Praising the chord track (just gotta say it)

[lokeyfly]

I've been occasionally from time to time using the chord track, only where needed for altering guitar audio tracks. In my case, this might be where one track has some power chords (Gibson LP custom, going through a Neural DSP Mesa Boogie) and while there's plenty of space and sounds "great", I just need to change out one chord here or there. An alternate option to transpose the chord might include using Melodyne, which works best with single notes or perhaps two string chords. However, it usually gets wonky with triads or more complex chording. Melodyne will rarely fit, or even understant the scaling. Sporatic blobs will do that.
Enter Studio One's own chord track. I simply slice the portion of the chord to be transposed, or processed. There's no need to even bounce the section or event. Just open the Inspector on that track, and select [Follow Chord track]. Set to follow by parallel track. Drag only the sliced event up to the chord track. It will recognize the chord. Loop the area from the surrounding chord before and after to audition. Double click the event to be altered and the chord variations window opens. You're now set to experiment. Warning: this is seriously fun.

It's simply outstanding how pure and natural the various selections just work, or don't based on preferences, or taste. Not only is it possible (typically) to avoid re recording the track over, but the alternate possibilies can be outstanding. This ability to cleanly alter chords, particularly with audio is one of those serious nicities that Studio One does extremely well and can assist in your musical creation. Don't be afraid to go there if you haven't yet tried it. That alternate chord, or group of chords can be the pinnacle, or vibe that creates tension, stress, beauty, closure, or whatever you might not otherwise had in store (capabilities or not). And it's right there, and is only a few mouse clicks away!
Just venting my excitement.

Feel free to share your experience. Similar, or otherwise.

 

[Craig Anderton]

The Chord Track was what caused me to make Studio One my main DAW for multitrack projects (I'd been using the mastering page since v1.0).

Try this: Record a track's reverb to a separate track, put the Chord Track in Universal Mode, and have the reverb follow a chord progression. I also use the Chord Track for algorithmic part generation.

It's great for songwriting..."hmmm, maybe this chord should be a relative minor instead"...fun stuff!!

 

[lokeyfly]

Try this: Record a track's reverb to a separate track, put the Chord Track in Universal Mode, and have the reverb follow a chord progression. I also use the Chord Track for algorithmic part generation.

I'll try that.

It's great for songwriting..."hmmm, maybe this chord should be a relative minor instead"...fun stuff!!

Yes, that's just it. Studio One was always great using transpose to quite a descent range. Almost +/- an octave on instruments. vocals are another story at around +/- 5 semitones. But with the chord track, turning an Am chord, into D maj7, or to a G# sus 9th, etc. with audio is like sitting on one side of the glass, and asking the guitarist to explore that last chord a little, then BAM. "Pfffff that's it!". All without re recording.... and ehm.... no guitarist playing.
TY, Studio One. The effects and reverb simply followed along, complimenting the signal path.