ChordViz

Product Introduction

1. Definition: ChordViz is a standalone, cross-platform desktop application (macOS/Windows) that functions as a real-time audio and MIDI visualization engine and recording studio. It is built on the JUCE framework.
2. Core Value Proposition: It exists to bridge the gap between musical performance and visual communication, providing music educators, content creators, and performers with an all-in-one tool to instantly visualize chords, notation, and audio metrics, and to capture professional recordings without requiring a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) or complex streaming software.

Main Features

1. Real-Time Polyphonic Chord Detection: Analyzes incoming MIDI or audio signals to identify chords with high accuracy. The engine names complex chords including extensions (e.g., maj9#11), inversions, and slash chords (e.g., Eb/G), displaying the root, quality, and bass note in real time.
2. Customizable Visual Dashboard: Features an editable snap-to-grid canvas where users can drag, drop, and resize 18 distinct visualizer widgets. Layouts are fully savable and recallable, allowing for customized workspaces for teaching, practice, or performance.
3. Native Multi-Format Recording: Captures output directly within the app. It can record video (MOV/MP4 at up to 60 fps with audio mix), high-fidelity audio (stereo WAV up to 32-bit float), and MIDI data (standard MIDI files with tempo). A unique "retroactive capture" feature continuously buffers audio, allowing users to save the last 15 seconds of audio after playing.
4. Integrated Virtual Instrument Host: Can load and host one instance of a user's own VST3 (Mac/Windows) or Audio Unit (macOS) instrument plugins. The plugin and its specific patch settings are saved within the ChordViz layout file. Plugins are scanned in isolated sandboxed processes for stability.
5. Comprehensive Visualizer Widget Suite: Includes 18 widgets spanning categories: Music Theory (Keyboard, Grand Staff with key-aware notation, Circle of Fifths, Chord Name, Chromatic Strip), Audio Metering (Oscilloscope, Spectrum Analyzer, Spectrogram, VU/LUFS meters, Stereometer), and Utility (Metronome, Beat Bar, Webcam feed).

Problems Solved

1. Pain Point: The disconnect between playing music and visually explaining its theoretical components in real time, often requiring multiple disparate software tools (DAW, notation software, theory apps, recording software).
2. Target Audience: Music teachers (for in-person or online lessons), online music educators and content creators (for YouTube, courses), live performers (for visual backing in OBS/TouchDesigner/Resolume), and practicing musicians seeking instant feedback on harmony and theory.
3. Use Cases: A piano teacher displaying chord names and notation live during a lesson; a YouTuber creating a tutorial and needing to quickly record a polished video clip with synced visuals; a live electronic musician sending reactive chord and meter visuals to a projection mapping system; a composer quickly capturing MIDI ideas without opening a full DAW.

Unique Advantages

1. Differentiation: Unlike simple chord identifier apps or DAW plugins, ChordViz is a fully-featured, standalone visual workspace that combines high-accuracy chord detection, customizable multi-widget dashboards, and native recording in a single, DAW-less environment. It prioritizes immediate usability and visual clarity.
2. Key Innovation: Its "retroactive audio capture" (saving the last 15 seconds played) solves the problem of missing an unplanned perfect take. Furthermore, its self-contained nature—hosting user plugins and saving the entire instrument state within a visual layout—creates a portable, recallable "rig" for teaching or performance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Does ChordViz require a DAW or other software to run? No, ChordViz is a completely standalone application for macOS and Windows. It hosts audio/MIDI drivers and your instrument plugins directly, requiring no other software to function for visualization or recording.
2. Can I use my own piano VST plugins with ChordViz? Yes, ChordViz can host one VST3 (Mac/Windows) or Audio Unit (macOS) instrument plugin at a time. It scans standard plugin directories and saves both the plugin selection and its specific patch settings within your layout file.
3. What are the system requirements for ChordViz video recording? For video recording, ChordViz requires macOS 12.3+ or Windows 10 (1903)+. Audio and MIDI recording are supported on all compatible platforms (macOS 11+, Windows 10 (1903)+).
4. Is ChordViz a subscription service? No, the ChordViz Founder License is a one-time purchase of $29 USD, which includes a permanent license and lifetime updates for the desktop application. No subscription is required.
5. How does ChordViz handle chord detection for complex or ambiguous voicings? ChordViz's detection engine analyzes all held notes in real-time to determine the root, quality, and bass note, correctly identifying extensions, inversions, and slash chords. It is designed to name the most musically sensible chord based on the input notes.