Audiomodern Chordjam 1.5 review

Audiomodern Chordjam 1.5: What is it?

Audiomodern’s plugins fall into the broad category of ‘theory assistant’ tools – applications designed to offer a helping hand when it comes to creating patterns, grooves and progressions. 

What sets them apart from other plugins in this space, however, is an emphasis on a creative configuration that make Audiomodern plugins feel less like a theory cheat code and more like an experimental sandbox.

Chordjam is a prime example of this. First released in 2021, but recently updated to v1.5, Chordjam is a chord generator that can turn single-note inputs into melodically coherent progressions. 

That in itself is nothing that innovative, but Chordjam goes further in the ‘smart’ control it offers over every aspect of the MIDI it outputs.

Audiomodern Chordjam 1.5: Performance and verdict

Chordjam can be triggered either from an external MIDI input or its internal sequencer. In either case, the plugin will generate chords with up to five voices. 

Along the top of the UI, users can select a scale, octave and chord type – with 54 chord shapes to choose from – to control the pitch of these voicings. 

With the notes in the chord itself, Chordjam also lets users control the individual velocity and timing of the notes played, the latter section also offering up a simple arpeggiator.

Where the plugin becomes really interesting is in the ways it can randomise all of these elements individually. Randomisation can happen in one of two ways, a simple roll of the dice to create a fresh set of settings, or an ‘infinite’ mode, whereby Chordjam randomises parameters each time it triggers a new chord. 

There are extensive options to configure what, and by how much, randomisation is applied; users can, for example, select chord shapes or several scales to create a pool of possibilities, or set ranges for the potential timing and velocity of each voice.

This approach carries through to the sequencer, which can be edited manually, but is most fun when used in ‘robot’ mode, whereby Chordjam will automatically generate patterns using as much (or as little) guidance as you want to give it. 

The result is a plugin that feels less like it’s doing the work for you, and more like a highly flexible, generative tool, akin to the best Eurorack sequencers, albeit with easier routing and recall.

Version 1.5 enhances the plugin in a couple of ways. The first is by adding MPE. This means that Chordjam can now be routed to an MPE instrument – assuming the DAW you’re using allows this – allowing it to bend from one chord to the next. 

There are options to dictate the amount and range of the bend applied. It’s a nice addition although it would be good to see it go further to really take advantage of the capabilities of MPE – perhaps offering control over which voices do and don’t bend – and some randomisation.

This version also overhauls the system of presets and packs. Users don’t just get a huge, expandable range of ready-to-go progressions, but they can also make custom ‘packs’ of MIDI progressions complete with bespoke artwork.

MusicRadar verdict: More than simply a chord progression cheat code, Chordjam is one of the most useful, creative compositional tools around.

Audiomodern Chordjam 1.5: Hands-on demos

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ADSR Music Production Tutorials

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Audiomodern Chordjam 1.5: Specifications

• Formats: VST, VST3, AU, AAX. Also available as AUv3/standalone for iPad, priced at $9.99.
• Buy at Plugin Boutique
• CONTACT: Audiomodern