There are three audio files containing examples that demonstrate various elements of the new Melodic mode within the Pattern Editor as described within the SOS June 2026 main Cubase workshop article.
www.soundonsound.com/techniques/cubase-15-pattern-sequencer
The content of each is outlined below. The three examples follow a similar format but demonstrate starting from a different musical element; bass, chords and melody respectively. All the sounds were created using sounds from Drum Machine and the Writing Rooms expansion for Halion Sonic. Aside from a little compression, no other effects were applied other than those available within the virtual instruments themselves. While each of these musical ideas might only be at the ‘initial starting point’ status, each was created in just a few minutes by experimentation with the various tools contained within the Melodic mode of the Pattern Editor.
In each case, the first step was to import a four-bar chord sequence into an empty instance of the Pattern Editor. The Randomization options were then used repeatedly until something caught my ear as having promise. That idea was then developed through two further iterations using a combination of the Variation, Density and Voices controls, and some minor manual editing (for example, taking a rhythmic pattern generated in one bar and recreating it in another for a more musical (and less random) end result. You therefore here three iterations of the single starting point instrument before, finally, that is heard in a four-part musical context including drums (from Drum Machine), bass, chords and melody. Where appropriate in each case, the final pattern created for the starting point instrument has been copied to the other instruments to provide an initial basis for creating these additional elements.
Cubase 15 The Pattern Editor Audio Example 01.wav
The starting point instrument here was a bass sound. The process began by creating a four-bar bass loop to fit a chord sequence. This was done using the Mono options within the Melodic mode of the Pattern Editor and the Chords Lane was initially set to use the Root Notes option.
The audio example contains three iterations of the solo bass part and then, finally, you hear the bass part within a musical context, with the other harmonic elements derived from copying and editing the bass part.
Cubase 15 The Pattern Editor Audio Example 02.wav
The process began by creating a four-bar root-note loop to fit a chord sequence. This was done using the Mono options within the Melodic mode of the Pattern Editor and the Chords Lane was initially set to use the Root Notes option. As described in the main article, this was then developed further using the Voices option and some manual editing and you hear two further versions of the chord part to illustrate this process.
The audio example contains three iterations of the solo chord part and then, finally, you hear the chord part within a musical context, with the other harmonic elements derived from copying and editing the bass part. In this last section, the Convert Pattern Event To MIDI Part option was used on the chord pattern, and some pitch automation data was then added to the final chord in each bar.
Cubase 15 The Pattern Editor Audio Example 03.wav
The starting point instrument here was a lead-style synth sound. This example starts with creating a four-bar melodic loop to fit a chord sequence. This was done using the Mono options within the Melodic mode of the Pattern Editor and the Chords Lane was initially set to use the All Notes (of the selected key/scale) option.
As with the other examples, you hear three versions of the melodic line as it develops from the initial randomisation process via use of the Variation and Density controls and some manual editing. Finally, the melodic lines pattern is copied to other instruments which have been further edited to provide bass and chord parts, and you hear the melody in a basic musical context.