about | examples | how to use

About

Melody Generator for Android uses a new theory of melody to automatically generate melodies with the tap of a finger. Melody Generator can provide quick and easy assistance to composers and songwriters who need quick melody ideas, or who just want to play around. The current version of Melody Generator includes the following features:

• 8 bar melodies
• Time signatures: 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, 6/8
• Random chord progressions
• Random or custom key signatures (A, Bb, B, C, Db, D)
• Random or custom tempos
• Use of whole notes, half note, quarter notes, 8th notes, and 16th notes

Find "Melody Generator" on the Android market

Examples

• Example 1
• Example 2
• Example 3
• Example 4
• Example 5
• Example 6
• Example 7
• Example 8
• Example 9
• Example 10

Many more can be heard in this ZIP file with 99 examples.

How to use

Composing melodies

To compose melodies, simply tap the Compose Melodies button on the main menu. Each melody will be saved as a MIDI file on your SD card under a directory called "melodies". It may take the program a few minutes to generate the melodies; it all depends on the processing speed of your device, how many melodies you are composing, and what sort of melodies you are composing.

You can change the file name with the Change file name button. The generator will automatically append a number (such as "-5.mid") to the end of your file name as it writes melodies.

Melody Settings

By tapping the Melody Settings button, you can customize what sort of melodies you want the melody generator to generate. The Melody Settings menu gives you the following options:

• Melodies to compose: This allows you to set the number of melodies you'd like the melody generator to compose in a single batch.
• 16th notes: This allows you to restrict or grant permission for the generator to use 16th notes in its melodies.
• Key signature: This allows you to choose what key signature you'd like the melodies in. (Currently there are only six options: A, Bb, B, C, Db, and D. More key signatures will of course be added at some point in the future.)
• Tempo: This allows you to set the tempo you'd like the melody to play at
• Ending Note: This allows you to set what note you'd like the melody to end with. Choosing "tonic" will make the melody sound complete. Choosing "supertonic" or "dominant" will make the melody sound as if a repeat or another melody is supposed to come after it.
• Instrument: This allows you to choose what MIDI instrument you'd like the MIDI file to be generated using.
• Reset: This resets all settings to their default values.

Reviewing melodies

Once you are done composing your melodies, you can listen to them by tapping the Review Melodies button on the main menu. You will then see a list of all the MIDI files found on your SD card's "melodies" directory. The pop-up menu on this screen will allow you change the melody player's play settings. The Repeat option will make the melody player repeat a melody when it is done playing. The Go to next option will make the player automatically play the next melody it finds. The pop-up menu will also allow you to delete all the MIDI files found the "melodies" directory.

You can listen to a melody by tapping on it; this will bring up the melody player. On the melody player screen, you can tap the forward and next buttons to go to the previous melody or the next melody. You also have the following options:

• Rename: If you particularly enjoy a certain melody, this button allows you to change the file name to help it stand out a bit more.
• Email: This allows you to email the melody as an attachment. This is handy if you want to easily get just one melody on your computer. (You can of course also retrieve melodies straight off your SD card if you'd like to copy them all at once.)
• Delete: If you particularly hate a certain melody and wish to vanquish it from the world immediately, this button will easily get the job done.
• Stop / Play: This will, of course, stop the melody from the playing, or start it playing again if stopped.