Almost Overlooked This Groovebox…

video upload by TAETRO

"Today we take a deep dive into the Chordcat, a groovebox I had previously overlooked with some MIDI features that many grooveboxes do not have!"

📖 Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:45 Hardware & Connectivity
1:34 Layout & Basic Controls
4:12 Built-In Sounds & Instruments
6:54 Sample Import Limitations
7:23 Drum Sequencing & Pattern Length
9:28 Chord Mode & Chord Sets
11:59 Downloadable Chord Sets
12:40 Customizing Chord Voicings
14:04 Chord Cruiser: Finding New Progressions
15:39 Chord Cruiser Plugin: Early Access Prototype
16:10 Pattern Chaining
17:39 Effects & Ducker
19:53 Using ChordCat with Ableton Live
21:52 MIDI Sync & Arpeggiator
23:44 MIDI Delay
25:26 MIDI Drum Sequencing
28:03 Alternate Sequencer Directions
30:10 Hybrid Hardware Setup with Blackbox 2
32:12 Sequencing External Chords
33:27 Adding Bass
34:46 Creating Arpeggiated Melodies
37:26 Controlling External Gear with MIDI
40:14 MIDI Volume & Routing Considerations
43:01 Exporting MIDI to Your DAW
47:24 Final Thoughts: Pros & Cons
52:13 Who Is ChordCat For?
53:09 Outro

You can find addtional posts here.

AlphaTheta ChordCat Groovebox and Chord Engine - SonicDEMO

video upload by sonicstate

"We're looking at the ‪@alphathetaglobal‬ AlphaTheta ChordCat, a compact eight-track groovebox. It has built-in sounds, effects, sequencing and the ChordCruiser chord-generation system. It runs on battery or USB, and includes USB MIDI, MIDI in/out/thru, stereo outputs and headphones.

ChordCat is more than a groovebox and has chord helper functions which makes creating riffs and arrangements pretty straightforward. Matt takes us through sounds, sequencing, chord creation, effects, pattern handling, performance controls and DAW integration.

The sound banks include basses, keys, leads, pads, guitars, plucks, mallets, brass, strings, stabs and drum kits, with the 4x4 X-Y pad used for auditioning presets.

ChordCruiser shows chord names and notes, works with key and scale settings, and offers further chord choices after each selection. Matt built a four-chord set, then recorded it into the sequencer. The sequencer records note length, allows step entry, and lets each step hold gate and velocity values.

We also cover delay, arpeggiator, reverb and chorus sends, track volume and pan, ducking, filter and amp envelope editing, plus automation recording.Pattern copy, direction changes, switchback, step shift, chaining, muting and soloing can be used to reshape the sequence.

ChordCat Manager works on PC and Mac for sequence import/export. ChordCruiser is also coming as a plugin only, with beta access via AlphaTheta.

UK pricing is around £239 -£250.

Key Moments
00:00:00 Introduction and hardware overview
00:01:54 Sound browsing and preset auditioning
00:03:07 Chord mode, scales and ChordCruiser
00:09:47 Recording chords and step editing
00:11:28 Delay, arpeggiator and per-step control
00:14:52 Drums, track levels and sends
00:20:15 Filters, envelopes and automation
00:23:32 Pattern variations, direction and chaining
00:29:44 DAW MIDI, ChordCat Manager, plugin beta and price"

#NAMM 2026: Chordcat - this cat can elevate your chord progressions

video upload by CatSynth TV

"We get a tour of the Chordcat. In addition to featuring "cat" in its name, this eight-track groovebox has a large library of chord progressions, and the ability to predict/suggest follow-on chords to your current harmony in a palette from which the composer can then choose. It has built-in sounds as well as the ability to export MIDI to DAWs and other software for further development of compositions.

To find out more, please visit https://alphatheta.com/en/product/pro...


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145 Sound Presets + 16 drum kits
Designed for a wide range of genres, you can spark fresh ideas during the creative process by switching between 145 sound presets and 16 drum kits.
Tune your sound presets however you like them using the low-pass filter and amp envelope. These parameters can be automated for each pattern, allowing you to dynamically change the tone as well as the chord progression. This allows you to create lively phrases.

Easily make unique chord progressions

Chord Cruiser Mode
Generate up to 110,000 chord combinations that you can use to create your own progressions.
Put the groovebox in Chord Cruiser mode, and an exclusive algorithm selects and suggests multiple musically compatible chords from its database. You can listen to these chords and assign your favorite to a keyboard, triggering the next suggestion automatically.
With this intuitive workflow at your fingertips, you can enjoy a simple process to create original tracks.

Versatile arrangement features and intuitive instrument control

3 built-in effects
Manipulate 3 built-in effects intuitively using the XY pad:
Arpeggiator: Creates melodies from chords.
Delay: Adds depth to sounds and spatial dimension to your music.
Ducker: Adds dynamics and emphasis, creating a sense of movement in your tracks.

Running Direction Feature
Change the playback direction of 4×4 step-sequenced patterns by pressing a single button.
Choose from 4 options — right, down, clockwise, and counterclockwise — to discover new phrases and rhythms. This feature unlocks new ideas, so you can create innovative chord progressions or explore rhythms across different genres.

Key and scale settings
When you set a key and scale on Chordcat, only the notes that belong to the selected key and scale are mapped to the keyboard.
The compatibility of chords suggested in Chord Play mode or Chord Cruiser mode and the selected key and scale are indicated by LED lights; perfect for beginners and professional musicians.

Versatile connectivity: Expand your creative horizons
It’s easy to integrate Chordcat with external synthesizers and DAW software on PC/Mac computers thanks to its MIDI OUT/THRU, MIDI IN, and USB Type-C ports.
Use Chord Play and Chord Cruiser modes to control and perform with your connected devices effortlessly.