, wide reverb, 48kHz stereo, film-score mix, 80 BPMWhy it works: the sparse gaps between the hits give an editor room to sync cuts. Use Udio prompt templates to swap the key or drum flavour fast.
Emotional & dramatic score (5–8)
Slow, minor-key cues that carry feeling under a story. Around 60–75 BPM reads as reflective; name the key so Udio locks the harmonic colour.
5. Tender emotional piano score
emotional film score, tender and reflective, instrumental, no vocals, key of A minor, intimate solo piano, soft sustained strings, subtle warm pad, gentle cello counter-melody, slow gradual build, spacious reverb, 48kHz stereo, film-score mix, 66 BPMBest for: heartfelt story beats and brand films that need a quiet piano-and-strings bed.
6. Bittersweet farewell strings
bittersweet orchestral score, wistful and aching, instrumental, no vocals, key of F sharp minor, Dorian mode for a hopeful lift, warm legato strings, solo oboe, soft harp arpeggios, sustained pad, gentle swell and release, wide reverb, 48kHz stereo, film-score mix, 70 BPMBest for: goodbye scenes and montages that want sadness with a thread of hope.
7. Triumphant redemption climax
triumphant orchestral score, uplifting and victorious, instrumental, no vocals, key of D major, soaring string melody, bright horn section, timpani rolls, shimmering harp, cymbal swells, slow build to a huge climax, wide reverb, 48kHz stereo, film-score mix, 84 BPMBest for: the payoff moment — a comeback, a reunion, a finish line — where the score finally opens up.
8. Grief and loss underscore
somber film underscore, mournful and fragile, instrumental, no vocals, key of D minor, sparse solo cello, distant piano notes, low string drone, very slow and spacious, minimal movement, deep wide reverb, 48kHz stereo, film-score mix, 58 BPMWhy it works: the restraint carries weight; if one cello phrase lands wrong, fix that slice with Inpainting instead of re-rolling.
Tension & suspense (9–12)
Uneasy, slow-crawling cues for thriller, horror and chase. Lean on drones, staccato ostinatos and dissonance rather than a big melody.
9. Slow-burn thriller tension
dark cinematic tension, ominous and uneasy, instrumental, no vocals, key of C minor, low pulsing drone, ticking staccato strings, deep sub hits, sparse dissonant piano, creeping slow-building dread, wide reverb, 48kHz stereo, film-score mix, 78 BPMBest for: mystery, true-crime and thriller edits that need a steady crawl of unease.
10. Ticking-clock suspense
suspense score, anxious and urgent, instrumental, no vocals, key of B minor, relentless ticking staccato ostinato strings, pizzicato pulse, tense muted brass, rising cluster chords, accelerating tension, wide reverb, 48kHz stereo, film-score mix, 112 BPMBest for: countdowns and race-against-time sequences that need mechanical, mounting pressure.
11. Horror dread drone
horror cinematic drone, terrifying and dissonant, instrumental, no vocals, atonal, scraping string harmonics, detuned metallic drone, sudden dissonant stabs, deep sub rumble, unsettling silence between events, wide reverb, 48kHz stereo, film-score mix, 60 BPMBest for: horror and dread scenes where the sound design matters more than melody.
12. Chase pursuit ostinato
action chase score, frantic and driving, instrumental, no vocals, key of E minor, fast staccato ostinato strings, aggressive low brass, pounding percussion, syncopated taiko, gritty synth bass, relentless high-octane momentum, wide reverb, 48kHz stereo, film-score mix, 150 BPMWhy it works: the fast ostinato locks to hard cuts; grow it with Extend so the cue lasts the whole chase.
Fantasy & adventure (13–16)
Wondrous, sweeping cues for quests and mythic worlds. Modes like Lydian add wonder; woodwinds and harp keep it storybook.
13. Fantasy world of wonder
epic fantasy score, magical and awe-struck, instrumental, no vocals, key of C major, Lydian mode for wonder, sweeping strings, warm French horn theme, glittering harp glissandos, celesta sparkle, soft flute, slow majestic build, wide reverb, 48kHz stereo, film-score mix, 88 BPMBest for: establishing shots of a fantasy world or a first reveal that should feel vast and magical.
14. Celtic adventure quest
Celtic adventure score, spirited and hopeful, instrumental, no vocals, key of D major, tin whistle melody, fiddle, bodhran drum, plucked harp, warm string bed, time signature 6/8, rolling galloping rhythm, wide reverb, 48kHz stereo, film-score mix, 104 BPMBest for: journey montages and travel-across-the-map sequences with a folk lilt.
15. Mythic dragon flight
epic fantasy flight score, soaring and heroic, epic choir, wordless vocal vowels, key of G minor, huge sweeping strings, bold brass fanfare, thundering taiko, timpani, choir swells, exhilarating rise and fall, slow build to a huge climax, wide reverb, 48kHz stereo, film-score mix, 96 BPMBest for: aerial and flight sequences that need lift; leave Instrumental off so the wordless choir comes through.
16. Enchanted forest theme
enchanted forest score, whimsical and delicate, instrumental, no vocals, key of A major, Lydian mode for wonder, pizzicato strings, playful woodwinds, music box, soft harp, light triangle, gentle curious mood, wide reverb, 48kHz stereo, film-score mix, 92 BPMWhy it works: pizzicato and music box read as storybook-light and small — ideal under a quiet magical moment.
Sci-fi & synth score (17–20)
Hybrid orchestral-electronic cues for space and future worlds. Braams, pulsing synths and arpeggios give the modern sci-fi feel.
17. Sci-fi discovery synth score
sci-fi discovery score, curious and awe-inspiring, instrumental, no vocals, key of E major, hybrid synths, warm analog pad, arpeggiated sequence, sustained strings, glassy bell tones, slow wondrous build, wide reverb, 48kHz stereo, film-score mix, 90 BPMBest for: first-contact and reveal moments that blend orchestra with clean synth wonder.
18. Cyberpunk dystopia pulse
cyberpunk dystopian score, cold and ominous, instrumental, no vocals, key of F minor, dark pulsing synth bass, gritty arpeggios, distorted braams, industrial percussion, neon retro-synth lead, brooding tension, wide reverb, 48kHz stereo, film-score mix, 110 BPMBest for: rain-soaked city and dystopian tech scenes that want menace with a retro-synth edge.
19. Deep space ambient drift
deep space ambient score, vast and weightless, instrumental, no vocals, slow evolving synth pads, distant piano, low drone, occasional soft bell, no drums, immense spacious reverb, floating and still, 48kHz stereo, film-score mix, 56 BPMBest for: drifting-through-space shots and quiet interstitials. Extend it for long, static passages.
20. Retro sci-fi arpeggio drive
retro synthwave sci-fi score, driving and nostalgic, instrumental, no vocals, key of A minor, pulsing analog arpeggio, punchy gated drums, warm saw bass, bright lead synth, steady forward drive, wide reverb, 48kHz stereo, film-score mix, 118 BPMWhy it works: the steady arpeggio pulse loops cleanly and fits chase or drive scenes in a retro-future world.
Ambient & underscore beds (21–22)
Low-key, drum-free beds that sit under dialogue and narration. Keep them static and add the loop tags so they run unbroken.
21. Reflective ambient underscore
reflective ambient underscore, calm and neutral, instrumental, no vocals, key of C major, soft warm pads, sparse piano notes, subtle string swells, gentle low drone, no drums, very low-key and unobtrusive, seamless loop, no fade in, no fade out, 48kHz stereo, film-score mix, 64 BPMBest for: looping quietly under a voiceover or interview without pulling focus from the speaker.
22. Documentary neutral bed
documentary underscore, thoughtful and understated, instrumental, no vocals, key of G major, gentle piano ostinato, soft plucked strings, warm pad, light mallet melody, subtle forward motion, unobtrusive mix, seamless loop, no fade in, no fade out, 48kHz stereo, film-score mix, 92 BPMBest for: factual and explainer sequences that need a neutral, curious bed under narration. For every tag and mode Udio understands, keep the cheat sheet open.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make Udio generate a fully instrumental score?
Toggle Instrumental on and leave the Lyrics box empty, then keep instrumental, no vocals near the front of your Prompt box. Udio weights the earliest descriptors most, so leading with the subgenre and mood plus the instrumental tag reliably gives a clean orchestral cue. If a stray voice appears, raise Prompt Strength a little and regenerate.
How long should a trailer cue be in Udio?
Generate a base cue and then grow it. The 2026 v1.5 model produces up to roughly 8 minutes, but the cleanest workflow is to make a 30–60 second core and use Extend to add +30 seconds at a time until the cue matches your edit. Time your big climax to the trailer's final hit, then trim in your editor.
How do I make a looping underscore that runs under video?
Keep the arrangement simple and static — a sustained pad, a slow ostinato, no dramatic climax — and ask for a seamless loop, no fade in, no fade out. Udio will not produce a mathematically perfect loop, so drop the export into your editor, trim to a bar boundary and add a short crossfade for a truly gapless bed.
Can I use Udio cinematic music in my videos commercially?
On a paid Udio plan you get commercial rights to the cues you generate, so you can use them in monetised videos, trailers, games and client films. Free-tier tracks are for personal, non-commercial use. Check the current terms on your plan before you publish anything monetised, and keep proof of the generation.
How do I get separate stems from a Udio cue?
Use Stems on a finished cue to isolate parts such as strings, brass, percussion and synths, then download and mix them in your DAW. This lets you duck the strings under dialogue, solo the brass for a hit, or extend a single ambient layer into a longer bed without regenerating the whole piece.
How do I add an epic choir to a Udio score?
Keep Instrumental off for a choir, then add epic choir or wordless vocal, vowel sounds to the Prompt box alongside the orchestral description. Udio will layer a textless choir over the instruments for a trailer swell. If it starts singing real words, add no lyrics, only vowels and lower Prompt Strength slightly.
How do I fix a bad swell or note without re-rolling the whole cue?
Use Inpainting. Select the roughly two-second region that is off — a clumsy swell, a wrong brass entry — and regenerate just that slice while the rest stays intact. It is far faster than re-rolling and keeps the parts you already like, which matters for long orchestral layers.