orph has launched MONOCHORD, a chord instrument and harmony workstation for macOS and Windows. The software combines an internal sound library with chord voicings, performance controls and MIDI features intended for creating harmonic parts from individual key presses.
MONOCHORD is designed so that pressing one key triggers a complete chord with a specified voicing. Rather than operating solely as a MIDI chord generator, it includes its own sound content, comprising 425 instruments drawn from sampled analogue and digital synthesizers as well as recorded instruments.
The included sample content occupies approximately 11.8 GB and is loaded from within the plugin after installation. orph states that MONOCHORD contains more than 600 hand-arranged chord voicings.
A voicing control covers positions from -12 to +16. Moving the control upward accesses separate higher voicing sets rather than applying simple transposition, while lower settings move towards darker voicings and, at the lowest point, a more fundamental chord structure. Spread settings provide close-position, open-position and orchestral spacing options.
Instead of conventional factory presets, MONOCHORD includes a FACTORY mode. This feature generates a complete sound configuration combining an instrument selection, effects, spatial settings and motion parameters according to musical rules. The resulting configurations can then be adjusted by the user.
Additional performance and composition functions include:
- An arpeggiator and sequencer
- Beat and bass modes
- Strum and glide controls
- A preset browser
MONOCHORD also provides a collection of effects and processing tools, including reverb, delay, chorus, phaser, flanger, tape, crystallizer, crunch, filter, brilliance and inflate. The instrument’s Orbit spatial engine is also included for spatial processing.
The software can transmit MIDI data to external software instruments and hardware. Audio stems and MIDI files can be exported using drag-and-drop, and the plugin includes an in-place update system.
MONOCHORD is available in VST3 and AU formats, alongside a standalone version, for macOS and Windows.
MONOCHORD is priced at USD 139 / EUR 139, including tax. A rent-to-own option and a fully functional 14-day demo are available.
Set a dev alert for orph.
What do you think?
We’d love to hear your thoughts about this news. Please leave a message in the comments section below.
