Mixed In Key has just announced an update to its Captain Melody app, a tool that is part of the Captain Plugins suite of music production aids. As the name suggests, Captain Melody helps you quickly come up with a hook for your production by giving you a unique set of melodic writing tools. Version 3.0 sees the addition of a new “Idea Box” feature that lets you take a melody line you’ve written and create variations with it such as changing its Shape (which rearranges the notes you’ve played) and its Rhythm (which changes the timing of the notes). You can even use the Random tool to come up with a totally fresh melodic sequence for inspiration.
We’ve reviewed Captain Plugins and think that it’s a useful collection of tools for DJ/producers. There is a bit of a learning curve and you do need to spend time integrating it into your current workflow, but the benefits are tremendous, especially if you’re in the music production business where you need to come up with ideas quickly for clients. Even if you’re just starting out in the DJ/producer game, Captain Plugins can also be useful once you’ve got over the hurdle of learning your way around your DAW.
• Captain Melody 3.0 is available now as part of the Captain Plugins suite that costs US$79. Check the Captain Plugins site for more details.
What are your thoughts on this plugin? Have you tried using the Captain Plugins suite in the past? What’s your favourite method for coming up with melodies? Let us know in the comments.
Joey Santos
