Chord Beats Sync - Revision history

Marekpalka at 15:15, 27 July 2026

2026-07-27T15:15:58Z

Marekpalka at 12:37, 27 July 2026

2026-07-27T12:37:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:37, 27 July 2026
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	== Chord Beats Sync ==		== Chord Beats Sync ==

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	JustChords gets its timing in two different ways depending on how it's running:		JustChords gets its timing in two different ways depending on how it's running:

	* '''Standalone app (iOS, macOS Catalyst)''' — reads an external '''MIDI Clock''' source.		• '''Standalone app (iOS, macOS Catalyst)''' — reads an external '''MIDI Clock''' source.
	* '''AUv3 plug-in''' — locks to the host's transport (DAW play/stop, position, tempo).		• '''AUv3 plug-in''' — locks to the host's transport (DAW play/stop, position, tempo).

	Open '''Settings → Chord Beats Sync''' to configure the source.		Open '''Settings → Chord Beats → Chord Beats Sync''' to configure the source. (Prior to this update the entry was located under Settings → MIDI.)

	;Standalone — MIDI Clock Source		;Standalone — MIDI Clock Source
	* Pick a MIDI device or virtual port from the picker. Only ports that can send (sources / source-and-destination) are listed.		• Pick a MIDI device or virtual port from the picker. Only ports that can send (sources / source-and-destination) are listed.
	* Choose '''None''' to disable clock following.		• Choose '''None''' / '''Off''' to disable clock following. '''Off is the default'''; the feature must be explicitly enabled.

	;AUv3		;AUv3
	* No clock picker — the host transport drives the sync automatically.		• No clock picker — the host transport drives the sync automatically.

	;Loop Song		;Loop Song
	* When the song ends, sync restarts from the beginning of the first section so the song loops indefinitely. Works in both standalone and AUv3 modes.		• When the song ends, sync restarts from the beginning of the first section so the song loops indefinitely. Works in both standalone and AUv3 modes.

	== MIDI Out ==		== MIDI Out ==

	Chord Beats Sync can broadcast what's happening in the song over MIDI. The standalone app has '''MIDI Out''' (one channel); the AUv3 plug-in has both '''MIDI Out 1''' and '''MIDI Out 2''', each configured independently.		Chord Beats Sync can broadcast what's happening in the song over MIDI. The MIDI Out settings are only visible when MIDI is enabled (Settings → MIDI → Enable MIDI). The standalone app has '''MIDI Out''' (one channel); the AUv3 plug-in has both '''MIDI Out 1''' and '''MIDI Out 2''', each configured independently.

	;User MIDI Messages (always on for Out 1)		;User MIDI Messages (always on for Out 1)
	JustChords always emits these on the primary output:		JustChords always emits these on the primary output:

	* Song is displayed		• Song is displayed
	* Section selection		• Section selection
	* Section deselection		• Section deselection
	* MIDI Button events		• MIDI Button events

	These are the "user-driven" messages that don't depend on the playhead.		These are the "user-driven" messages that don't depend on the playhead.
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	Choose how chord data is sent:		Choose how chord data is sent:

	* '''Off''' — no chord messages.		• '''Off''' — no chord messages.
	* '''Chords (Note On/Off)''' — sends each chord as standard MIDI Note On / Note Off events, so any synth or sampler can play along.		• '''Chords (Note On/Off)''' — sends each chord as standard MIDI Note On / Note Off events, so any synth or sampler can play along.
	* '''Tone Packet Protocol''' — sends chord information as TonePacket messages, useful for receivers that understand chord identity rather than raw notes.		• '''Tone Packet Protocol''' — sends chord information as TonePacket messages, useful for receivers that understand chord identity rather than raw notes.

	;Anticipation (per output)		;Anticipation (per output)
	How early chord-change messages should be sent before the beat the chord actually starts on:		How early chord-change messages should be sent before the beat the chord actually starts on:

	* '''Off''' — fire exactly on the beat.		• '''Off''' — fire exactly on the beat.
	* '''1/4 beat''', '''1/8 beat''', '''1/16 beat''' — send the chord change slightly ahead, useful so external instruments have time to react and don't sound late. Anticipation is ignored for the very first beat of a section (no pre-roll).		• '''1/4 beat''', '''1/8 beat''', '''1/16 beat''' — send the chord change slightly ahead, useful so external instruments have time to react and don't sound late. Anticipation is ignored for the very first beat of a section (no pre-roll).

	;Send first chord on song display / section select		;Send first chord on song display / section select
	* When enabled, opening a song or selecting a section immediately emits its first chord — handy for hearing the starting chord before the transport begins.		• When enabled, opening a song or selecting a section immediately emits its first chord — handy for hearing the starting chord before the transport begins.

	== Shifting Section MIDI Messages (Delay / Anticipation) ==		== Shifting Section MIDI Messages (Delay / Anticipation) ==
	The '''Section selection''' and '''Section deselection''' MIDI messages can be shifted in beats so they don't fire exactly on the section boundary. The offset is set per MIDI action in the song's '''Arrangement / Song Structure''' and '''only takes effect in Chord Beats Sync mode'''.		The '''Section selection''' and '''Section deselection''' MIDI messages can be shifted in beats so they don't fire exactly on the section boundary. The offset is set per MIDI action in the song's '''Arrangement / Song Structure''' and '''only takes effect in Chord Beats Sync mode'''.

	How to Set It		;How to Set It
	* Edit the song's Song Structure and open a MIDI action item.		• Edit the song's Song Structure and open a MIDI action item.
	* Pick a '''Trigger''' — ''Section selection'' or ''Section deselection''.		• Pick a '''Trigger''' — ''Section selection'' or ''Section deselection''.
	* A stepper (0–100 beats) appears, labelled '''Delay''' or '''Anticipation''' depending on the trigger.		• A stepper (0–100 beats) appears, labelled '''Delay''' or '''Anticipation''' depending on the trigger.

	Behavior		;Behavior
	* '''Section selection → Delay''' — sends the message ''N'' beats '''after''' the section starts.		• '''Section selection → Delay''' — sends the message ''N'' beats '''after''' the section starts.
	* '''Section deselection → Anticipation''' — sends the message ''N'' beats '''before''' the section ends.		• '''Section deselection → Anticipation''' — sends the message ''N'' beats '''before''' the section ends.
	* '''0''' (default) — fires exactly on the boundary.		• '''0''' (default) — fires exactly on the boundary.

	The offset is measured in whole beats on the Chord Beats timeline and is applied per MIDI action, so several actions on the same section can use different shifts.		The offset is measured in whole beats on the Chord Beats timeline and is applied per MIDI action, so several actions on the same section can use different shifts.
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	When the clock is running:		When the clock is running:

	* The chord currently sounding is highlighted in the song view.		• The chord currently sounding is highlighted in the song view.
	* The active section is highlighted, and JustChords auto-scrolls to keep it on screen.		• The active section is highlighted, and JustChords auto-scrolls to keep it on screen.
	* When the section ends, JustChords advances to the next section automatically; if '''Loop Song''' is on it wraps back to the start.		• When the section ends, JustChords advances to the next section automatically; if '''Loop Song''' is on it wraps back to the start.
	* When the transport stops, all sounding notes are released and the section selection clears.		• When the transport stops, all sounding notes are released and the section selection clears.
			• '''Changing the clock source''' to any non-off value immediately re-initialises the sync data — no need to navigate away and back.

			== MIDI Clock Output (Metronome) ==

			When the built-in metronome is used as the clock source, MIDI clock pulses (24 PPQ) are generated inline by the audio engine's tick scheduler. Each pulse carries a sample-accurate hardware timestamp anchored to the same audio timeline as the metronome clicks, resulting in tighter sync with external instruments compared to earlier software-loop-based scheduling. MIDI Start / Stop messages bracket the session automatically.

	== Section Navigation Over MIDI ==		== Section Navigation Over MIDI ==
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	While sync is active you can pre-queue a different section:		While sync is active you can pre-queue a different section:

	* Tap a section header in the song view to set it as the "next section". When the current section ends, JustChords switches to it and emits the corresponding Section Selection MIDI message.		• Tap a section header in the song view to set it as the "next section". When the current section ends, JustChords switches to it and emits the corresponding Section Selection MIDI message.
	* Looping a single section keeps repeating it until you queue a different one or stop the transport.		• Looping a single section keeps repeating it until you queue a different one or stop the transport.

	== Tips ==		== Tips ==

	* '''Set Chord Beats first.''' Without beat counts, there is nothing for the clock to follow. Enable Chord Beats in Song View settings and set beat values per chord in the Song Editor's Chord Beats syntax.		• '''Set Chord Beats first.''' Without beat counts, there is nothing for the clock to follow. Enable Chord Beats in Song View settings and set beat values per chord in the Song Editor's Chord Beats syntax.
	* '''AUv3 in a DAW''' is the simplest way to test the feature — start playback in the DAW and the song should follow.		• '''AUv3 in a DAW''' is the simplest way to test the feature — start playback in the DAW and the song should follow.
	* '''Standalone''' setups typically use an external sequencer, drum machine or MIDI clock app as the source.		• '''Standalone''' setups typically use an external sequencer, drum machine or MIDI clock app as the source.
	* If anticipation makes external instruments fire too early, lower it; if they sound late, raise it.		• '''Chord Beats Sync is off by default.''' Open Settings → Chord Beats → Chord Beats Sync and select a source to activate it.
			• If anticipation makes external instruments fire too early, lower it; if they sound late, raise it.
			• MIDI Out settings (Song MIDI and Chord data) are only shown when MIDI is enabled under Settings → MIDI.

Marekpalka at 09:09, 5 June 2026

2026-06-05T09:09:34Z

@@ Line 53: / Line 53: @@
 ;Send first chord on song display / section select
 * When enabled, opening a song or selecting a section immediately emits its first chord — handy for hearing the starting chord before the transport begins.
 == What Sync Does in the UI ==

Marekpalka at 06:18, 5 June 2026

2026-06-05T06:18:46Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:18, 5 June 2026
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	'''Chord Beats Sync''' drives JustChords from an external clock so the app follows the music in real time. As the clock advances, JustChords highlights the active chord and section, auto-scrolls the song, and sends MIDI out to other instruments / apps based on the chord under the playhead.		'''Chord Beats Sync''' drives JustChords from an external clock so the app follows the music in real time. As the clock advances, JustChords highlights the active chord and section, auto-scrolls the song, and sends MIDI out to other instruments / apps based on the chord under the playhead.

	This feature builds on ~~'''~~Chord Beats~~'''~~ — every chord must have a beat duration set, otherwise there is nothing to follow.		This feature builds on [[Chord Beats]] — every chord must have a beat duration set, otherwise there is nothing to follow.

	== Clock Source ==		== Clock Source ==

Marekpalka: Created page with "== Chord Beats Sync == '''Chord Beats Sync''' drives JustChords from an external clock so the app follows the music in real time. As the clock advances, JustChords highlights the active chord and section, auto-scrolls the song, and sends MIDI out to other instruments / apps based on the chord under the playhead. This feature builds on '''Chord Beats''' — every chord must have a beat duration set, otherwise there is nothing to follow. == Clock Source == JustChords g..."

2026-06-05T06:17:06Z

Created page with "== Chord Beats Sync == '''Chord Beats Sync''' drives JustChords from an external clock so the app follows the music in real time. As the clock advances, JustChords highlights the active chord and section, auto-scrolls the song, and sends MIDI out to other instruments / apps based on the chord under the playhead. This feature builds on '''Chord Beats''' — every chord must have a beat duration set, otherwise there is nothing to follow. == Clock Source == JustChords g..."

New page

== Chord Beats Sync ==

'''Chord Beats Sync''' drives JustChords from an external clock so the app follows the music in real time. As the clock advances, JustChords highlights the active chord and section, auto-scrolls the song, and sends MIDI out to other instruments / apps based on the chord under the playhead.

This feature builds on '''Chord Beats''' — every chord must have a beat duration set, otherwise there is nothing to follow.

== Clock Source ==

JustChords gets its timing in two different ways depending on how it's running:

* '''Standalone app (iOS, macOS Catalyst)''' — reads an external '''MIDI Clock''' source.
* '''AUv3 plug-in''' — locks to the host's transport (DAW play/stop, position, tempo).

Open '''Settings → Chord Beats Sync''' to configure the source.

;Standalone — MIDI Clock Source
* Pick a MIDI device or virtual port from the picker. Only ports that can send (sources / source-and-destination) are listed.
* Choose '''None''' to disable clock following.

;AUv3
* No clock picker — the host transport drives the sync automatically.

;Loop Song
* When the song ends, sync restarts from the beginning of the first section so the song loops indefinitely. Works in both standalone and AUv3 modes.

== MIDI Out ==

Chord Beats Sync can broadcast what's happening in the song over MIDI. The standalone app has '''MIDI Out''' (one channel); the AUv3 plug-in has both '''MIDI Out 1''' and '''MIDI Out 2''', each configured independently.

;User MIDI Messages (always on for Out 1)
JustChords always emits these on the primary output:

* Song is displayed
* Section selection
* Section deselection
* MIDI Button events

These are the "user-driven" messages that don't depend on the playhead.

;Chords (per output)
Choose how chord data is sent:

* '''Off''' — no chord messages.
* '''Chords (Note On/Off)''' — sends each chord as standard MIDI Note On / Note Off events, so any synth or sampler can play along.
* '''Tone Packet Protocol''' — sends chord information as TonePacket messages, useful for receivers that understand chord identity rather than raw notes.

;Anticipation (per output)
How early chord-change messages should be sent before the beat the chord actually starts on:

* '''Off''' — fire exactly on the beat.
* '''1/4 beat''', '''1/8 beat''', '''1/16 beat''' — send the chord change slightly ahead, useful so external instruments have time to react and don't sound late. Anticipation is ignored for the very first beat of a section (no pre-roll).

;Send first chord on song display / section select
* When enabled, opening a song or selecting a section immediately emits its first chord — handy for hearing the starting chord before the transport begins.

== What Sync Does in the UI ==

When the clock is running:

* The chord currently sounding is highlighted in the song view.
* The active section is highlighted, and JustChords auto-scrolls to keep it on screen.
* When the section ends, JustChords advances to the next section automatically; if '''Loop Song''' is on it wraps back to the start.
* When the transport stops, all sounding notes are released and the section selection clears.

== Section Navigation Over MIDI ==

While sync is active you can pre-queue a different section:

* Tap a section header in the song view to set it as the "next section". When the current section ends, JustChords switches to it and emits the corresponding Section Selection MIDI message.
* Looping a single section keeps repeating it until you queue a different one or stop the transport.

== Tips ==

* '''Set Chord Beats first.''' Without beat counts, there is nothing for the clock to follow. Enable Chord Beats in Song View settings and set beat values per chord in the Song Editor's Chord Beats syntax.
* '''AUv3 in a DAW''' is the simplest way to test the feature — start playback in the DAW and the song should follow.
* '''Standalone''' setups typically use an external sequencer, drum machine or MIDI clock app as the source.
* If anticipation makes external instruments fire too early, lower it; if they sound late, raise it.