Sundog Song Studio Review by FeelYourSound
Sundog is a standalone solution to develop new chord progressions, melodies, and to some stretch complete score.
The product has been updated over the years; we reviewed version 3.2. FeelYourSound did send a review copy with no strings attached.
Installation
Sundog Scale Studio is an application – not a plugin for your DAW. The tool connects to your DAW through MIDI. Under MAC you can use virtual MIDI channels to communicate directly with the DAW. On Windows, you need to install a virtual loopback MIDI cable for Windows to feed your DAW.
Sound
There are hundreds of patterns included. Sundog arranged those over 500 chord progressions in various categories. The tools encourage you to find the right chord progression, or it revealed the needed bassline or just a required melodic pattern.
The whole way to use Sundog is to select a root note and scale you want to work in. Then on the chords page create a progression.
You can stop here and export to midi, or drag the midi into your DAW with the “MIDI Drag function.” You can further fine tune the melody or idea in Sundog, and when you have the MIDI in your DAW, you need to work on the information to remove the machine-generated song which you can hear. Apparently, after that task, you have a good starting point which you can further develop into a fully formed song.
User interface & Usability
The UI is easy to use and allows you to go deep if needed. Overall the program combined with the available training material will enable you to produce quickly.
The developing company has developed programs like “5 song styles in 10 minutes – the challenge” which help you to get focused on producing songs in a short period. Demo MIDI files are available here.
Rating: Four out of five stars
Sundog is a tool that helps composer to overcome a writer’s block and helps the less experienced producer to come up with a high starting point for a new song idea.
Talented composer or producer without classical training do benefit the most from this tool. Sundog can successfully address several shortcomings that producer and composer face, either the experience or when you do run out of inspiration. EDM producer would benefit the most, mainly to the low-level of complexity needed in the song. Sundog is a producer’s most significant friend and hidden tool.
