Cadence Manual

Welcome to Cadence

Cadence is a harmonic progression tool that was built to give composers and musicians a helping hand and a spark of creativity when making music.

Installation

After downloading the .DMG file, double-click it to open the package. In there, you will find folder alias links to your Applications, Components (AU) plugins, and VST3 plugins folders. Double-click each folder alias to open that folder.

Drag the Cadence application into the Applications folder, the .component files into the Components folder, and the .vst3 file into the VST3 folder. Your DAW should be able to recognize the newly installed plugin on the next launch (or restart of your computer). If not, use your DAW's plugin manager to refresh the plugin list.

Activation

Cadence runs in demo mode for 20 minute sessions for 14 days. It is fully-functional during this time except for exporting MIDI and saving progressions. In order to activate it with your license, start the standalone application or load a new instance of Cadence in your DAW. You'll be presented with an activation prompt. Paste in your license key and choose activate. You can confirm the activation status by clicking the Cadence logo in the top left of the toolbar.

Layout

Cadence consists of 5 primary sections:

• the top toolbar
• the saved progressions list
• the progression
• the chord suggestions
• the build a chord section

The vertical and horizontal separation bars between each section allow you to resize the layout or collapse and expand specific sections depending on your needs. We'll cover each section in more detail below.

The Toolbar Section

The top toolbar contains a number of important global functions and configuration options.

Cadence Logo and Undo / Redo

Starting from the left, you have the Cadence logo. Click this to see which version of the app you are using.

After that you have undo and redo buttons, which allow you to control changes you make to your harmonic progression.

Pattern Mode

After the redo button is the Pattern Mode icon. This is a very powerful feature that we'll cover in more detail below.

Key

This shows the starting key for the harmonic progression. You can change this by clicking on it to reveal the key change popup.

If you change this when you already have chords in your harmonic progression, a confirmation dialog will show asking if you want to change the starting key or transpose the progression based on the new key.

Choosing a new starting key will update the roman numerals (where possible) to reflect how those chords fit into the new key.

Choosing transpose will transpose all the chords in the progression to the equivalent chords in the new key. It will also adjust any modulations you have in the progression to modulate the same distance from the new key.

Resetting the key to auto-detect will try to determine the right key based on the chords you've added to the progression.

BPM

You can use this field to set the BPM for the playback of your progression. If you are using Cadence as a plugin within your DAW, the BPM is initially synced to your DAW's tempo when you load the plugin.

Key Trigger

The key trigger icon toggles on and off key trigger mode. In this mode, you can use your MIDI keyboard to trigger each chord in the progression. The trigger key starting note can be set in the trigger field (default is C3 which is middle C in most cases). Each subsequent half step note triggers the next chord in the progression.

DAW Playback Sync

This link toggle controls whether starting playback in your DAW also simultaneously starts playback of the progression in Cadence. Cadence will always start with the first chord in the progression, regardless of where in the DAW timeline you start playback.

Note: This button is not applicable to the standalone version.

Play Button

Use this button to playback your harmonic progression.

Volume

Use this slider to control the output volume of Cadence for both progression playback and for previewing chords. If you are using Cadence to output MIDI to another sound source (for example, another virtual instrument in your DAW), the volume slider will control the MIDI velocity that Cadence outputs.

Output

This dropdown allows you to control Cadence's output. You can use the built-in synth sound, MIDI out from Cadence to another sound source, or both.

Option Menu

This menu shows a few important options for Cadence.

Capture MIDI

This allows you to record MIDI from your DAW directly into Cadence. You can then either harmonize the melody (if the MIDI is monophonic) or detect chords from the MIDI (if the MIDI is polyphonic). We will discuss this in more detail below. This option is not applicable to the standalone version.

Import MIDI

This option allows you to import MIDI from a MIDI file on your computer. You can then either harmonize the melody (if the MIDI is monophonic) or detect chords from the MIDI (if the MIDI is polyphonic). We will discuss this in more detail below.

Export MIDI

This option allows you to export your harmonic progression's MIDI into a MIDI file on your computer. It includes any pattern you've applied to the progression.

Scale UI

Use this option to scale the UI up or down based on what is most comfortable for your screen resolution.

Theme

Cadence comes with a light (default) and dark theme. You can switch between the two here depending on your preference.

Audio / MIDI Settings

In the standalone version, you can use this option to configure your audio and MIDI settings for Cadence, including your MIDI input devices.

New and Saved Progressions

You can create new and save your existing harmonic progressions from Cadence. Saved progressions will show up in the left-side panel.

Creating a new progression when you already have chords in the existing progression will first ask for your confirmation if you want to overwrite the existing progression.

If you create a pattern, that will also be saved when you save a progression.

To delete a saved progression, hover over it in the left panel and click the delete icon. Remember, this cannot be undone!

Your Harmonic Progression

This is where the fun happens! In this section, Cadence will display your current harmonic progression, including chords and their properties, modulations to new keys, and what sort of voicing is being used.

Chord Cells

Each chord is represented by a single chord cell.

Chord Name and Roman Numeral

The chord's name is shown in the center of the cell. In the top right, the roman numeral is displayed representing the function of the chord within the current key (if available - for example, related ii chords for secondary dominants may not have a function in the current key). Changing the key will update the chord name to the appropriate enharmonic equivalent and update the roman numeral. Hover the mouse over a cell to get a tooltip with the notes within that chord, from top to bottom order.

Preview

You can preview the chord by clicking the preview play button in the top left of the cell.

Octave Transposition

If the chord has been transposed up or down an octave, this will be indicated in the bottom left of the cell. In order to change the transposition, you can use the Build a Chord section in edit mode.

Inversion

You can quickly cycle through the various inversions of the chord by clicking the inversion button at the bottom center of the chord cell. If the chord is inverted, the inversion button will be highlighted and indicate which inversion is currently selected. You can also change the chord's inversion in the Build a Chord section in edit mode.

Delete

You can remove the chord from the progression by clicking the delete button in the bottom right of the cell.

Rearrange

You can change the position of a chord cell within the progression by clicking and holding a cell and then dragging it to the newly desired position.

Note Duration

Above each chord cell is a note duration icon. This indicates how long the chord will be played for during playback and in the MIDI output.

Cadence supports 8 beat, 6 beat, 4 beat, 3 beat, 2 beat, 1 beat, and 1/2 beat durations, which should work for 4/4, 3/4, 6/8, and other common time signatures.

Choose a new duration for the chord by clicking the note duration icon and selecting the desired duration from the note duration popup.

Voicing and Voice Leading

By default, Cadence adds chords to the progression in closed voicing (that is, all notes are within a single octave with a few exceptions like hybrid and polychords).

Open Voicing

The Open Voicing toggle changes the note distribution in each chord to span more than a single octave, following the harmonic series as best as possible. This setting effects all chords in the progression.

Voice Leading

The Voice Leading toggle changes the note distribution in each chord after the first chord based on classical voice leading principles as best as possible. This setting effects all chords in the progression.

Edit Mode

Clicking on a cell enters edit mode for that cell. This allows you to edit the chord in the Build a Chord section, including changing the tonic, the quality, extensions, the octave transposition, and the inversion. You can then save your changes back to the cell.

Additionally, edit mode also allows you to replace the chord with other suggestions from the chord suggestions section. Suggestions will be based on the chord that precedes this chord.

Insert Chord or Key Change

If you click on the arrow between two chord cells, you get the option to insert a new chord cell or to insert a key change if you want to modulate.

Key Change

Inserting a key change will show the key change popup. This allows to select which key you want to modulate to. All subsequent chord suggestions and roman numerals for existing cells will be now based on this new key center.

Insert Chord

Inserting a chord will create an empty "rest" cell in between the two chords. You will automatically be in edit mode so you can easily choose a new chord suggestion to place in this cell or you can leave it as a rest if that's desired for your progression.

MIDI Drag-n-Drop

The MIDI button in the top left of the section allows you to drag and drop the MIDI for your progression into your DAW. It preserves all transpositions, inversions, voicing changes, and (if applicable) patterns for your progression.

Save Progression

Click the Save button in the top left of the section to save the progression. It saves all transpositions, inversions, voicing changes, and (if applicable) patterns for your progression.

Chord Suggestions

The What could come next section is at the heart of Cadence. Here you'll find various chord suggestions, contextually presented based on your progression.

Chord Categories

Cadence contains chords based on common musical categories. These include chords diatonic to the current key, secondary dominants, and chromatic chords including augmented 6th chords and chromatic mediants. Some categories only appear when relevant, such as tritone substitutions, deceptive resolutions, polychords, and pivot chord suggestions for modulations.

Chord Suggestions

Chord suggestions are shown within each category. They are color-coded as strong, medium, and weak based on common music theory principles. Each suggestion can be previewed by clicking the play button on the suggestion. The suggestion can also be edited in the Build a Chord section by clicking on the pencil icon. Clicking on a suggestion will add it to the end of the progression.

Chord Type and Strength

Chord suggestions can be displayed based on their type (ex. diatonic, chromatic, etc.) or by their strength color (strong, medium, week). Use the filter toggle to switch between these modes.

Chord Tones

The Chord Tone filter allows you to show only the suggestions that contain a specific chord tone or tones. This can be especially handy when harmonizing melodies.

Special Case Chords

Normally a chord suggestion is added to the end of the progression. However, certain chord suggestions behave differently. These suggestions are shown with a dotted outline. Usually, these suggestions will replace the previous chord in the progression because they are equivalents or substitutions. Related ii chords are inserted before the previous chord in the progression.

Create Your Own Chord

Cadence allows you to edit and build any chord you'd like in the Build a Chord section.

Preview and Record

Use the preview play button to hear a preview of the currently shown chord. Enable record mode and use your MIDI input device to play in the exact chord you'd like. Cadence will show the name of the chord, including quality and extensions based on the notes you play.

Enharmonic Spelling

Use the flat / sharp button to switch the enharmonic spelling of the chord.

Inversion and Octave Shift

You can utilize the inversion and octave shift buttons to change the voicing of the currently shown chord.

Chord Root and Quality

Use the chord name keyboard to choose the root of the chord. Then set its quality using the quality grid. Certain qualities can be combined, such as min and maj7.

Extensions / Tensions

You can add one or more extensions to your chord using the extension buttons. Cadence will automatically highlight common tensions for specific chords, as well as indicating harmonic avoid notes.

Lower Structures

Use the lower structure popup to set and edit the lower structure for hybrid (slash) and polychords.

Import and Capture MIDI

Cadence allows you to both import MIDI files and to capture MIDI data from your DAW.

Import MIDI

To import an existing MIDI file into Cadence from your computer, use Import MIDI from the Options Menu in the top toolbar.

Capture MIDI

To capture MIDI from your DAW, use Capture MIDI from the Options Menu in the top toolbar. Cadence will automatically begin listening for incoming MIDI. You can use this to capture existing MIDI events in your DAW project or to play in MIDI from your MIDI keyboard.

Analyzing MIDI

Cadence offers two ways to analyze the MIDI: harmonizing it with chords if it is a melody or detecting the chords from it and creating a progression.

Harmonizing Melodies

Once you have imported or captured MIDI, if the MIDI is a monophonic line (that is, only one note plays at any given time), you can use this as a melody to harmonize.

Harmonize Melody Options

After choosing to harmonize a melody, a harmonization options dialog is shown.

Key

If you know the key of the melody or the key you would like to harmonize in, you can select it here. You can change this later from the key popup in the top toolbar.

BPM

If you want to set a specific BPM for the melody and progression, you can do so here. You can change this later from the BPM field in the top toolbar.

Harmonic Rhythm

Use this to set how often you want chords to change in the harmony (ex. every whole note, every half note, etc.). This will dictate which chord tones are selected to be harmonized. This is the most important setting in the dialog.

Offset

If you have a pickup bar in your melody, you can use this field to offset the analysis by a certain number of eighth note beats.

After you confirm, a placeholder progression will be created. Each chord cell will now show a specific melody note above it that is based on the harmonic rhythm chosen. Clicking on each cell will enter Edit mode. The Chord Tones filter will automatically be set to the melody note for that cell, so you will only see chords that contain that note - perfect for harmonization!

When you playback your progression, the imported melody will also playback alongside your harmony so you can hear how the two sound together. Use the volume slider in the top toolbar to adjust the volume of just the harmony.

Detect Chord Progressions

Once you have imported or captured MIDI, if the MIDI is a polyphonic line (that is, multiple notes play at a time), you can let Cadence try to detect the chord progression used.

Detect Chord Options

After choosing to detect chords, a detect chords options dialog is shown.

Key

If you know the key of the passage, you can select it here. You can change this later from the key popup in the top toolbar.

BPM

If you want to set a specific BPM for the progression, you can do so here. Cadence auto-detects this from the MIDI if available.

Time Signature

In order to get more accurate detection, specific the time signature your MIDI pasage is in.

Detection Mode

You can choose whether to set a fixed harmonic rhythm for the chord detection (useful if you know the harmony changes on consistent intervals) or allow Cadence to try to determine harmonic rhythm changes (potentially less accurate, but able to pick up inconsistent harmonic rhythms).

Harmonic Rhythm / Minimum Harmonic Rhythm

Use this to set the fixed harmonic rhythm or in auto mode, the shortest expected harmonic duration.

Precision

In Auto mode, this controls how granular Cadence's chord detection will try to be.

Offset

If you have a pickup bar in the MIDI or want to trim the starting notes, you can use this field to offset the analysis by a certain number of eighth note beats.

Ignore extensions

If your MIDI contains a lot of melody or passing notes between the harmony, this checkbox can help improve the chord detection's accuracy by excluding those extensions from signifying legitimate chord changes.

After you confirm the options, Cadence will analyze the imported or captured MIDI and create a chord progression. Each cell will also indicate the rhythmic duration based on detection.

Pattern Mode

Pattern mode is a unique capability of Cadence that allows you to record a specific gesture (or pattern) and apply that automatically to all chords in the progression. Think of it like a more flexible, intelligent arpeggiator of sorts.

You can record a 1 or 2 bar pattern or gesture using the notes from the first chord of your progression. This pattern will then be automatically applied to the subsequent chords in the progression. Cadence will intelligently handle how the pattern is applied if the chords have more or less notes than the first chord. It will even figure out open voicing and voice leading if those are enabled.

Detect Chord Options

After enabling pattern mode in the top toolbar, the create pattern dialog is shown.

BPM

You will need to set a specific BPM before recording your pattern. The recording metronome will be based on this.

Length

You can record a 1 or 2 bar pattern.

Time Signature

You will need to set a specific time signature before recording your pattern. The recording metronome will be based on this.

Record from DAW

This option allows you to capture pre-existing MIDI data from your DAW if you'd like to use that for the pattern.

Metronome ON

This plays back a metronome during the pattern recording.

Pre-Count ON

When turned on, there will be a 2 bar pre-count before the pattern starts recording.

Clear

If you have an existing pattern, use this to clear it out for the current progression.

After you confirm the options, hit Record to start the pattern recording. If you are recording from your DAW, start playback in your DAW and Cadence will capture the MIDI from the track it is instantiated on. After recording is complete, you can preview the recorded pattern, re-record, or save the pattern.

Once a pattern is saved, when you playback the progression, each chord cell will play using the saved pattern. If you export your progression as MIDI or to the DAW, each chord will have the pattern applied as well. Saving a progression also saves any saved pattern for that progression.