MelodyBud is a generative melodic MIDI sequencer. It plays an ordered list of steps while independently randomizing note choice, octave, velocity, gate, ratchet, and glide. Pattern-wide controls establish the musical rules, and parameter locks let individual steps override them.
The default project uses eight steps, 120 BPM, C major, an 1/8 rate, MIDI channel 1, and fixed notes at velocity 90 until you edit them.
The control strip applies to every step in the current pattern unless that step has a parameter lock for the same property.
Each time a step or ratchet sub-hit fires, MelodyBud evaluates its rules:
Random values are probabilities from 0% to 100%. Min and Max controls are normalized ranges; MelodyBud safely uses the lower and higher endpoint even if they are reversed.
Changing Key or Scale rebuilds the available note list. If existing allowed notes no longer belong to the new scale, the allowed list and related step locks are cleared.
Tap a step's number to enter parameter-lock mode for that step. The control strip changes color and displays the selected step's override values. Adjusting a control now stores a step-specific rule instead of changing the pattern-wide rule.
Tap the same step number again to leave parameter-lock mode, or tap another step number to edit that step's locks. A step can lock allowed notes, probability, random amounts, min/max ranges, allowed ratchets, and glide rules while keeping unlocked properties inherited from the pattern.
In Settings, Clear Current Pattern removes all parameter locks from the active pattern, and Clear All removes locks from every pattern. These actions do not erase the step sequence itself.
A ratchet repeats a logical step inside its normal grid duration. The ratchet count is chosen once at the beginning of that logical step, so the sub-hits remain evenly spaced. The note, octave, velocity, gate, and glide decisions are evaluated again for every sub-hit; one ratcheted step can therefore produce changing pitches or dynamics.
The step cursor advances only after all ratchet sub-hits finish.
When the resolved Glide value is above zero, MelodyBud sends MIDI CC 5 on the output channel immediately before the note. The glide amount is scaled to MIDI values 0 through 127. Whether the destination actually glides depends on that instrument's portamento setup and response to CC 5.
Use + at the end of the step lane to append steps, and − to remove the final step. Tap # to enter a precise step count. Patterns support up to 1000 steps, although very large patterns can be more demanding to edit and render.
Tap a numbered pattern to select it. Tap the Patterns + button to add a pattern using the current key and scale. Long-press a pattern for Copy, Paste, and Delete. At least one pattern is retained.
Enable Draw to swipe across faders and paint a contour. Draw mode temporarily disables horizontal scrolling; turn it off to scroll again.
Rates span 1/1 through 1/64 with dotted and triplet variants. A transport start or relocation releases the current note and restarts from step 1 at the new host position.
Settings has a Pattern Change option. It decides when a newly selected pattern starts to play. It applies to every way of choosing a pattern: tapping a pattern number, the Patterns CC, and the AUv3 Pattern parameter.
In On the new cycle mode:
MelodyBud emits notes and glide CC on one MIDI output cable and one configured output channel.
Default settings are:
On the configured MIDI input channel, a nonzero value on Patterns CC selects pattern value using 1-based numbering. The pattern starts immediately or at the end of the playing cycle, as set by Pattern Change in Settings. Program Change 69 requests BrainBud key/scale synchronization from the shared Bud app settings.
The standalone app provides MelodyBud MIDI In and MelodyBud MIDI Out virtual ports plus selectable physical MIDI inputs and outputs.
The standalone app includes an optional SoundFont sampler for auditioning the sequence. Use Sampler Enabled, Volume, and Preset in Settings. You can continue sending MIDI to external destinations while the sampler is active.
Tempo defaults to 120 BPM and can be set from 10 to 500 BPM. The Ableton Link row opens session controls for synchronization with other Link-enabled apps. MelodyBud advances only while the transport is playing.
Load Cem Olcay: MelodyBud in an AUv3 host and route MelodyBud Out to an instrument. The plugin has no internal audition sampler and follows the host's transport and tempo.
Factory presets are 4 Steps, 8 Steps, 16 Steps, and 32 Steps. The complete project is saved in the host state.
The automation surface includes Mode, Pattern, Rate, Scale, Key, Note Probability, Note Random, Octave Random/Min/Max, Velocity Random/Min/Max, Gate Random/Min/Max, Ratchet Random, and Glide Random/Min/Max. Step values and step-specific locks are edited in the plugin UI and preserved in state rather than exposed as separate automation parameters.
Shared settings include:
The standalone Settings screen additionally includes BPM, sampler controls, Ableton Link, virtual and physical MIDI ports, and MIDI Panic.
No sound: Start the transport. Then enable the standalone sampler or route MelodyBud MIDI Out/AUv3 MIDI output to an instrument listening on the configured MIDI Out Channel.
The active step moves but notes are missing: Check Note Probability. A value of 0% suppresses notes. Also verify that the allowed Notes selection is not unintentionally restrictive.
Randomization seems inactive: Raise the relevant Random percentage and make sure Min and Max or the Notes/Ratchets list offer more than one useful result. Check whether the step has a parameter lock overriding the pattern control.
A parameter changes only one step: Parameter-lock mode is active. Tap that step number again to leave it.
Glide has no audible effect: MelodyBud sends CC 5 only when the resolved Glide value is above zero. Enable portamento in the destination instrument and verify it responds to CC 5 on the selected channel.
Remote pattern selection fails: Match Patterns CC# and MIDI In Channel, send a nonzero value, and ensure the requested pattern exists.
A new pattern does not start at once: Pattern Change is set to On the new cycle. The pattern flashes until the playing pattern reaches its last step. Set Pattern Change to Immediately in Settings for an instant switch.
A note is stuck: Stop or relocate the transport, change patterns, or use MIDI Panic in standalone Settings.
AUv3 is missing: Launch the standalone app once after installation, restart the host, and rescan Audio Units. Confirm the host can route MIDI from an AUv3 MIDI-capable instrument/processor.