When it comes to melody generation, Melody Sauce 2 by Evabeat offers a shortcut for those moments when writer’s block strikes or the perfect top-line melody feels just out of reach. One of the easiest melody generation plugins on the market, Melody Sauce is a perfect writer’s box companion for beginners and experienced musicians.
Melody Sauce 2 – First Impressions
Proving that their goal is to make the onboarding process as simple and pain-free as possible, Melody Sauce 2 impressed me by including quick tips overlaid over the plugin’s interface that load upon the first usage. Easily accessible later if the user needs help, these tips provide an in-depth guide to every button, option, and feature, giving new users a crystal-clear understanding of how to use the tool. This thoughtful addition smooths onboarding and eliminates potential frustration for first-time users. Surprisingly, many plugins do not provide it, and given the large volume of plugins Altwire gets sent to us for review, we’d love it if every plugin developer followed suit.
Even without the tooltips, the interface is clean and intuitive, with clearly labeled controls and a layout that encourages exploration. You can create melodies by selecting options for key, speed, length, mood, complexity, groove, and more. You can select different built-in instruments, change the reverb and delay, or do whatever your heart desires. Whether aiming for something dreamy and minimal or upbeat and intricate, these controls give you the flexibility to craft melodies tailored to your track’s vibe.
Regarding the groove settings: Melody Sauce 2’s groove settings—None, Triplet, and Swing—allow you to adjust the rhythm of generated melodies to add depth and character. For producers familiar with rhythmic complexity, the Swing setting offers a laid-back, syncopated groove perfect for genres like jazz, хип-хоп, or funk, while Triplet caters to more unconventional time signatures, making it ideal for something like Trap or certain types of progressive house. The None option offers a straightforward, quantized rhythm for those who prefer precise timing or wish to develop their own groove after the melody is generated.
One standout feature is the Style menu under “Creation Mode,” which offers pre-defined genres and styles to shape the generated melodies. This is a handy shortcut to greatness, including everything from House, Trap, Reggaeton, and Tropical. For the most part, styles felt comfortably accurate in emulating the essence of the genres they intended to emulate. When selecting genres like Trap, the plugin generates melodies with the sharp, percussive character that defines the genre, complete with an evolving hook that can blend seamlessly with a rolling 808 bassline.
On the other hand, opting for Tropical results in melodies that capture the light, syncopated patterns and summery vibes one might expect, perfect for a beachy anthem. The ability to instantly hone in on the musical characteristics of each genre without getting bogged down in unnecessary details is a game-changer for quick prototyping.
Пользовательский опыт
Using Melody Sauce 2 feels like having a co-writer at your fingertips. The melodies it generates are often surprisingly catchy, and the variety ensures you’re not stuck in a loop of repetitive ideas. The plugin excels in providing inspiration quickly—perfect for when you’re short on time or struggling to start a project.
As mentioned, Melody Sauce 2 is especially powerful when used as a starting point for song creation. Unlike some competitors, such as Mixed In Keys‘ Капитан Мелоди, which relies more on overarching rhythmic themes or pre-set styles, Melody Sauce 2 offers a much more granular approach to melody generation. Although the aforementioned competitor does allow plenty of modification, I feel Melody’s upfront controls allow for an almost sculptural approach to melody generation, providing the flexibility to fine-tune elements like key, complexity, and mood before ever hitting ‘generate.’
Whether you’re a seasoned producer or just starting out, this tool accelerates your workflow by providing fully realized melodic concepts that are easy to tweak and develop. While it can undoubtedly add value to an existing track by introducing fresh ideas, Melody Sauce 2 excels in rapidly sketching out melodies for quick demos or fleshing out the core of a song when the initial spark is elusive.
You can adjust the rhythm, complexity, and flow of individual notes, ensuring that the final output feels more personalized and tailored. This level of control allows you to tweak nuances, like the spacing between notes or the intensity of a particular section, giving you more flexibility in creating melodies that feel fresh and aligned with your track’s vibe. This makes it an invaluable tool for producers looking for highly customizable inspiration, allowing for a deeper dive into the melody’s structure.
However, there are moments when the output can feel slightly generic, and you may need to roll the dice again. I imagine this isn’t a dealbreaker for most users, but it’s worth noting if you’re looking for a more polished, out-of-the-box result on the first try, as sometimes that won’t always happen. Honestly, you’ll probably get this with any plugin of this type.
Плюсы и минусы
Плюсы:
- Intuitive interface with customizable controls.
- Versatile style menu for genre-specific melody generation.
- A fast and efficient way to overcome creative blocks.
- Quick tips provide a clear and thorough guide for new users.
Минусы:
- Some sounds can feel a little generic
Окончательный вердикт
Melody Sauce 2 is a powerful tool for producers at any level, particularly those who need a reliable source of melodic inspiration. Its balance of simplicity and depth makes it accessible while offering enough control for fine-tuning. While it’s not a replacement for human creativity, it’s an excellent assistant that can spark ideas and streamline production.
If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a blank session, unsure how to begin, Melody Sauce 2 might be the secret ingredient you’ve been looking for. After all, sometimes the secret is in the sauce.
