When I start a new song, I split the work into three passes instead of expecting a finished track from the first generation.
Pass 1: find the shape
Describe the mood, tempo and instruments in a short prompt and generate a few takes. The goal is not a final mix. It is to hear which feel is worth pursuing. Simple mode is enough here.
Pass 2: write structured lyrics
Once a direction works, switch to custom lyrics. Labels such as [Verse] and [Chorus] help the model keep sections apart, and a separate style description keeps the sound consistent. If I only need a backing track, I choose instrumental and skip the vocals.
Pass 3: rework instead of rerunning
The best takes often need editing rather than another roll of the dice. Extending a section, covering a recording with a new arrangement or splitting vocals from the instrumental gives more control than starting over.
A few habits help: save each take with its settings, check the credit cost before every run, and listen on a different speaker than the one you wrote on. The studio at https://floatsong.com/ keeps generation, cover, extend and vocal separation in one project, so the three passes stay together.