ChordAXE by ARTonic Music MIDI chord controller plugin interface with Mesh view

ChordAXE: MIDI Chord Controller Plugin by ARTonic Music

Rated 4.5/5 on Plugin Boutique (15 ratings)

ChordAXE is a real-time MIDI plugin from ARTonic Music for finding, voicing and playing chord changes by ear. It works with virtual instruments in VST3, AU and AAX formats.

VST3AUAAXWindowsmacOS64-bit

AVAILABLE ATPlugin Boutique

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01Overview

ChordAXE is built for producers who want to work with harmony by feel rather than by theory. Its Mesh interface gives a visual map of chords and keys in their natural harmonic order, so you can navigate and play changes directly. The developer describes it as a controller for voicing chords for different instruments while playing with human dynamics, aimed at chords-first songwriting and beatmaking.

Best for

Chords-first songwriting
Beatmaking chord progressions
Driving virtual instruments
Exploring harmony by ear
Basslines and pedal notes
Harmony chops

Developer: ARTonic Music
Category: Music Theory Tools
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Playable Mesh for navigating chords and keys in harmonic order
Trace and play chord changes with MIDI keyboard or track timing and velocity
Voicing control by key tonic, pitch register, inversions and pitch spreads
Rhythmic pattern presets for expressing chord changes
Movable MIDI control zone for adding melodies, basslines and pedal notes
Live keyboard display of generated and added notes
Seamless legato chord changes beyond human hand speed
3-, 4- or 5-part harmony with optional sub-octave part

03In depth

Chord Discovery and Voicing Control

The Mesh lets you move through chords and keys on a playable map, and trace chord-change paths that you can play back. You can browse presets of iconic changes and rework them in different keys, voicings and rhythmic flows.

Voicings can be shaped by ear across four dimensions: key tonic, pitch register, inversions and pitch spreads. The plugin supports 3-, 4- or 5-part harmony with an optional sub-octave part, and individual harmony parts can carry through changes so notes overlap from chord to chord.

Rhythm, Timing and Live Performance

Chord changes can be expressed with rhythmic pattern presets, or driven by timing and velocity from a MIDI keyboard or track. A movable MIDI control zone lets you add melodies, riffs, basslines, passing tones or pedal notes on the fly.

The keyboard display shows generated chord notes and added notes as they play. ChordAXE can also produce legato chord changes faster than human hand speed, which is useful for driving virtual instruments in ways that are difficult to play by hand.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	ARTonic Music
Type	Plugin
Category	Music Theory Tools
Formats	VST3, AU, AAX
Operating systems	Windows, macOS
Architecture	64-bit

05Upgrades

Upgrade and crossgrade options

Option	Store link
ChordAxe Upgrade from ChordAxe Lite	Plugin Boutique ↗

06FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats does ChordAXE support?

ChordAXE is available in VST3, AU and AAX formats. It runs on Windows and macOS.

What do I need to run ChordAXE?

ChordAXE requires macOS 10.15 or later (64-bit) for the AU, VST3 and AAX formats, or Windows 10 or later (64-bit) for the VST3 and AAX formats. An internet connection is required to validate the license, and activation can be online or offline for up to 3 computers at a time.

Do I need music theory knowledge to use ChordAXE?

No. The developer describes ChordAXE as usable with music theory optional, with chords explored and voiced by ear through the Mesh and voicing controls.