Play your first chord
Start with the built-in synth. No recording or MIDI connection needed.
- Open Sound. Set Source → Synth and choose a sound with the blue knob.
- Return to Chords. Choose a Key and Scale, or leave them at C and Major.
- Hold a large pad to play. Release it to stop. Try C → F → G → C.
The display switches to Live while a chord sounds. Release the pads and turn off Freeze before changing settings.
Try the browser demo ↗Find your way around
- Knobs
- Drag up or down to change a value. Tap to advance one step.
- Screen keys
- Use the four round keys to navigate. Page 1 / Page 2 switches settings; Back leaves a nested page.
- Chord pads
- Hold one or more to play. Roman numerals are scale degrees; the chord name and notes update with your settings.
- Live view
- Shows the notes and chords being sent out. Settings lock while playing; pads, modifiers and Freeze stay available.
Choose your harmony
Open Chords. The four knobs on Page 1 control:
| Knob | Setting | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Green | Key | The root key. All 12 notes are available. |
| Blue | Scale | Major, natural minor, Dorian or Mixolydian. |
| Purple | Type | Triad, 7th, 9th, sus2 or sus4. |
| Yellow | Voicing | Smooth: smaller moves between chords. Root: close to root position. Open: more space between notes. |
For Octave, press Page 2 and turn the green knob (−2 to +2). Change octave between chords.
Change a chord while playing
Hold a striped modifier pad before or during a chord. Release it to return to the original chord. If you hold several, the last one takes precedence.
Keep it playing with Freeze
Hold a pad to play. Release to stop.
Try the snowflake above. This illustration cycles through the three states; it makes no sound.
- First press: freeze chords. Tap a chord to hold it; tap it again to release it.
- Second press: freeze modifiers too. Tap a modifier to keep it, tap it again to remove it, or choose another.
- Third press: turn Freeze off.
Choose a sound
Open Sound and use the green Source knob.
- Synth
- Choose Warm, Pure, Reed, Bright or Pad with the blue knob. Purple controls volume; yellow selects drums.
- Audio
- Play a recording or imported sample as chords. Use Set to choose the sample and Env to shape it. Follow the steps below ↓
Add a beat
Select Circuit or Dust on the Drum knob. The beat runs continuously, independently of chord presses. Select Off to stop it.
Drums run at 120 BPM, or follow incoming MIDI clock when enabled in System.
Play your own audio
- Open Sound and set Source → Audio.
- Press Set, then Import a file or press ● Rec. For voice, sing one steady note. Press Rec again to finish.
- Select a saved sound with the green knob and press Load.
- Press Back. Set the blue Root to the note you recorded, then use purple Tune for fine adjustment.
Allow microphone access when asked. A red inner screen border and timer show that recording is running.
Choose how pitch changes
Higher notes play faster and finish sooner. Lower notes play slower and last longer.
Pitch changes while timing stays close to the original. Large pitch shifts can sound processed.
Choose either with the yellow Transpose knob on Sound.
Shape the sample in Env
- Attack · green
- How quickly the sound fades in.
- Release · blue
- How long the sound fades after you let go.
- Loop · purple
- Repeat the sample while the pad is held.
- Start · yellow
- Skip the beginning of the sample, from 0–90%.
Use Preview to listen, then Back to return to Sound.
Samples stay in this device’s app storage. Removing the app removes them.
Record a performance
- Press the narrow red-dot pad beside Freeze to start a take.
- Play your chords and modifiers. Press the red-dot pad again to finish.
- On Chords → Load, choose a take with the green knob and press Play.
Use Stop to end playback, Rename to give the take a name, or Delete to remove it.
Takes store timed note events, including the notes produced by modifiers. They do not save a rendered audio track. Playback uses the current sound and MIDI destination. Empty takes are discarded.
Connect your MIDI gear
- Connect your MIDI device to the phone or tablet with a compatible cable or adapter.
- Open System. Use green to select its MIDI destination.
- Set the blue Channel to match the receiving instrument. Play a chord pad.
The app refreshes connected devices automatically.
- Volume · purple
- Controls app audio. Your external MIDI instrument has its own volume.
- Clock · yellow
- On: follow incoming MIDI tempo for drums and a white screen pulse. Off: ignore incoming clock.
- Page 2
- Green selects the drum kit. Blue turns the mini keyboard on or off; it appears only in Live view.
Quick reference
| Keyboard shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| 1–7 | Hold chord pads |
| Q W E R | Advance knobs; hold Shift to reverse |
| A S D F | Press the four screen keys |
| Z C V B | Hold modifiers |
| X | Cycle Freeze |
| Space | Stop notes |
| Esc | Back from Env / Set; otherwise stop notes |
Something not working?
No sound
Check app and device volume. For Synth, choose a preset. For Audio, select an entry in Set and press Load. Selecting an entry alone does not load it.
Recording will not start
Enable microphone access for Chord Machine in device settings. Return to Sound → Audio → Set and press Rec. Check the screen for an error.
Controls will not change
Settings lock in Live view. Release held pads, switch Freeze off and stop take playback before changing settings.
No MIDI sound
Check the connection, select the destination in System, and match the receiving MIDI channel. Also check the external instrument’s volume.