chord assistant plugin i'm working on - suggestions wanted

[jmp909]

Hi,

I am working on a VSTi plugin that you can route to any synth, that lets you select up to 12 chord types on the lower keyboard.... and then transpose the chord with the upper keyboard, to allow for two finger chord jamming. (one finger to switch chord type, the other to transpose it)

I shall be releasing a basic free version of this soon. Many thanks to Chris Kerry, David Haupt, and Jeff McClintock (yes it's made in synthedit) who helped me to build it because i've been after something like this for years as i'm not really a musician.

Advanced version will allow for: over 60 predefined chords; user defined chords; inversions; velocity randomization (for more human feel); strumming; assigning key splits for:

1) Chord Selection
2) Bass Notes
3) Chord Transposition Notes

don't ask me when because i haven't started building the advanced version yet!

other current ideas for additions are: stereo trancegate (using MIDI Volumes); assigning controller pads (rather than keyboard) for chord switching;

Any suggestions for extra features for either version much appreciated.

regards
j.

here's a screenshot.. very basic.. i'll be giving it a better skin..

[juicyboy]

sounds wicked - can I be a beta tester?

that interface is a dog though

[BoksteR]

this plugin idea sounds gr8, very useful
the gui looks clean & cool
I`m using XP+sp2 with CubaseSX2 if you need to beta test it

[mtyas]

It's a great idea, I hope you put in some nice voicing chords too (you could even group them up into guitar (6 notes maximum) keyboards (10 notes maximum) percussion (4 notes maximum) ...)

The idea I think of, if it's possible of course, is a sync to midi kind of thing, where you can chose to have the chord change either immediately, or at the next bar or others. I could be usefull for live use.

The other idea is having chord progressions, and by just pressing a miditrigger you would go along the progression. That could also be very usefull, especialy for live use with a mididrum kit for example.

Anyway, keep the good work going, and good luck (and like the others said, if you need help beta-testing... )

[jmp909]

dont understand this:

I hope you put in some nice voicing chords too (you could even group them up into guitar (6 notes maximum) keyboards (10 notes maximum) percussion (4 notes maximum)

as for chord progressions i did think about that. pre-programmed sequences that you can trigger by jamming a single note to the beat you want.

maybe some other time.. i don;t think its really the focus of this version.

the screenshot is just to demonstrate i have a version that does it's basic job. i plan to personalize the skin a bit more, i just used Oli Larkin's skin for now because it was uncluttered.

The current version has the occasional hung notes when switching which i need to look into. I'll try and get an alpha out for testing next week. Thanks for the offers.

j.

[Peel]

Sounds good! So will you need to hold down the lower key to harmonize, or just tap it to set the type of chord? I would like to see the latter (an option for each is always good of course) -- leaves your second hand free most of the time to fiddle controls or jump back up to the upper keyboard.
Of course, in that case, having one lower key for "no harmonization" would be good.
The ability to cycle through inversions with a controler would be nice too.

[dougsyo]

This sounds a little like what some of the Yamaha keyboards do - in the first 1.5 octaves:

* press one key for major
* one key and the next-lowest black key for minor
* one key and next-lowest white key for 7th
* one key + next lowest white and black keys for minor 7th.

It doesn't cover suspended, major 7ths, etc but it's still useful. OneManBand and LiveStyler both work this way, but they're not VSTI (the latter has a mode to work with a loopback cable, specifically designed for use with B-4).

VST support is nice (-:

Doug

[Stupid American Pig]

I would like to see something that worked similar to Virtual guitarist's chord "guessing" feature. I have a decent chord vocab, but it would be nice to just throw my fingers areound and see what I am playing so I could translate that to guitar...

[jmp909]

i'm in a bit of discussion as to suitable controls for switching various parameters.

the 7ths, sus etc i've just defined as a specific chord eg you map sus4 to C1 and maj7 to D1 you can then press C1, A3, D1, G3 to get the sequence: A3sus4, G3maj7

i'm not a musician so i dont know if my notation is wrong it just transposes a particular chord type.

i guess having 7ths etc as another controller is one option, i'll look into that one you mentioned.

however it has been suggested i allow for external controllers (eg those with 16 pads) to do some of the swapping, so left hand controls pads, right hand controls midi keyboard.... eventually you start having to be very dextrous! (need controllers mapped for inversions etc as well... i thought maybe white keys for chords, black keys to trigger inversions & also strumming direction etc...tricky!!)

j.

[deleted]

DELETED

[topaz]

it sounds a lot like my
ChordworX and ChordworX Pro

http://www.kvraudio.com/get/1132.html
http://www.kvraudio.com/get/1089.html

complete nightmare to configure but can be done

I hope you can make a variation or advance on these
coz I took these as far as poss before going

there are about 20zillian vurtual wires

[jmp909]

1. does this mean i can just tap in the root of each chord and let the plug root this to the VSTi as a full chord?

you set up a different chord type (eg Major, Minor, Sus4, Maj7b etc) on each of C1-B1 by selecting the chord from a dropdown list. You can then use those notes to switch chord and the middle/upper keyboard to tranpose the chord, so if you map Major to C1 and Minor to D1, if you hit C1 then A3 then D1 then B4 you will get eg A3Major, B4Minor. (C1..B1 dont trigger sounds, theyre just switches)

2.will it be possable to record the MIDI output of the plug into cubase? (SX2)

exactly what i built it for. you route your midi in to the chord plugin on one dummy track and then route the chord plugin to any vsti or external synth on another track. In SX theres a "monitor" button on the track that you will need to highlight so both tracks take the inputs when playing/recording.

and just to prove it works here's me jamming it thru a vsti... http://www.interference.co.uk/temp/chordman.mp3

whats it called and when is it gonna be available

"The ChordMaster 5000". it's a bit of a joke really as its the most ridiculous name i could think of. don't ask me when i'm workin on it!! but i'll release an alpha version of the basic verson for testing soon.

j

[jmp909]

it sounds a lot like my
ChordworX and ChordworX Pro

indeed. i tried your plugin which is all cool but didnt fulfil my needs.

in fact outside of hardware options yours is the only other plugin that i found that does this

respect,
j.

[Marc JX8P]

Perhaps an arpeggioter could be included?

[Galleoneer]

"The ChordMaster 5000". it's a bit of a joke really as its the most ridiculous name i could think of. don't ask me when i'm workin on it!! but i'll release an alpha version of the basic verson for testing soon.

j

Is it possible to choose another name (i.e. Chordblaster). I have a unannounced project dealing with chords, too. It is completly different than yours. But as i called the first one Phrasemaster I would call the second Chordmaster, too. BTW, imagine what you get if you load in chords as phrases into the Phrasemaster -> right your product. Indeed Phrasemaster has endless sonic possibilities. But go on it only proves its worth making:)

-cheers