Has anyone used this to drive a digitone?
Really like how deep this looks. Apparently I can import all of the chords I create in Scaler which would be really great as that would be a lot more immediate, portable and fun to use with my MPC. If this arrives at a locat retailer before scaler 3 for iPad drops Iām definitely grabbing one. Almost grabbed a used Orchid but it seems to have just 10% of CC features for almost 3x the price which is absurd.
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Hello Daveā¦
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Your my wife now
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What is your source on this? I didnāt think you could import chords onto the chordcat, only save to PC and āexportā them via MIDI out.
As an aside, You can very easily record and export chords from the Chordcat into the Expressive Chords Ableton device which is nice.
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Interesting. I did not know you could do that.
Orchid not supporting augmented chords is a dealbreaker for me. I guess Tame Impala doesnāt use aug chords in their music, but some of my all time fave pop songs do, as well as other music I love.
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Oh wow thatās unfortunate and disappointing. I guess I misunderstood the video on the site where it briefly went over chord import/export.
7:30 in he shows how str8 forward it is to drag midi files to and from chordcat so im not sure why it wouldnt import midi files from Scaler.
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What attracts you about it? I like the look and price of it but every time I think about buying I recall that my MPC has some pretty good chord tools under Pad Perform (although thereās a shifting octave bug I wish theyād fix). That said, you canāt load/edit your own chords or scales although you can copy chords from an arrangement into a progression.
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Scaler 3 has an amazing new sketch and arrangement feature which i know very well and looks alot deeper than this. So this looks like it may be a great way to extend Scalers utility by importing progressions/loops ive made out of chords in Scaler arrangement right into Chordcat. Scaler has deep articulation, performance, chord midi editing, etc that CC doesnt so itāll likely always be the ultimate chord app. The latest 3.2 update is insane but I just donāt love using it with MPC. Much rather something like this for that and songwriting on the go.
However, Scaler is software. I really like that CC is Hw and has drums. I dont love using my computer for music anymore. i have no idea when the ipad version is dropping which would likely quell my interest in this but perhaps not if i gwt my hands on it and find it fun or inspiring.
You are right tho, Live 3 has plenty of great chords ans progression but nowhere close to this and certainly not scaler.
*apologies for the excessive edits, editing from ios26 is hell on iPads and iPhone 17.
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I really wish Orchid was a bit deeper. As i understand it, you cannot create and save songs. Just one loop at a time. Also, very limited connectivity. Shame because i love the aesthetic. Looks sexy even lol. Marketing is phenomenal. Almost got me. Theres one in my area listed for sale with the orange bag for 475 but that still seems steep for what it does.
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Yes, but I donāt think you can assign these imported MIDI files into the chord and cruiser engine. I may be wrong but Iām pretty sure this is how it works. At the very least, I know programming chords into steps is a one way street. You can write a chord into a step, but not a step into a chord slot.
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I think weāre both kinda right. I may be miscommunicating my intent with the scaler x Chordcat combo.
As you said, you cannot import individual chords but you definitely can import midi files which is what I need. You can even specify how many bars you want to import directly to Chordcat arranger which is perfect because thatās exactly what I want. No need for importing individual chords from scaler. Cc already has all the chords in the world.
Scaler 3 arranger is mega deep so I want to export whole progressions, loops and songs to be imported into CC. Looks like thatās def possible and easy to do.
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Oh ok I see now, you just want to move chords there and use the chordcat as a basic groove box. Yes itāll do this. Kind of overkill though haha.
I guess midi importing is probably an uncommon feature though? I canāt say Iāve heard of another box that does it so seamlessly.
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I think itās actually marketed as a groovebox. So yeah thatās how Iād like to use it when on the go away from MPC or when I just want something small, fast to write songs on.
Also to control MPC. Seems faster than using computer.
Do you have one? How do you like it? *nevermind. Going back throufh thread now to read user comments now. Thsnks.
Sure Orchid has multiple limitations, but the lack of augmented chord support means you canāt use it to help you create a song like this and that makes me a little sad
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I guess thatās true, but this wouldnāt be my first choice as a groovebox if I didnāt want the chord generation stuff. In terms of work flow, feature set, button feel/build quality, and the overall groovebox āpackageā itās not my favorite. But the chord cruiser features more than makes up for it all
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Thanks. Indeed def not my first, second or third best option for groovebox. Moreso a compliment to my Groovebox/DAW of choice (MPC). Youre pretty much confirming that it may be as useful as i think for songwriting. Chord cruiser looks really sweet.
Im assuming the drums also get exported with midi files which will conrrol MPC pads and extensive sample library, chops, etc.
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Iāll have to take a closer look at it. Iām OK with music theory but harmony doesnāt come naturally to me so it seems like it would be a helpful learning tool.
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Same. Like I know all the scales and as a woodwind/synth player, rhythm comes naturally but my training didnāt include chords as Horns canāt play them (wind synths can) and there are soooo many different ways to move an audience with chords and exploring them and their relationship with each other has become fascinating to me. Chordcat, Scaler, etc allow for deep dives and explorations that even virtuosos who spend a lifetime mastering theory wouldnāt/couldnāt do. In combination with quick and thorough composition tools like MpC allow for new frontiers of expression imo.
What a time to be alive.
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