KVR Audio

bharris22 · Post by **bharris22** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 4:09 pm

Hi Everyone,

I am planning to use a small Windows tablet connected via USB to one of my hardware synths. I would like to use a sequencer (either standalone or VST in a DAW) to generate and manipulate chords on the synth. Does anyone have a midi sequencer of this sort - one with numerous options for chord programming and modulation - that they would particularly recommend?

Thanks!

tapper mike · Post by **tapper mike** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 7:12 am

honestly.... Band In a Box 2018
http://www.pgmusic.com/

They have redone the UI so it's more streamlined and works better on laptops/tablets. (kind of like 2004 biab but better)
Still it's no daw. running midi in is always a pain (still) and audio tracks are limited. You're best bet would be to score in biab and then port it to real band or export it to midi and open it in your own host.

Me I'm still using biab 2017 on my desktop as I have a big monitor and 2014 for my laptop as it's more streamlined even though it has considerably less features.

The real styles keep on getting better and better. Once you have a taste for them and entering chord names you'll be happy to export the realstyles as wav/wmv and import them into a regular daw for adding parts and mixdown.

Dunbar · Post by **Dunbar** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 7:35 am

bharris22 wrote:H I would like to use a sequencer (either standalone or VST in a DAW) to generate and manipulate chords on the synth.

A DAW is a midi sequencer.

Trancit · Post by **Trancit** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 8:37 am

Best answer I know: Tracktion Waveform 9...
Check out this vid... and this V8... in V9 it´s vastly improved with a chord track allowing all midi following chord changes over the whole song, custom chord creation, option for widening the chord, adding root 1 octave up and down...

They got great presets for converting the sustained notes into rythmic patterns... this is a really great composition machine!!

Trancit · Post by **Trancit** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 8:42 am

Aah... and before I forget: The other one I can recomment:

Sundog Scale Studio: http://feelyoursound.com/sundog/

Nice piece of software too

tapper mike · Post by **tapper mike** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 8:44 am

Yes and no. you can have a daw with a sequencer inside it but that doesn't mean it can generate chords on demand nor does that mean it can replicate rhythm patterns like a plugin such as "real guitar"

What separates Band in the box from all other "daws" is it's a composition tool first.

lfm · Post by **lfm** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 2:16 pm

If to be midi only - I used Jammer Pro 15 years ago with some cool features.

Enter a melody, and get various suggested arrangements with chord progressions.
Press of a button and you get another one.

Enter chord progression and get full arrangements in various styles.

I guess this is someting similar to BIAB.

Otherwise Chord Tracks in Cubase has many, many cool implementations.
Assistant to enter and listen to chords.
Have other tracks follow changes you make, even audio and vocals can be harmonized following chord tracks.
Or change key and all is transposed for you.
Or extract chord from a mixed played piano piece as a guide for guitar later.

bharris22 · Post by **bharris22** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 2:20 pm

Thank you, everyone!

I have actually been using BIAB for many years - it is fantastic, especially for practice, playing along with jazz standards, etc. I am running BIAB 2011 on my small, underpowered Windows tablet and it works with zero problems. This past holiday I upgraded to BIAB 2018 but haven't had a chance to install it on the tablet to see if it can handle it - I hope so, because the newer interface (and additional RealTracks) is the main reason I upgraded. It really is an amazing program, and one that I use nearly every day.

I am afraid, however, that I wasn't clear enough in my original request. I think I am looking for something like SugarBytes Consequence, which I have but can't seem to wrap my head around. Essentially, I would like a midi sequencer that starts with a chord progression (either a preset, or one I generate myself), and that I can manipulate in essentially real time by changing keys, inversions, rhythms, etc. as it is running out to a hardware synth. I am looking for something that will generate happy accidents, as I do not have a firm grasp of music theory and often do not know what I want something to sound like.

tatanka · Post by **tatanka** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 3:29 pm

Maybe you should have a look here:

viewtopic.php?f=43&t=496464&p=7034753#p7034753

but dont ask me question about the newest one, in case of "wrap my head about it" I am absolutely puzzled at the moment cant even tell you if it produces chord progressions at all, but I am sure in case of "happy accidents" it will work out fine

tonedef71 · Post by **tonedef71** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 9:05 pm

In the vein of tools like Biab, you should also take a look at ChordPulse.

tonedef71 · Post by **tonedef71** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 9:18 pm

Plugin Boutique sells a couple of interesting chord progression generating tools:

Scaler

and

InstaChord (which is currently on sale for $15)

I also like J74 Progressive SE:

I know of other MIDI compatible alternatives to a DAW that can create chord progressions which have not been mentioned here yet as well (e.g. Kameleono, Obelisk, etc.) ...

tonedef71 · Post by **tonedef71** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 9:23 pm

*retracted*

bharris22 · Post by **bharris22** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 9:40 pm

Very helpful - thanks!

VariKusBrainZ · Post by **VariKusBrainZ** » Fri Mar 16, 2018 9:43 pm

http://www.musicdevelopments.com/

raintalk · Post by **raintalk** » Sat Mar 17, 2018 1:28 am

This one can be fun
http://www.re-compose.com/liquid-notes- ... tware.html

Best Midi Sequencer for Chords?