Where’s the Future of Virtual Instruments and Performers Headed? Meet Melisma AI Strings & Woodwinds

Hey there! I’m Jooyoung Kim, an engineer and music producer.

AI-generated music has been making waves in the media for a while now, with research and commercial applications popping up left and right. But there are still some lesser-known AI projects in the music world—especially those leveraging unique learning methods—that deserve more attention.

Today, I want to introduce you to what I think is the most composer-friendly AI music tool I’ve come across lately. (No, this isn’t sponsored… haha!)

[link: https://kagura-music.jp/melisma]

Developed single-handedly by a creator in Japan, Melisma is seriously impressive—give it a listen, and you’ll be floored. This is still beta-stage audio, mind you. I first stumbled across it last year during its beta phase, and even then, it blew me away.

What’s Melisma All About?

Melisma takes sheet music in MusicXML format, sorted by instrument parts, and spits out incredibly natural-sounding audio. The quality hinges a lot on how well you write the articulations—those little details can totally change the vibe.

It’s got a list of supported and unsupported articulations, but even with that in mind… wow. It’s way cheaper than hiring real musicians and sounds so much more authentic than your average virtual instrument. I couldn’t help but wonder: are live performers, virtual instrument makers, and even string-focused studios in real danger now?

This got me thinking about my own future as a musician… 😢 I’ve actually started dabbling in AI learning research myself lately, but as a music creator, it’s a bittersweet feeling.

Mind-Blowing Realism

It’s not just strings either—check out the demo sounds, and you’ll hear woodwinds with breath noises so lifelike it’s insane. It almost feels like we’re entering a new era of score-writing. When I first heard it, I was hit with a wave of mixed emotions—excitement, awe, and a little dread.

They’ve got vocal synthesis too, but honestly, that part still feels a bit rough around the edges… haha. It’s not quite there yet.

What really shocked me, though? The price. The standalone version (Windows-only for now) is just 15,000 yen per instrument—about the cost of a single virtual instrument plugin. Could this be the future of virtual instruments? I’m starting to think so.

Trying It Out

I mixed Melisma with some traditional string virtual instruments in an unreleased track of mine, and the results were pretty darn good. That said, every now and then, you get some odd, glitchy sounds popping up. It’s not perfect—sometimes you’ve got to tweak and regenerate to get it just right.

The developer, by the way, has a fascinating background—used to play recorder, composes a ton, and has a pretty unique resume. You can read more about them here: [link: http://nakasako.jp/about].

Recognition and Reflections

Last year, Melisma won the Best Presentation Award in the Best Application category at the Music and Computer (MUS) Research Group’s session during Japan’s Information Processing Society conference. That’s some serious cred!

It’s a reminder that the world doesn’t reward just one kind of obsession anymore. Old jobs fade, new ones emerge—it’s bittersweet to watch, but there’s no fighting the tide. That’s why I think it’s worth diving into all sorts of skills and studies; you never know what’ll come in handy.

Even I’m struggling to make ends meet sometimes, but to all my fellow musicians out there—let’s keep pushing forward!

Closing Thoughts

Melisma’s potential has me both excited and a little nervous about where music creation is headed. It’s a tool that could shake up how we think about virtual instruments and live performance—and at a price that’s hard to argue with.

That’s it for now—see you in the next post! 😊

Headrush ReValver Suite on Sale (50% Off, Until 3/31)

Hey everyone! I’m Jooyoung Kim, an engineer and music producer.

Starting this week, Plugin Boutique is holding a sale on Headrush’s ReValver, an amp and effects simulation plugin that I think is seriously worth checking out. I’ve been impressed enough to write up a little intro for you all!

I got a 3-month demo code for this plugin from Plugin Boutique to try it out. Also, if you buy it through the links in this post, I’ll earn a small commission that really helps me keep doing what I do—so thank you in advance! 😊

Ready to get started? Let’s go!

What Makes ReValver Stand Out?

Click image to purchase Headrush’s ReValver

Headrush’s ReValver is up there with the likes of IK Multimedia’s Amplitube, Native Instruments’ Guitar Rig, and Positive Grid’s Bias FX—all of which I’ve used before. But what grabbed me right away is how intuitive its UI feels.

At the top, you’ve got a clear signal path laid out: Stomp (pedals) → Amp & Cabinet → Effects. Just click on any section, hit the “+” button, and add whatever you want. Super straightforward.

ReValver comes packed with 72 stompbox effects, 49 amps, 47 cabinets, and 20 additional effects. These days, most sims offer a ton of options, so I won’t bore you with a full rundown. Instead, let’s focus on the three big features that set ReValver apart from the crowd:

  1. Loading External Plugins (VST3, AU)
  2. ACT (Audio Cloning Technology) – Capturing audio characteristics
  3. Tweaking Schematic – Circuit-level adjustments

These give ReValver a level of flexibility that’s honestly pretty mind-blowing.

1. Loading External Plugins

Click image to purchase Headrush’s ReValver

This feature is straight-up wild—I mean it! If ReValver doesn’t have the exact amp sound you’re after, you can just pull in something from Amplitube, Guitar Rig, or any other VST3/AU plugin. You can also layer on filters, sound-shaping tools, or whatever crazy effects you’ve got in your arsenal to create totally unique tones.

Don’t like ReValver’s built-in compressor pedal? Swap it out for something like a UADx LA-2A right inside the plugin. The routing freedom here is unreal—you’re basically unlimited in how you can mix and match.

Honestly, this alone makes me want to recommend ReValver to everyone. With a little creativity, the possibilities are endless!

2. ACT (Audio Cloning Technology)

Click image to purchase Headrush’s ReValver

ACT is another killer feature. Short for Audio Cloning Technology, it lets you profile the sound of a real guitar or amp and transform it into a different instrument or tone. It’s like magic for tone chasers.

You can apply ACT in three spots:

  • Input Stage: Profile your instrument.
  • Amp & Cabinet: Clone amp tones.
  • Effects Rack: Shape the final sound.

At the input stage, it offers 43 default tones covering acoustic guitars, basses, and electrics. Play your instrument into the Source Profile to analyze it, then pick a Target Profile for the sound you want to achieve. The same process works for amps and effects racks too.

It’s a game-changer if you want to turn, say, an acoustic guitar into an electric vibe or match your amp to a legendary tone.

3. Tweaking Schematic (Circuit Adjustments)

Click image to purchase Headrush’s ReValver

When I first saw this, my jaw dropped. Right-click an amp and select Tweaking Schematic, and you’re literally tweaking the virtual circuitry—like you’re inside the amp itself. Some models support it fully, others only partially:

  • Full Support: Peavey and Budda amps, built in collaboration with ReValver’s developers, let you tweak almost everything thanks to detailed circuit modeling.
  • Partial Support: Non-Peavey amps (like Marshall JCM800 or Mesa Dual Rectifier) have limited tweaks—like swapping tubes or adjusting the output section—since only parts of their circuits are mapped.

If you’re a gear nerd who loves digging into schematics, this is your dream come true. It’s not just Impulse Response (IR) snapshots either—these amps are digitally modeled at the circuit level, which makes them feel more alive and tweakable.

Why I Recommend It

Purchase Headrush’s Revalver at Plugin Boutique

After playing around with it, I’m genuinely impressed. You can assign MIDI controls to any parameter, and the built-in stomps, effects, amps, and cabinets are all rock-solid. But the real kicker? That ability to load external plugins—it’s a total game-changer.

Right now, it’s 50% off until March 31st. Whether you buy from Headrush’s site or Plugin Boutique, there’s a 10% tax added. That said, I’d go with Plugin Boutique—you’ll get a free plugin and some bonus points, making it a smarter deal overall.

Wrapping Up

ReValver’s mix of top-notch modeling, cloning tech, and insane flexibility makes it a standout choice. Whether you’re a guitarist, a producer, or just starting out, it’s a tool worth having in your kit.

That’s all for now—catch you in the next post! 😊

Scaler EQ and Scaler 2 on Sale (Free Scaler 3 Update with Scaler 2 Purchase, Until 3/31)

Hey there! I’m Jooyoung Kim, an engineer and music producer.

Today, I want to talk about two standout plugins from Plugin Boutique that are currently on sale: Scaler EQ and Scaler 2. I’ve been lucky enough to receive these plugins as NFR (Not for Resale) copies from Plugin Boutique. Also, if you purchase through the links in this post, I’ll earn a small commission that really helps me keep going—so thanks in advance for the support! 😊

Let’s dive in!

Scaler EQ

Click image to purchase Scaler EQ

Scaler EQ is one of the flagship plugins from Scaler Music, distributed by Plugin Boutique. Sure, it has all the standard EQ features you’d expect, but what sets it apart are these three unique tricks up its sleeve:

  1. Key-Based Boosting and Cutting: It can boost sounds that fit the song’s key while reducing those that don’t.
  2. Magic Shelf Bands with Mid/Side Control: Adjust frequency responses using Mid/Side processing for a wider or more focused sound.
  3. Dynamic Control: Fine-tune the loudness with built-in dynamics processing.

Let’s take a closer look at how it works.

Play your track and hit the Detect Key button—it’ll automatically figure out the key of your song. You can also manually pick a key by clicking the middle key selection button. The Global button applies that key across all EQ bands.

In Scale Lock Mode, the In Scale setting boosts notes within the key when using Harmonic Peak mode (highlighted in white on the piano roll). Turn it off, and it’ll boost whatever notes you’ve selected instead.

The Flip Harmonics option comes into play when the gain is negative in Harmonic Peak mode—it cuts notes outside the key. Disable it, and it’ll cut the in-key notes instead.

The Dynamics section feels pretty standard for a dynamic EQ, but the real stars here are Harmonic Peak, Harmonic Peak +/-, and Magic Low/High Shelf.

  • Harmonic Peak: Emphasizes notes within your chosen key.
  • Harmonic Peak +/-: Boosts in-key notes and cuts out-of-key ones at the same time.
  • Magic Low Shelf: Highlights the Mid over the Side for a punchier low end.
  • Magic High Shelf: Boosts the Side over the Mid for a wider, airier top end.

These features might sound simple, but when used well, they can bring out the harmonics of your key in totally unique ways, adding fresh colors to your sound.

As far as I know, Scaler EQ is the only EQ out there that adjusts sound based on musical scales like this. It’s a rare gem, and with it on sale, now’s a great time to grab it! 😊

Scaler 2

Click image to purchase Scaler 2

Scaler 2 is a versatile tool packed with features to help you create music. Here’s the core of what it does:

  1. Extract Chord Progressions: Pull chords from MIDI or audio files.
  2. Rearrange or Reharmonize: Tweak and transform those chords however you like.
  3. Choose Presets: Pick lines or voicings from its built-in instruments.
  4. Export as MIDI: Capture everything and drag it into your DAW.

When you download Scaler 2, you’ll get three versions:

  • Scaler2: The virtual instrument version.
  • ScalerAudio2: An effect version tailored for analyzing audio tracks.
  • ScalerControl2: An AU MIDI plugin, perfect for controlling external instruments in DAWs like Logic Pro.

You could take chords from a song you love and use them to build something entirely new. Or start fresh with over 400 genre-based chord sets and 200+ artist chord sets included as presets.

Personally, I think it’s a lifesaver when you’ve got a rough chord progression but can’t figure out the bass, melody, or guitar lines. It’s also great for nailing piano or guitar voicings if those feel tricky. Plus, it’s a handy tool for studying music—perfect for copying and analyzing songs you admire.

It might look overwhelming with all its features, but spend about 30 minutes messing around, and it’s not hard to get the hang of it. On the left, under SRC, you’ll see three options: MIDI, AUDIO, and OPEN AUDIO FILE. MIDI and AUDIO let you record in real-time to extract chords, while OPEN AUDIO FILE pulls them straight from an audio file. Once you do that, chords pop up alongside the detected scale, like in the image above.

Chords in blue are within the detected scale, while those in gray are outside it. You can drag these chords down to create a pattern.

Once you’ve got a pattern, head to the top right where you’ll find Perform, Keys-Lock, Voice Grouping, and Humanize. These let you tweak the MIDI patterns—think arpeggios, strumming, or natural timing variations.

The catch? You can only preview sounds using Scaler 2’s built-in virtual instruments. That said, there’s a decent variety, so you can get a rough idea of how it’ll sit in your track.

When you’re happy with everything, hit the MIDI CAPTURE button at the bottom right, play it back, and record the pattern as MIDI.

Then, drag the DRAG button into your DAW’s MIDI channel, and boom—your pattern’s ready to go!

Beyond that, Scaler 2 can suggest modulation paths (like where and how to change keys) and even hook up external instruments via MIDI routing—though that’s a bit trickier to set up.

Having used it myself, I can say it’s a super useful tool in tons of ways. It’s especially awesome for beginners learning to compose—it takes the intimidation factor out of chord progressions and music theory.

Bundle Deal and Final Thoughts

Purchase Scaler Bundle at Plugin Boutique

The sale runs until March 31st, and bundling Scaler 2 and Scaler EQ together gets you an even better deal. Plus, if you buy Scaler 2 now, you’ll get the upcoming Scaler 3 update (slated for this month) for free. It’s a steal at this price, so I’d highly recommend jumping on it while it lasts.

That’s it for now—hope to see you in the next post! 😊

Basics of Mixing (End) – 14.5 The Codecs of Music Files

Hello? This is Jooyoung Kim, a mixing engineer and music producer. Today, I’ll talk about the music file codecs, final article of basics of mixing series. Those posts are based on my book, Basics of Mixing, published in South Korea.

Let’s dive in!

Codec

The term codec stands for coder-decoder—a hardware or software that encodes and decodes digital signals. There are three main types of codecs:

  1. Non-compression: WAV, AIFF, PDM(DSD), PAM
  2. Lossless Compression: FLAC, ALAC, WMAL
  3. Lossy Compression: WMA, MP3, AAC

Non-compression codecs retain 100% of the original audio data with no compression applied.

Lossless compression codecs reduce file size while preserving all original data. This means they sound identical to uncompressed formats like WAV.

Lossy compression codecs remove some audio data to achieve a much smaller file size, which can affect sound quality depending on the compression level.

In the music industry, WAV, MP3, and FLAC are the most commonly used formats for mastering and distribution.

How is file size determined?

For WAV files, size is determined by sample rate and bit depth. How about mp3 and FLAC?

MP3 files use bitrate, rather than sample rate and bit depth. You’ve probably seen MP3 files labeled 256kbps or 320kbps. This means 256,000 bits or 320,000 bits of audio data are processed per second. Higher bitrates result in better sound quality but larger file sizes.

FLAC files use compression level to control file size. A higher compression level takes longer to encode but results in a smaller file. However, since FLAC is lossless, the sound quality remains unchanged regardless of the compression level.

If you want to compare how different codecs affect sound quality, you can use tools like Sonnox Codec Toolbox or Fraunhofer Pro-Codec.

This is the last article for the ‘Basics of Mixing’ series. Time is really quick..haha.

I hope these posts have helped expand your knowledge and improve your mixing skills.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in the next post!