The buttons on the top allow you to select the chord using the Chord Selector,

Circle Of Fifths Chart, MIDI keyboard and computer keyboard (in this order).

The Quick Suggestions pop-up is fully configurable; you can select what you
want to display by clicking on the menu button in its top right corner. Clicking on
“More suggestions” will open a more detailed pop-up with suggestions for
multiple chords:

Using the Chord Selector

The Chord Selector is a flexible and universal way to

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 • select chords for the master track
• edit, generate and save chord progressions
• preview the edited phrase in the Phrase Editor
• preview the currently selected phrase in the Phrase Browser
• preview the selected phrase from the composition

using any chords. This is the 'target' that you select on the top half of the Chord
Selector.

The bottom part shows the methods for chord selection:

• Chord List
• Scale Degrees
• Parallels
• Palette
• Builder
• Tonnetz

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 • Circle Of Fifths

All methods share the same color and preview options that you can select in the
“Options” menu.

Using the ‘Circle Of Fifths’ chart

The “Circle Of Fifths Chart” is usable when the scale is one of the 'church' modes.
The same chord preview settings are used here, as in the Chord Selector. The
menu in the top right corner offers choices to set the master track scale when
clicking on a mode or chord.

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Using the ‘Tonnetz’
The “Tonnetz” (tone network in German) is a two-dimensional lattice diagram
showing the harmonic relationships between chords. A great amount of literature

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is available, if you search for “tonnetz” on the internet. You can start with
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonnetz.

In the diagram you can click in a triangle to select a major or minor chord, and
may toggle additional notes. Scale notes have a blue border, chord notes are
filled with green color. Each chord has a specific shape throughout the lattice.

The Tonnetz diagram can also be found on the master track. The master track
version does not show the scale, selected notes, chord, naming and zoom as in
the top line below. The scale, chord and chord naming is automatically taken from
the master track. You can use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out.

Using the MIDI keyboard for chord selection

Enter chords from your MIDI keyboard by holding down more than 2 keys. You can
toggle keys on the displayed keyboard with the mouse. If the held down keys

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cannot be located in the chord library, semitone offsets are displayed. E.g. when
you hold down C, C# and D, the chord name will become “C+1+2”. If that makes
a valid chord, you can add it to the chord library. There is an option to jump to the
next chord when you want to enter multiple chords from the MIDI keyboard.

Using the computer keyboard for typing chord names

You can type several chords separated by space to set multiple master track
chords at the same time:

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Editing guitar chords
As a new feature for guitar players, you can set up guitar chords on the master
track. A smart algorithm finds the most convenient fingering positions for any
chords, based on your constraints, but it is also possible to manually select the
notes to voice on a guitar neck. Any phrase or track that uses “Guitar” chord
voicing will use these guitar chord notes.

As the first step, click on the small guitar button on the master track:

Below the chords the guitar fingering is displayed. Usually there are multiple ways
of voicing a chord, that you can choose by clicking on the ‘left’ or ‘right’ arrows.
Clicking on the fingering lets you edit the chord notes.

The constraints used for offering the various chord fingerings can be set in the

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Master Track inspector:

Alternatively, the small ‘cogwheel’ button also opens the same settings window:

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Generating a chord progression
There are several ways to generate a chord progression, or just replace a few
chords on the master track.

Important: you need to set the proper chord progression rules for the
composition, depending on the scale used. The rules should match the scale used.
For a major scale, use rules for major scales, for a minor scale, use minor scale
rules.

With chord selection on the master track

This is the quickest way. The master track inspector settings are used. Select a
few chords to replace, and click on the ‘dice’ button:

If you want to edit or save the progression, click on the ‘pencil’.

In the master track inspector

Select chords on the master track, set up the options, and click on the “Generate
Progression…” button. Right-click on any chords to open the master track
inspector, if it is not open.

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Settings:

• Rule Set: specify which chord rules to use. It is important that the rules
should match the scale. The rule name is set automatically based on the
position of the first selected chord. You can assign separate rules to parts or
lines in the structure inspector.
• Number Of Chords: the number of chords to place on the master track. The
number is set based on the selected chord count every time you make a
chord selection.
• Diversity: select the unexpectedness of the progression between ‘expected’
and ‘unexpected’. For the ‘unexpected’ option chords with smaller weights
will be used more often.
• Keep harmonic rhythm: the existing chords will be replaced without
changing their length. This disables the ‘number of chords’ slider.
• Allow returning to the previous chord: allow patterns like I-V-I.
• Connect to next chord: take the next chord into consideration, according
to the rules.

In the timeline inspector

Everything connected to ‘time’ can be found in the timeline inspector. You can
select a range on the timeline which will be filled with chords (on the master
track):

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The settings are the same as above.

In the Chord Selector

Set the target to “For Chord Progression” and you are already in the chord
progression editor. The lightning button creates a new progression. Right-click on
it for more options:

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You can use ‘borrowed’ chords from other keys here. ‘Borrowed’ chords are not in
the rules, but they make the progression more interesting. As a useful option you
can tell the program which scale degrees may contain borrowed chords.

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Working with tracks
Right-click on a track to open the track inspector to set track properties and
execute actions associated with tracks:

A track can be MIDI, folder or audio track. MIDI tracks may be a percussion track
with a drum map assigned, or a guitar track that displays notes in a guitar tab. For
percussion tracks the percussion instruments assigned to MIDI notes are
displayed instead of the piano keyboard. Drum map files can be created in a text
editor (see existing .rcDRUM files).

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The track instrument
There are 4 types of instruments that can be used. Soundfonts, VST and VST3
instruments and MIDI instruments.

MIDI instruments do not generate audio, but they are useful for sending MIDI
events to external software and hardware synthesizers. You can set up
RapidComposer to send MIDI events to a DAW on a virtual MIDI cable (e.g. LoopBe
on Windows, or the RapidComposer Virtual MIDI Output on macOS). When you set
up RapidComposer this way, you need to select a “MIDI” instrument for the
tracks.

Soundfonts are very useful for composition because they are relatively small,
load quickly, and do not jeopardize the stability of the application by loading
foreign code into the application address space, like VST plug-ins. You can find
good quality soundfonts on the net, some of them are free. Add your soundfonts
under the Settings / Soundfonts list.

VST plug-ins are VST2.4 instruments. Before using the VST plug-ins, you need to
add them to the list under the Settings / Plug-ins tab. If you have an instrument
that comes as VST and VST3, use the newer VST3 format.

VST3 plug-ins use a newer SDK than VST. Most new plug-ins are made available
only as VST3. Before using the VST3 plug-ins, you need to add them to the list
under the Settings / Plug-ins tab, or scan the plug-ins which is a convenient way af
adding all usable instrument plug-ins.

Variations
You can add variations to the entire track (see the Variations chapter). Variations
are applied to all phrases in the track, from top to bottom order. Variation
parameters can be automated.

Sound effects

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When a track uses a virtual instrument it is possible to add sound effects to the
track instrument. You can do this in the FX tab. Please note: the sound effect
plugins belong to the instrument not the track. This means multiple tracks using
the same virtual instrument will use the same sound effects.

You can enable and disable the sound effect, or open its editor window by clicking
on the small ‘pencil’ button.

Adding a new track

When the track headers are in keyboard focus (with blue rectangle around) you
can simply press ‘+’ to add a new track. Another shortcut ‘*’ can be used to
duplicate a track.

The track menu above the tracks offers adding tracks:

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Right-clicking on the empty area below the tracks opens a popup menu:

Rearranging tracks
Rearranging tracks is done by drag and drop, or from the track inspector (Move
Up, Down). You can move a track into a folder track by dragging it over the folder
track. Similarly you can move a track out of a folder track.

Removing a track
To remove a track, press the ‘delete’ button when the track headers are in
keyboard focus. It is of course possible to remove a track in the track inspector.

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Mute and solo
A track can be muted by highlighting the small ‘m’ button ( ) in the track header.
A track can be made ‘solo’ (that is to make all other tracks muted) by highlighting
the small ‘s’ button ( ). There can be multiple solo tracks.

Track templates
As a convenience, tracks can be saved together with the instrument and all
phrases as track templates. The track templates are saved in the Track Templates
browser, from where you can drop track templates on an existing track to replace,
or on the empty area to add a new track.

Guitar tracks
Guitar tracks show all notes in a guitar tab format. In this example we added a
FingerPicking Generator to a track:

Open the track inspector, and select ‘Guitar’ track. For the first time a settings
window opens where the tuning and other guitar settings can be set:

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Clicking “OK” will run a smart algorithm which finds the most optimal string and
fret positions for playing back the notes on a guitar. The result:

You can export the guitar tab as MusicXML from the track inspector by clicking on
this button:

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Editing the guitar notes
It is possible to edit the guitar notes, however the suggested workflow is that you
finish editing in the normal MIDI track, then change the track type to ‘Guitar’
track.

If editing the guitar notes is necessary, you need to enable rendering all notes
before entering Note Editing mode.

This is required because the notes you see in Phrase Editing mode are the result
of variations, some notes may not even exist originally. (The same reason that
you can edit only the original phrase notes in Note Editing mode in normal MIDI
tracks.) Phrase generators become normal phrases, and all phrase and track

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variations are removed but their effect remains, that is the original notes are
replaced with the rendered notes.

Editing in the guitar tab:

• Move notes between strings: drag notes vertically. When a note is too
high or too low for a string, the note cannot be dragged over the string.
• Change fret positions (change pitch): use the mouse wheel
• Dragging a note horizontally will change its starting position
• It is possible to change the length of notes

Note: after editing the rest of the notes may be re-positioned, but the edited
notes keep their string/fret settings.

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AI suggestions
AI suggestions are available in several places in the program by clicking on the

button. Think of it as an assistant who knows everything about music

composition. There is a chat window where you can ask music composition-
related questions, and receive replies. The AI assistant will be able to suggest
chord replacements, chord progressions, chord rules, phrases, and even song
structure and tracks depending on the genre and/or mood you specified.

Note: this is not a guaranteed service and may stop working anytime.
We cannot guarantee that AI functions are always available, because they depend
on external servers and services that are outside of our control. If you experience
any problems with AI functions, please try again later or contact us for assistance.

You can hide the AI buttons if you don’t want to use AI suggestions in the settings.

Prerequisites
Before using AI functionality, you need to set a few settings under the Settings /
Miscellaneous tab.

Note: you need an OpenAI API key to use the AI suggestions in RapidComposer

When you register on https://platform.openai.com/signup, new registrations

receive free tokens (as of the time of writing this user guide, $5) that are more
than sufficient to try the AI functions in RapidComposer.

Note: an OpenAI API key is not the same as the ChatGPT subscription. It costs
much less, and you pay only for the actual usage, there is no monthly fee. For
intensive use you may create an expense of 2-3 US dollars per month.

Settings
Click on the Settings, then on the Miscellaneous tab, and scroll down to “AI
Functions”:

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1. Paste your API key into the “API key” field.
2. Select “Yes, with OpenAI”
3. Click on the “Select from available models” menu. If your API key works, a
menu will be displayed with the list of models. If there is a problem with the key,
you’ll see an error message.
4. Select a model to use. Some hints: gpt-3.5-turbo has the lowest costs, and it is
also the fastest model. It is great for general questions and chord replacements,
and chord progression suggestions. gpt-4-turbo (called gpt-4-1106-preview as of
the time of writing this) costs more, and is more capable than GPT 3.5, it is also
faster than gpt-4, which has the highest costs. Both gpt-4-turbo and gpt-4 are
suitable for creating phrases based on your description.

There are additional settings when you click on the button next to the model
menu. The crucial factor is the 'temperature' setting, indicating the level of
determinism (lower values) or creativity (higher values) in the responses.

It is not necessary to click on “Start AI services” at all. The connection to the

OpenAI server is set up automatically when an AI function is used.

How it works
RapidComposer sends requests to the OpenAI server in textual form, and waits for
the reply. Your API key is sent on an encrypted connection. When the reply
arrives, the program interprets the reply and extracts musical information from it
(chords, scales, progressions, phrases) that are displayed to the user, ready for
immediate usage (e.g. by drag and drop or one-click editing).

The program waits until the whole reply arrives which may take 5-20 seconds
depending on the model and request. The reply is not displayed word by word as
when chatting with ChatGPT.

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Getting AI suggestions
To get good replies you need to ask good questions. Be as specific as possible.
Generic requests may not give good results (e.g. “create a bass phrase”).

The button above the composition includes some built-in prompts. But first
right-click on the button to set basic properties, like genre or mood:

These settings are optional but strongly suggested to be used, to get usable
replies. Optionally you can provide a scale, to tell the model to return results only
for the specified scale.

Clicking on will display a few built-in prompts, and you can open the chat
window here as well:

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After getting suggestions, you can open the chat window and ask follow-up
questions, or even new ones. For cost-effective usage it is important to keep in
mind that AI chat has no memory, so if you ask a follow-up question, all previous
questions and replies are also sent to the model.

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AI buttons ( ) can be found in the Chord Selector to create a chord progression,
in the Phrase Editor and in the Chord Rules Editor. The latter helps creating chord
rules for the specified scale (exotic scales may not provide good results).

Keep in mind: explore and try different approaches; if the response doesn't meet
your expectations, consider rephrasing your question. AI outcomes may vary, so
it's beneficial to be specific when framing your queries.

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Browsers
Browsers are docked on the right side of the workspace. Click on the small
button at the top right corner to open the browsers:

Activate a browser by clicking on the tabs at the top. You can configure the
browsers to display full texts by right clicking on the button. The following
abbreviations are used: Phr=Phrases, Rhy=Rhythms, Scl=Scales, Chd=Chords,
Prg=Progressions, Ins=Instruments, Trk=Track Templates, Fil=Files.

The browsers offer various options for previewing, searching and filtering the
library contents. The explanations for the buttons in the top row:

: collapse all folders

: expand all folder
: direct link to selected phrases. Phrase selection in the composition will select
the same phrases in the library. Selecting a phrase in the library will overwrite the
selected phrases in the composition. This feature lets you replace all selected
phrases with a single click!
: preview (listen to a phrase, rhythm, chord...)

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 : reload custom phrases or rhythm patterns
: display selected phrase/rhythm/chord/etc
: search in library
: display certain groups (filter)
: browser group/sort/display/filter options for advanced users

You can drag phrases and rhythm patterns from the browser to the workspace.
Dropping MIDI files or folders containing MIDI files to the phrase or rhythm
browsers will convert the MIDI files to phrases. Dropping rhythm patterns to the
rhythm browser will save the pattern.

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Structure inspector
You can set up the hierarchic composition structure in the structure inspector.
Create, duplicate and delete new parts and lines, set lengths, colors, change the
order by dragging.
The structure inspector is available by clicking on :

It is important that in RapidComposer lower level units (parts, lines) inherit the
properties of higher level units, but they can override them too. The properties
include the scale, tempo and signature. In the above screenshot ‘Part 3’ overrides
the composition scale, and it will use C Major instead of E Major. ‘Part 2’ changes
the tempo to 130 BPM. This means all lines in ‘Part 2’ will use that tempo, but
lines can also override any properties they inherit from parts or the composition.

Right-click on any parts or lines will open the Master Track inspector where you
can set the name, length, scale, tempo and signature. Double-click on the name
will let you rename it. Double-click on an empty area will bring the currently
selected unit in focus in the composition.

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Drag and drop
Dragging and dropping phrases
Use the phrase browser to drag phrases to the workspace. Please note it is
simpler to double-click on the workspace to insert the currently selected phrase.

Dragging a phrase from the Phrase Browser

Drop the phrase on the workspace to insert it in the composition. Alternatively
you can use double-click, or press the '+' key (only when the workspace is in
keyboard focus).

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Dropping a phrase on an existing phrase
Drop a phrase on another one to replace it.

Dropping a phrase on a track

The track will be filled with the phrase. If you hold down Ctrl during dropping,
ghost copies will be used.

Inversions
Drag phrases vertically to make an inversion of the phrase. The way the phrase is
inverted depends on the “Phrase Transpose” setting over the workspace. Notes:
when moving up, the bottom notes of the phrase move up. This won't preserve
the phrase shape, but the harmony and rhythm will be the same. Phrase: when
moving up, all phrase notes move up to the next chord note. This preserves the
phrase shape. Octave: this setting allows the phrase to move by octaves only

Copying phrases/notes
Ctrl-drag phrases or notes

Ghost copying phrases

Ctrl-Shift-drag phrases to make a ghost copy. The “copy” will follow the changes
in the original phrase. You can choose to apply the variations on the original
phrase, or not.

Moving phrase between tracks

During a normal drag operation, you can drag the phrases to other tracks.

Dragging and dropping rhythm

It is possible to drag the rhythm part of phrases, or drop a rhythm pattern on
phrases.

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Dragging rhythm from phrases
Alt+drag phrase

Dragging rhythm from the Rhythm Browser

Drag phrase from the Rhythm Browser

Dropping rhythm to phrases

If the phrase is a generator its rhythm is replaced, unless you hold down Ctrl,
which means adding an “Apply Rhythm” variation.

For normal phrases an “Apply Rhythm” variation is added with the dropped
rhythm.

Dropping rhythm to the Rhythm Browser

Drop the dragged rhythm to save it in the Rhythm Browser

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Dropping rhythm to tracks
Dropping a rhythm pattern on a track will add it as a new phrase. This is very
useful for percussion tracks.

Dragging and dropping chord progressions

You can drag chord progressions from the browser or from the Chord Selector
(“Drag” button in progression editor)

Dropping a chord progression on the master track

By default chord lengths are preserved if there are lengths assigned to chords in
the progression. You can ignore the lengths by dropping the progression using the
Ctrl key.

Dropping a chord progression on the timeline selection

The chords are placed automatically in the selected timeline range. This many not
be possible if the selection is too short, so make sure the chords will fit into the
selection.

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Dragging MIDI to RapidComposer
You can drag and drop MIDI (either files or directly from DAWs) to any track or the
master track. Dragging should work from most DAWs that use the standard D&D
procedures. Only the first track is inserted from the MIDI files. You can import
multiple tracks under the MIDI Import tab.

Dragging MIDI to tracks (with real-time preview)

If you hold down the Ctrl key, the dragged MIDI is analyzed for chords, and its
relative form is dropped which automatically adhere to the master track chords. If
you do not hold down Ctrl during dragging, the original MIDI notes are placed in
the track. Some DAWs (like Reaper) do not make it possible to show a live
preview of the dragged phrase, because the file data is created only when
dropping the MIDI data. However it is still possible to drop MIDI from Reaper.

Dragging MIDI to the master track (with real-time preview)

The dragged MIDI file is analysed for chords which you can drop on the master
track. Monophonic files without harmony do not work.

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Dragging MIDI to rhythm drop targets
It is possible to drop a MIDI file on “rhythm drop targets”. In this case the rhythm
will be extracted from the first track of the MIDI data.

Dragging MIDI to the RC window

This will open the MIDI Import page for specifying further options

Dragging MIDI files and folders to the phrase browser

It is possible to batch convert MIDI files to phrases. You can drop multiple MIDI
files or folder to the phrase browser. Folders are parsed hierarchically. Use simple,
short MIDI files. Phrases are saved in the same folder structure.

Dragging MIDI files and folders to the rhythm browser

It is possible to batch convert MIDI files to rhythm patterns. You can drop multiple
MIDI files or folder to the rhythm browser. Folders are parsed hierarchically. Use
simple, short MIDI files. Rhythm patterns are saved in the same folder structure.

Dragging MIDI files and folders to the chord progression browser

It is possible to batch convert MIDI files to chord progressions. You can drop
multiple MIDI files or folder to the chord progression browser. Folders are parsed
hierarchically. It is best to use MIDI files with a single track. ‘Chords-only’ MIDI
files are smartly detected and a simpler, more reliable chord detection is used for
these file. Chord progressions are saved in the same folder structure.

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Dragging MIDI from RapidComposer to DAW (or to
Explorer/Finder)

Dragging the whole composition

Use Ctrl-drag on the file icon. Muted tracks will not be included. You can select a
section to drag by making a timeline selection.

Dragging a single track

Ctrl-drag the track name. You can select a section to drag by making a timeline
selection.

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Dragging selected phrases as MIDI
Ctrl-Alt-Shift+drag phrases

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Articulations
Articulations specify how individual notes are to be performed within a phrase or
passage.

Articulations are described in an editable text file with .rcCTRL extension in one
of these locations:
Windows: C:\Users\<user name>\Documents\RapidComposerV3\DB
OS X: ~\Documents\RapidComposerV3\DB

Each library or virtual instrument requires such an .rcCTRL file that defines the
possible articulations, arranged in groups.

An articulation can be a key-switch or a controller value change or both. It can be

assigned to a phrase, or individual phrase notes, or even a track can have its
default articulation.

E.g. if you open “Garritan Personal Orchestra 4.rcCTRL” you’ll see that there are
articulations with just key-switch or controller change or with both as in
group=“GPOSoloStrings”; articulation=“Legato”; keyswitch=“C-1”;
ctrl=68; ctrlval=127;

Explanation:
“group”: articulation group
“articulation”: articulation name
“keyswitch” (together with “keyvelocity”, optional): specify keyswitch note as
note name (C4=MIDI note 60) or MIDI note number (0-127)
“keyvelocity” (together with “keyswitch”, optional): specify note on velocity for
the key switch (0 is a note off event!)
“ctrl” (together with “ctrlval”, optional): MIDI controller number (0-127)
“ctrlval” (together with “ctrl”, optional): MIDI controller value (0-127)

The author will gladly help to create an articulations definition file, assuming there
is a specification.

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Phrase Editor
The Phrase Editor is for “designing” and testing phrases, using different scales
and chords. While the Note Editing mode lets you edit individual notes in phrases
in the main composition workspace, many times it is more convenient to focus on
a single phrase. To edit a phrase in the composition, double-click on it. When
creating a phrase from scratch, you can save it, or add it to the clipboard for
pasting in the composition.

The top toolbar:

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Please note: the Phrase Editor settings have no relation with the scales, chords or
tempo used in the composition! These are independent settings.

Explanation for the notation used

Because notes in RapidComposer hold extra qualities, we use a special notation
for marking a note chord-relative or scale-relative.

There are 4 types of notes in RapidComposer:

• Scale note relative: one of the scale notes, denoted with a roman numeral (e.g.
I=scale root, II=second scale note, etc…). The actual note depends on the
scale used.
• Chord note relative: one of the chord notes, denoted with #<number>. The
chord root is #1, the second chord note (typically a 3rd) is #2, the third chord
note (typically a 5th) is #3, etc. Negative numbers can be used, #-1 means
the top chord note transposed down by an octave. A special notation can
address chord notes from the highest note: #TOP means the highest note in
the chord, #TOP-1 is the second highest, etc.
• Bass note relative: the bass note of the chord, which is the chord root note, or
the slash note (if used). It is denoted by B
• Absolute note: the usual MIDI note from C-1 to G9.

Roman numerals are used for scale step offsets use, while Arabic numbers are
used semitone offsets.

These notations can be combined. Examples:

#1+II means the chord root note plus 2 scale steps
#3-1 means the third chord note (typically 5th but not always!) minus 1 semitones
B+IV means the bass note plus 4 scale steps

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Don’t worry, you need not enter these notations in RapidComposer, only
recognize if a note is chord or scale relative. The program selects the most logical
parameters when you transpose a note. During editing you set the Note Mapping
depending on what you want to achieve: making a phrase that uses mainly chord
notes, or a melody phrase with scale notes only.

Chord-relative notes are transposed differently than scale-relative notes. E.g. for
the notes #1, #2, #3 (for a C Major chord: C E, G), the first transposition upward is
#2, #3, #1+1 octave, so E, G, C+1 octave, as one would expect for a chord.
Scale-relative notes are transposed from scale step to scale step, so scale notes I,
II, III (for a C Major scale: C, D, E) will be transposed to II, III, IV (D, E, F).

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Phrase generator reference
In phrase generators the notes are created by specialized algorithms. Each phrase
generator has a specific purpose.

Clicking the Generator tab in the Phrase Inspector shows the editor for the
currently used phrase generator. Most phrase generators have a rhythm input,
which means they work on a rhythm pattern (in most cases a rhythm generator,
but you can use/edit your own rhythm patterns). When an input rhythm pattern is
used, you can set it up under the Rhythm tab in the Phrase Inspector.

The following phrase generators are included:

• Arpeggiator: creates arpeggios from many types of patterns

• Bass Generator: melody in a lower octave, resembling a bass guitar
performance
• Chord Generator: simple rhythms: quarter notes, half notes, whole notes,
etc.
• Dyads Run Generator: generates a MIDI run, commonly a “thirds run”
• Fingerpicking Generator: guitar-style patterns/arpeggios
• Generic Generator: piano-like patterns that can be easily manipulated
rhythmically, based on a series of variables
• Markov Melody Generator: experimental, generates melodies where the
next note depends on previous notes. You need to enable this phrase
generator under Settings / Miscellaneous / Experimental Features. Not
available in the LE version
• Melody Generator: generates melodies that intelligently fit over any chord
or key. Not available in the LE version
• Modern Chord Pattern Generator: creates chord patterns used in EDM
genre. Not available in the LE version
• Motive Generator: motive generated or edited under the Melody Generator
tab
• Ostinato Generator: generates ostinato patterns
• Percussion Generator: generates percussion patterns using multiple
percussion instruments
• Phrase Container: arranges phrases using the selected order in the track

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 • Phrase Morpher: intelligently connects 2 phrases or phrase generators by
analysing them and generating the missing notes between the two phrases.
Not available in the LE version
• Piano Chord Pattern Generator: creates a pattern for the left and right
hand
• Piano Run Generator: rhythmically rich arpeggios running up and down
chords
• Random Melody Generator: a simple but effective way of making
surprisingly good melodies.
• Random Note Generator: experimental, useful for triggering key-switches.
You need to enable this phrase generator under Settings / Miscellaneous /
Experimental Features.
• Rest: Use only in the Idea Tool to insert rests in the composition
• Rhythm Mapper: maps a different rhythm pattern to a phrase (available
only in the 'Convert Phrase To Generator' menu!)
• Strings Staccato Generator: creates beautiful staccato patterns, perfect
for orchestral and string quartet arrangements
• Strum Pattern Generator: creates realistic guitar strum patterns with lots
of options

Arpeggiator
Create simple or complex arpeggiated phrases with the Arpeggiator. As most
other generators, the arpeggiator uses the rhythm generator which lets you
create rhythmically complex, interesting arpeggiated phrases.

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Arpeggiator Settings

• Notes To Use: select usable notes. By default chord notes are used, but
any notes can be assigned for arpeggiation.
• Shape: there are lots of options for how the notes follow each other.
• Key Range: describes the number of chord notes to be used
• Retrigger: the arpeggiated pattern will be restarted at the 'retrigger'
duration (quarter notes). 0 means the pattern never restarts.

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 • Fill Between Notes: it is an interesting effect when you fill the space
between arpeggiated notes with notes
• Velocity For Filled Notes: velocity used for the added 'filler' notes

Bass Generator
The bass generator is a simple way of creating bass phrases.

Bass Generator Settings

• Allowed Notes: specify notes which the Bass Generator can use. Default
setting: the Bass note, Bass+4 scale steps (typically 5 th), Bass+6 scale steps
(typically 7th), Bass+octave

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 • Global Movement: Phrase shape. Available settings are Up (default), Down,
Up-Down, Down-Up, Random, and Select Randomly.
• Note Movement: Specify how successive notes relate to each other.
Available settings are None (default), Alternating, Select Randomly.
• Transpose (Octaves): Available settings are None, -1, -2 (default), -3, -4
Octaves.

Chord Generator
The simplest phrase generator that fills all rhythm events with chord notes.
Optionally you can add bass notes to the phrase a few octaves below the root
note. The note selector allows usage of not just chord notes.

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Chord Generator Settings

• Notes To Use: select usable notes. By default chord notes are used, but
any notes can be used.

• Add Bass Note: add bass note using octave transposition. Values: -1, -2, -3,
-4 Octaves

Dyads Run
This generates a MIDI run, specifically by interval, commonly a “thirds run”,
similar to the bridge of “Let It Be”, but could also be any interval, with polyphony
option.

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Dyads Run Settings

• Motion: specify up or down motion

• Interval: specify interval for the 2 notes. Possible values: Third (default),
Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Octave
• Polyphony: when required, the polyphony can be increased by inserting
notes in octave distance from the original notes

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Fingerpicking Generator
Create interesting guitar fingerpicking patterns with this generator. Set up the
rhythm under the Rhythm tab.

Fingerpicking Generator Settings:

• Notes To Use: select usable notes. By default 5 chord notes are used. If the
chord is a 3-note chord, the 4th and 5th note will the 1st and 2nd note
transposed up by an octave.

• Dedicated Bass: Set the number of (bottom) chord notes reserved for the
bass pattern.

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