Field notes
Observations from building music software, working inside Ableton Live, and listening closely to the tools between an idea and a finished track.
The case against the piano roll
Why piano-roll editing conflates chords, rhythm, and performance—and how Harmonybeam separates them into faster, more musical workflows in Ableton Live.
Harmonybeam 1.3: Custom Rhythm Patterns, Chord Gestures, and a Resizable Window
Harmonybeam 1.3 adds a rhythm pattern editor, per-chord gestures, a resizable window, swing controls, and major workflow improvements for Ableton Live.
Ableton Chord Progression Generator: 5 Ways to Create Better Chords
Compare five ways to generate chord progressions in Ableton Live: stock MIDI effects, Live 12 MIDI Tools, online generators, MIDI packs, and Harmonybeam.
Harmonybeam 1.2: Rest Blocks and Chord Locks for Ableton Live
Harmonybeam 1.2 adds rest blocks, chord locks, expanded rhythm controls, phase shifting, and synced clip labels for faster chord writing in Ableton Live.
Voice leading in Ableton Live: making MIDI chord progressions sound smoother
A producer-focused guide to voice leading for Ableton Live, with practical tips for smoother MIDI chord progressions in pop and electronic music.
Ableton's Extensions API and Harmonybeam
Ableton's new Extensions SDK arrives right as Harmonybeam launches. Funny timing!