Chord Dock User Manual v2.0

A v2.0 guide covering timeline chord editing, section workflows, Arpeggio / Bassline generation, reharmonization, live accompaniment with Arranger Mode, and per-part MIDI output through the bundled ChordPart receiver.

Applies to product version: v2.0.1 / Manual: v2.0 / Last updated: 2026-07-14

Manual Information

A v2.0 guide covering timeline chord editing, section workflows, Arpeggio / Bassline generation, reharmonization, live accompaniment with Arranger Mode, and per-part MIDI output through the bundled ChordPart receiver.

Item Value
Product Chord Dock (Lite / Extended / Performance)
Bundled plugins Chord Dock (main) / ChordPart (receiver)
Plugin formats covered VST3 / AAX / AU (ChordPart is VST3 only)
Applies to product version v2.0.1
Manual version v2.0
Last updated 2026-07-14

1. Introduction

Chord Dock is a plugin for building, editing, auditioning, transforming, and exporting chord-based MIDI material within a DAW — and, in version 2.0, for performing accompaniment built on top of that chord progression.

Version 2.0 adds the following major elements:

The main features carried over from earlier versions are:

This manual is intended for:

2. System Requirements

2.1 Supported Operating Systems

32-bit systems are not supported.

2.2 Supported Plugin Formats

The bundled ChordPart is VST3 only on both Windows and macOS (there is no standalone version). Availability may differ depending on the distributed package.

2.3 Supported Hosts / DAWs

Chord Dock is designed for common VST3 / AU / AAX-compatible DAWs, including:

Host-specific behavior may differ. Per-part routing with ChordPart assumes the main plugin and ChordPart run inside the same DAW project (see Chapter 17).

3. Installation

3.1 Distribution Formats

The v2.0.1 packages are:

On Windows, Chord Dock is distributed as a ZIP package rather than a dedicated installer. The ZIP may include the manual and other bundled documentation.

3.2 Before Installing

3.3 Typical Install Locations

For the Windows ZIP distribution, place Chord Dock.vst3 and ChordPart.vst3 in C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\.

3.4 Uninstall Policy

4. Initial Setup in the DAW

4.1 Plugin Scan

If Chord Dock does not appear in your DAW:

  1. Confirm installation completed successfully.
  2. On Windows, confirm the .vst3 files were copied into the expected standard folder.
  3. Run the DAW's plugin scan or rescan.

After scanning, both Chord Dock and ChordPart appear in your DAW's plugin list.

4.2 Basic Routing

Chord Dock is commonly used in one of these ways:

Typical setup:

  1. Insert Chord Dock on a MIDI or instrument track.
  2. Insert a software instrument on another track.
  3. Route MIDI from Chord Dock to that instrument.

To distribute the four Arranger parts (Drums / Bass / Arp / Chord Pad) to multiple instruments, you have two options:

4.3 Project Recall

Chord Dock state is generally restored with the DAW project. The same applies to Arranger patterns, pad assignments, and ChordPart settings.

5. Main Window Overview

The main window is organized into these areas:

When Arranger Mode is enabled, the lower area switches to a dedicated Arranger screen with three pages (Setup / Performance / Song — see Chapters 15 and 16).

6. Top Toolbar

Top toolbar
Figure: Top toolbar

The top toolbar contains controls that affect the plugin as a whole.

Common controls include:

The exact button order or wording may vary slightly by build.

7. Timeline Editing

7.1 Chord Events

Timeline chord editing
Figure: Timeline chord editing

The timeline is the main chord editing area.

7.2 Meter Changes

Time signature changes can be placed from the ruler area. Chord Dock supports meter-aware timeline behavior and propagates that information into the Arpeggio, Reharmo, and Arranger views.

7.3 Timeline Context Editing

Timeline context menu
Figure: Timeline context menu

Chord events can be edited directly on the timeline through context menus. You can currently edit:

Chord Modifiers is a submenu used for:

These settings are independent from the chord palette state. What is shared is only the symbol and mask calculation logic, not the storage target.

8. Sections

8.1 What Sections Are

Sections group multiple chord events into a single named clip, such as a Verse, Chorus, or Bridge.

8.2 Creating a Section

Section creation command
Figure: Section creation command
  1. Select multiple chord blocks on the timeline.
  2. Run the section creation command.
  3. Enter a section name and confirm.

8.3 Normal Mode

Section display
Figure: Section display

In normal mode:

8.4 Focus Edit Mode

Focus Edit Mode
Figure: Focus Edit Mode
Focused section editing
Figure: Focused section editing

Double-click a section to enter Focus Edit Mode.

In this mode:

8.5 Sections and Performance Features

Arpeggio, Reharmo, and Arranger Mode all operate on the currently selected section.

Sections used for performance in Arranger Mode have an additional requirement:

Sections that do not meet these conditions are still registered but treated as unusable in Arranger Mode, and appear grayed out in the Section Launcher. Align the section's start and end to bar boundaries on the timeline to make it usable.

9. Middle Panel

Middle panel
Figure: Middle panel

The middle panel groups timeline-related controls such as:

When you enter Arpeggio or Reharmo mode, some middle-panel controls are repurposed for that mode.

While Arranger Mode is active, the middle panel switches to a performance strip with items such as (see Chapters 15 and 16):

10. Chord Palette

The chord palette is the row of chord bubbles used to audition and insert chords based on the current key and scale.

Typical actions:

Each chord bubble supports settings such as:

These settings are stored with the bubble itself and affect newly inserted timeline events.

11. Right-Side Panel

Right-side panel
Figure: Right-side panel
Key and scale selection
Figure: Key and scale selection
Preset menu
Figure: Preset menu

The right-side panel contains global harmonic controls.

Typical items include:

Changing key or scale updates the chord palette and Circle of Fifths view.

12. Circle of Fifths

Circle of Fifths window
Figure: Circle of Fifths window

Edition: Extended (see Chapter 19)

The Circle of Fifths window is a helper view for harmonic overview.

You can use it to:

It is not used as a direct timeline placement area.

13. Arpeggio / Bassline

13.1 Overview

Arpeggio layout
Figure: Arpeggio layout
Arpeggio view
Figure: Arpeggio view

Edition: Extended / Performance (see Chapter 19)

Arpeggio mode generates note events from the chord progression in the selected section.

It has two modes:

Both use the same underlying note-generation system, but differ in range handling, presets, and presentation.

13.2 Section Rules

13.3 Main Parameters

Current Arpeggio parameters include:

13.4 Range and Spread

Range chooses the base pitch band. Spread Up and Spread Down widen the allowed pitch range above or below that base range.

Bassline mode uses a different low-end range table than standard Arpeggio mode.

13.5 Notes and Tensions

The Notes popup lets you choose pitch-role masks such as:

The Tension setting can be:

13.6 Order

Arpeggio mode exposes:

Random is still deterministic. The same input produces the same result.

In Bassline mode, Order is hidden from the main UI.

13.7 Syncopation

Syncopation is a mask-based timing feature, not a humanize engine.

It supports:

Ahead shifts selected notes earlier according to the mask. Behind keeps the note start in place and extends the note length later.

13.8 Rest

Rest is also mask-based. It suppresses note generation at selected bars, beats, or sub-steps.

13.9 Styles

Current Arpeggio style presets:

Current Bassline style presets:

If the current parameter set does not exactly match a preset, the style display switches to Custom.

13.10 Note Edit Window

Arpeggio note edit window
Figure: Arpeggio note edit window

Arpeggio mode includes a note edit window for direct piano-roll editing.

You can:

If you change parameters or apply another style, edited notes are cleared and the pattern is regenerated.

13.11 Drag Export

Generated Arpeggio or Bassline notes can be dragged directly into the DAW as MIDI.

14. Reharmonization

14.1 Overview

Reharmonization layout
Figure: Reharmonization layout

Edition: Extended (see Chapter 19)

Reharmonization mode is a section-based chord transformation workflow built around preview, comparison, and selective application.

14.2 Section Rules

14.3 Main Workflow

  1. Select a section.
  2. Choose a reharmo range within that section.
  3. Set Applied Codes.
  4. Choose Core, Enrich, or Rebuild.
  5. Preview candidate rows.
  6. Lock chords if needed.
  7. Compare against Show Original.
  8. Confirm with Apply.

14.4 Range and Applied Codes

14.5 Modes

Core: conservative; chord-level candidate handling; synchronous generation.

Enrich: adds color and expansion; supports both Chord Unit and Progression Unit.

Rebuild: more radical redesign; progression-oriented; T/S/D Fidelity is internally forced off.

14.6 Show Original

Show Original is not a variation mode. It is a comparison toggle.

14.7 Candidate Preview

Candidates are first applied to preview data, not directly to the timeline.

This means:

14.8 Chord Locks

Reharmo supports locking individual target chords by persistent ID.

Locked chords:

14.9 Edit Window

Reharmonization editor: chord-unit generation
Figure: Reharmonization editor (chord-unit generation)
Reharmonization editor: progression-unit generation
Figure: Reharmonization editor (progression-unit generation)

The Reharmo edit window provides detailed controls such as:

Current playback behavior:

14.10 Apply and Undo

Applying Reharmo:

15. Arranger Mode: Setup and Pattern Editing

15.1 Overview

Arranger Mode setup page
Figure: Arranger Mode (Setup page)

Edition: Performance (see Chapter 19)

Arranger Mode turns the chord progression on the timeline into performable accompaniment. Build accompaniment patterns for four parts (Drums / Bass / Arp / Chord Pad) per section, then call them up with pads as the song moves forward.

How pattern generation works

Arranger Mode is primarily a pattern-authoring system: you create and edit the accompaniment patterns yourself.

Arranger Mode does not use AI generation, cloud-based generation, or purely random playback. A pattern is a user-editable rhythmic and musical template stored on a pad. Presets and randomize commands only create starting points; you can then edit the result like any other pattern.

When Chord Dock previews, performs, or exports Bass / Arp / Chord Pad material, it reads the selected section's chord progression and converts the pattern's timing and chord roles into concrete MIDI notes. If you reuse the same pattern on a different chord progression, the rhythm and role choices stay the same while the resulting pitches follow the new chords.

The overall workflow:

  1. Build a chord progression on the timeline and group it into sections (Chapter 8).
  2. Turn Arranger Mode on.
  3. Create a pattern per part and assign it to a pad (this chapter).
  4. Perform with the Section Launcher and pads. Optionally arrange them in song order on the Song page (Chapter 16).
  5. Drag the finished patterns into the DAW as MIDI.

15.2 Editions and Demo

What the demo lets you try

Demo limits

About the remaining demo time

15.3 Entering Arranger Mode and the Three Pages

Use the Arranger button in the middle panel to enter Arranger Mode. The lower area switches to a dedicated Arranger screen, and you can move between three pages:

From each page you can return with the Back button or the Esc key. While Arranger Mode is active, the PC keyboard number keys 1–8 are mapped to the Section Launcher (Section 16.1).

15.4 Parts and MIDI Channels

Arranger Mode has four parts:

Each part's MIDI channel can be changed from MIDI Channel inside the pattern editor. Preview, drag export, and live playback all follow this setting.

There are two ways to drive each part with a different instrument:

15.5 Pads and Pattern Sets

Each part has 8 pads. Pad 1–7 are the primary pads; Pad 8 is treated as an extra pad.

Each part also has a Pattern Set (Set A / Set B), so you can switch between 8 pads × 2 sets.

The selected pad's information appears in the Pad Inspector, where you can:

The same actions are available from the pad's right-click menu.

The Standby Pad 1 button puts Pad 1 of every part that has an assigned pattern on standby silently, all at once. Press it before starting DAW playback when you want the accompaniment to sound from the very first beat.

In the demo, each part can use only Pad 1–3 (Section 15.2). Pad 4–8 are shown but cannot be selected.

15.6 Common Pattern Editor Controls

Pattern editing is done in a separate window per part. Display and preview are based on the currently selected section.

Common settings and controls:

Basic grid-cell editing:

The upper area shows the section's chord ribbon and bar / beat guides, and follows meter changes.

15.7 Drums Editor

Drums pattern editor
Figure: Drums pattern editor

Drums is a lane-based step editor. Percussion lanes such as kick and snare are stacked vertically, and you build the pattern on a lane × grid layout.

If your drum instrument uses a mapping other than GM, adjust the lane assignments to match your instrument.

15.8 Bass Editor

Bass pattern editor (Chord-Role Sequencer)
Figure: Bass pattern editor (Chord-Role Sequencer)
Bass pattern editor (MIDI Roll)
Figure: Bass pattern editor (MIDI Roll)

The Bass editor lets you choose one of two edit methods (pattern types). Switching rebuilds the pattern from scratch, so a confirmation dialog appears.

Chord-Role Sequencer

MIDI Roll (piano roll)

15.9 Arp / Chord Pad Editors

Arp and Chord Pad use the same role-lane editor as Bass. The main differences are:

Because they are built on role lanes just like Bass, patterns carry over even when the chord progression changes.

15.10 Presets and Drag Export

Each editor's Preset menu recalls per-part style templates. After recall, you can edit them freely as normal patterns.

From the drag area in the editor, you can drag a pattern into the DAW as MIDI. The exported range follows the Preview Loop selection (section / pattern), and the export content is shown on screen.

In the demo, drag export and Arranger MIDI export are not available (Section 15.2).

16. Arranger Mode: Performing

16.1 Section Launcher

Section Launcher
Figure: Section Launcher

The Section Launcher below the timeline lays out sections in 8 slots.

Number keys with Ctrl / Cmd / Alt are ignored. If your DAW intercepts a number key before the plugin, launcher handling for that key cannot be guaranteed.

16.2 Current / Queued (Reservation-Based Switching)

Middle panel during Arranger Mode
Figure: Middle panel during Arranger Mode

Performance in Arranger Mode is reservation-based. Pressing a section or pad does not switch immediately; it is first reserved as "queued" and switches at the timing you set.

16.3 Launch Quantize

Launch Quantize decides when a section reservation is confirmed.

Change it from the Launch chip in the middle panel, or from the Run Settings menu.

16.4 Sync Mode (Host / Plugin)

Sync Mode decides who manages the song position.

During Plugin progression, the timeline playhead reflects the internal progression position.

16.5 Pad Switching (Timing / Playback Position)

Switching pads (patterns) within the same part is governed by two settings.

Timing — when to switch:

Playback position — where to start after switching:

16.6 Auto Advance

With Auto enabled, the accompaniment advances on its own without holding down pads. Section and Pad are independent toggles, so you can choose either one, both, or neither.

Auto reservations are cleared when the DAW stops.

16.7 MIDI Trigger (Input and Note Map)

The Section Launcher and pads can also be operated with MIDI notes, for performing from an external keyboard or pad controller.

Trigger note assignments:

Note names use "note number 60 = C4". Some DAWs display the same note number one octave off (60 = C3), so we recommend checking by note number.

16.8 Performance Page

Performance page
Figure: Performance page

The Performance page, opened with Perform, is the screen for focused playing.

16.9 Song Page

Song page
Figure: Song page

On the Song page, opened with Song, you lay out pad patterns along the song order and build "which pattern sounds in which section" on a single screen.

Screen layout:

Editing pad clips:

Playback:

16.10 Save / Recall and Undo

17. ChordPart — Bundled MIDI Receiver

17.1 When to Use It

Chord Dock outputs the four Arranger parts on separate MIDI channels, but some DAWs cannot wire "the plugin's MIDI output split by channel and sent to instruments on other tracks" (a well-known example is Ableton Live).

ChordPart is a small plugin that works around this limitation. It receives per-part MIDI directly from the Chord Dock main plugin and passes it out as the MIDI output of the track it sits on. This lets you use each part as a normal MIDI track entry point, and drive any instrument — including the DAW's built-in instruments — per part.

17.2 How It Works and Latency

The main plugin and ChordPart are linked by an internal bus that does not pass through the DAW's track wiring. As long as both are loaded in the same DAW project, they connect with no extra wiring.

17.3 Setup Steps

Routing example in Ableton Live 12
Figure: Routing example in Ableton Live 12

Basic steps using Ableton Live 12 as an example (the idea is the same on other DAWs).

  1. Insert the Chord Dock main plugin on Track A, and click the Part Send chip in the middle panel to turn it on (the Send to ChordPart item in the Run Settings menu does the same).
  2. Insert one ChordPart on each of Tracks B1–B4, and set each instance's Part to Drums / Bass / Arp / Chord Pad.
  3. Place any instrument (Live's built-in instruments are fine) on instrument tracks C1–C4, set MIDI From to the corresponding B track (ChordPart), and set Monitor = In.
  4. When you perform in Arranger Mode, each part sounds on its corresponding instrument track.
  5. Arm and record the C tracks to capture per-part MIDI clips.

You can set up only the parts you use (for example, just Drums and Bass).

17.4 The ChordPart Window

The ChordPart window
Figure: The ChordPart window

ChordPart is a compact single-screen plugin (full name: ChordDock Part Receiver).

All of these settings are saved with the DAW project.

17.5 Status on the Main Plugin

Part Send chip status
Figure: Part Send chip status

The Part Send chip in the main plugin's middle panel toggles sending on click, and also shows status with color and text.

The Run Settings menu has the same toggle and status line.

17.6 Notes and Limitations

18. MIDI Export and Drag Workflow

Chord Dock supports several export workflows:

The exact drag targets available depend on the current mode.

19. Licensing and Editions

Settings and licensing window
Figure: Settings and licensing window

19.1 Edition Lineup

Chord Dock comes in three editions:

Feature Lite Extended Performance
Timeline chord editing / Sections ✔ ✔ ✔
Chord progression MIDI export / progression presets ✔ ✔ ✔
9th-notation chords (add9 / M9 / m9 / 7(9)) ✔ ✔ ✔
Tension menu (9 / b9 / #9 / 11 / 13) — ✔ —
Slash chords / aug / b5 / 6th — ✔ —
Circle of Fifths — ✔ —
Extended snap / extended length — ✔ ✔
User preset bank — ✔ —
Arpeggio / Bassline generation (incl. note editing) — ✔ ✔
Reharmonization — ✔ —
Arranger Mode (pad performance / Perform / Song) — — ✔
Per-part MIDI output via ChordPart — — ✔

About Full Bundle: a bundle that includes both Extended and Performance. Its features are the union of both editions (everything marked ✔ under Extended or Performance is available).

Arranger Mode Demo: Lite and Extended can try Arranger Mode as a demo — 90 seconds of actual playback total, Pad 1–3 per part, and no MIDI export. See Section 15.2 for details.

Depending on the edition and license state, features outside your edition appear locked or disabled.

19.2 Activation Flow

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Enter your serial key.
  3. Complete browser-based online activation if required.
  4. Return to the plugin and let it refresh license status.

ChordPart itself has no license operation (it follows the main plugin's edition).

19.3 If Activation Does Not Refresh

An internet connection is required for initial activation.

20. FAQ / Troubleshooting

20.1 The plugin does not appear in my DAW

Check the following:

  1. Installation completed successfully.
  2. On Windows, the .vst3 files (both the main plugin and ChordPart) were copied into the correct folder.
  3. Your DAW has rescanned plugins.

20.2 I hear no sound

Check:

  1. MIDI routing
  2. target instrument assignment
  3. track mute / solo
  4. audio device settings in the DAW
  5. Chord Dock's internal preview audio toggle if you expect onboard preview sound

20.3 I cannot edit inside a section

You may still be in normal section mode. Enter Focus Edit Mode by double-clicking the section.

20.4 Part of the timeline is grayed out

You are likely in Focus Edit Mode or another mode that intentionally narrows the editable range.

20.5 Reharmo does not load my section

Check section length. Reharmo only accepts sections up to 16 bars.

20.6 Arpeggio / Reharmo / Arranger controls look disabled

That usually means the feature is not unlocked for your edition or license (Chapter 19). Arpeggio is Extended / Performance, Reharmo is Extended, and Arranger Mode is a Performance feature.

20.7 I cannot select a section in Arranger / the launcher is grayed out

That section probably does not meet the bar-boundary condition. Sections used in Arranger Mode must start on a bar line and end on a bar line (at least one bar). Align the start and end to bar boundaries on the timeline.

20.8 Pressing a pad does not switch immediately

This is by design. Switching in Arranger Mode is reservation-based and waits until the position set by Launch Quantize (section) or Timing (pad) before switching. The queued pad is shown dimly highlighted. If you want an immediate switch, set it to Next Bar.

20.9 The Arranger accompaniment does not sound when I play the DAW

No pad may be chosen to sound at the moment playback starts. Check the following:

  1. Whether the pad has an assigned pattern.
  2. Whether a pad is on standby. Before playback, use Standby Pad 1 to put Pad 1 of each part on standby together, or press a pad to reserve it before playing. To put a pad other than Pad 1 on standby, choose Set to Standby from that pad's right-click menu.
  3. Whether routing to the DAW tracks is correct. For MIDI routing to instrument tracks and receiving-instrument settings, see 20.2 "I hear no sound". If you use ChordPart, also check Chapter 17.

20.10 The Song page Play button is disabled

While the DAW is playing, Song internal playback is unavailable (it switches to sounding the Song layout along the host position). Stop the DAW, then press Play.

20.11 ChordPart stays "Not connected"

Check the following:

  1. Whether the Chord Dock main plugin is loaded in the same DAW project.
  2. Whether the main plugin's Part Send chip is on (Sending).
  3. Whether the main plugin and ChordPart versions match.

20.12 Sound through ChordPart is offset

When performing live, the offset is practically unnoticeable with an audio buffer size of 128–256 samples (Section 17.2). A recorded MIDI offset is constant, so it can be aligned by shifting all notes at once or by quantizing. To capture the timing precisely, use the pattern editor's drag export instead of real-time recording (Section 17.6).

20.13 It shows "Version mismatch"

The main plugin and ChordPart versions differ. Sending / receiving is stopped for safety. Update both plugins as a matching-version set.

20.14 I cannot use Arranger Pad 4–8

If your edition runs as Arranger Mode Demo, each part can only use Pad 1–3. Pad 4–8 are shown but cannot be used (this is not a bug). Performance or Full Bundle is required to use all pads (Section 15.2).

20.15 Arranger stopped responding / it says the demo has ended

When Arranger Mode Demo uses up its playback time (90 seconds total), Arranger playback, triggering, editing, and MIDI output are locked. The remaining demo time is not saved with the project, so reopening the DAW project or re-inserting the plugin resets it to 90 seconds. Performance or Full Bundle is required to use it without limits.

20.16 Are Bass, Arp, and Chord Pad patterns AI-generated or random?

No. Arranger Mode does not use AI generation, cloud-based generation, or purely random playback. Presets and randomize commands can create starting points, but the pattern itself remains an editable pad pattern.

For Bass / Arp / Chord Pad, the generated MIDI notes come from the selected section's chord progression plus the pattern's timing and chord-role settings. This means the same pattern can follow different chord progressions while keeping its musical shape.

21. Support / Contact

For release notes, downloads, product information, tutorial videos, and support information, please refer to the official landing page and YouTube channel.

For support or pre-sales questions, please use the contact form linked from the official landing page.