Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Page 2 of 2 1 2
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047
When you have the melodist selection screen open.
Select with one click the melodist style you want.
Now click on EDIT just below the box displaying all the styles.
Note top right of the edit box the number of variation.
I think default is about 100. There are also many other settings
there, but beware... you can screw up things also...
I have several times. The melodist edit area is new ballgame.
Sheez...now this will be Pandora's box.... SEE Maj7th goes over
the edge
...Meant in jest.....


FrankB

Down The Street vs2015 12-03-2014
Win7, AMD QuadA8-5500,16GB,2TeraHD, Komplete 10
PG Ultra Plus 2016,Alesis 12USB, Sonar Platinum
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 60
M
Enthusiast
OP Offline
Enthusiast
M
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 60
Haha, you're hilarious, Frank.... yes, it's that involved! And yes, I am going insane, haha.

Does anyone have any experience with getting some useful melodies generated over their own chord progressions? Is anyone a "Melodist Maker: EDIT" MASTER?

Mmm... gotta take a break from this, and fall asleep to Loretta Lynn.

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,870
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,870
Originally Posted By: major7th
Ah, crap. Well, ok... sigh.

Here's something I discovered though, when it comes to the Melodist...

1. If you disable ALL instances of the "count in" - no lead-in bar, no count in, nothing.... right after you generate a melody with Melodist (but KEEP your chord changes AND keep the style and tempo)... it usually generates a bigger variety of melodies on the melody track.

2. Is there a maximum set of rhythms and phrases that Melodist creates? It doesn't seem to be fully "random." I hear the same melody AND rhythm repeated almost every 4 or 5 times I use Melodist over the same progression (in my case, the "Let It Be" verse chords). I just wanted to see how creative BIAB could get, but it seemed like it had a maximum of 10-12 "melodies" or at least, melody rhythms that it uses. Quite bizarre...

Thoughts?



I have not done #1.

I have noticed what you refer to in #2. It did replicate a melody riff which appeared in a song I had done..... a few weeks later in a totally new song in the same general style.

so.....

I mute the melody now and don't let it play. That way, I'm free to do my own melody in the chord progression it creates.

As time goes on and you learn more about this program, you will find a way to work that you like and things will smooth out... for now however, please do continue to experiment and discover what it can and can not do. That info will serve you well later on.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
The Melodist works in the same fashion as the Style files in that there are selected phrases that fare given weighting when you generate a new performance.

That means that you will indeed notice some phrases that are the same within a given Melodist file.

Hitting the Gen/Play (or Play button in older versions, does the same thing), generates a new performance of Style accompaniments. If I have something in the way of a performance that I prefer, I have found that reclicking the Gen/Play can get it back again. Then Freeze that particualr performance.

Likewise, I have found that going back into the Melodist and choosing to REgenerate a particular Melody can yield those different performances as well. So if I'm not liking some of what a Melodist generated, I will indeed go back and run it again, looking for a different Melody arrangement.

One trick I like to use is to SaveAs with a slightly different filename for each iteration generated.

ex:

MySongMeldst01

Then regenerate a new Melodist:

SaveAs MySongMeldst02

etc.

Then I have a few different iterations in which to load and audition, from there I can better make decisions.

Of course, if you are in need of a specific Melody line, the Melodist is NOT the way to get it. Instead it should be entered onto the Melody track as a MIDI instrument, either thru Step-Entry methods, use of the marvelous QWERTY Keyboard Wizard, or a fullblown MIDI controller recording in realtime.


--Mac

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To
Page 2 of 2 1 2

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.

ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.

PG Music News
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!

All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!

It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.

What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?

XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!

Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!

The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.

The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.

The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.

Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.

The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!

Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos

With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.

Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.

Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!

Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.

Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!

Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.

2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.

Holiday Weekend Hours

As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:

April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours

Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!

— Team PG

Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!

If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.

Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!

If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!

Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics86,223
Posts802,079
Members40,071
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
Newest Members
geswho22, Orchestr8, dimtass, Quamido Pirendo, Allan63
40,071 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 125
zedd 110
DC Ron 94
rsdean 87
Noel96 75
Today's Birthdays
Jed, Richard Gibbons, UZER
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5