Chord Prism 2 is a MIDI effect plugin for keyboard players that generates chords, basslines, melodies, and arpeggios from one-finger input, featuring patented Smart Scale and Multi Arp technologies.
Purpose
Chord Prism 2 is a keyboard companion plugin by Mozaic Beats that turns simple one-finger playing into rich musical performances. It is designed to help you create chords, basslines, melodies, and arpeggios over any chord progression. The plugin works inside your DAW as a MIDI effect, processing the notes you play and outputting more complex musical content.
Its core value is enabling players of all skill levels to produce professional-sounding keyboard parts. By using the Chord Generator and Smart Scale, you can play full chords with one finger and create melodies that stay in key. Version 2 adds new Melody Generators and over 200 genre-based presets from Attack Magazine, expanding the creative possibilities.
Key Capabilities
The Chord Generator lets you play one-finger chords from any key or scale. You can choose from various chord types like triads, 7ths, and 9ths, and control inversions and voice leading. Effects such as Strum, Repeat, Hold, and Velocity give you expressive control over how chords sound.
The patented Smart Scale adapts to your playing. For beginners, the scale shifts with each chord selection, so your hand stays still while the right tones move to your fingers. More experienced players can use different mappings for greater control. The Multi Arp feature allows you to mix and match arpeggio patterns, creating unique directional and tempo-changing combinations.
Workflow
Chord Prism offers several tools that streamline music production. Step Sequencers let you program rhythmic patterns for the content generated by the Chord Generator and Smart Scale. The Pattern Generator provides one-finger arpeggios and melodies that apply to any chord. These work together with the genre presets to quickly build full arrangements.
Instance Sync is a standout feature: when you use multiple instances of Chord Prism in a project, they share Key, Scale, and Chord information. This means you can add bass, melody, and arpeggios to a chord progression without manually matching tones across instruments. The Multi Instrument Performance mode lets you play chord progressions, melodies, and basslines simultaneously with different sounds, giving you a four-hand feel.
Practical Applications
Chord Prism is useful both in the studio and on stage. In a DAW, you can drag and drop the actual MIDI notes it generates into an instrument track, allowing you to edit or refine the performance. The Key and Chord Shifters let you change key or chord types on the fly, which is great for live performance or auditioning different ideas.
The Chord Editor is a deeper tool for experienced users. It allows step-by-step adjustment of each chord’s notes, so you can create any inversion, voicing, extended, or altered chord imaginable. Mute buttons on each instance let you isolate specific roles, such as bass or melody. This makes it a versatile addition for songwriting and arrangement.
Key features
- VST/AU format plugin
- Multiple instance support
- Expansive preset bank
- Key, Scale & Chord sync between instances
- Patented Multi Arp
- Key/Scale shifters
- Expanded chord groups
- MIDI export via drag and drop
Best for
Best for keyboard players and producers who want to quickly create full arrangements—chords, bass, melody, and arpeggios—from simple input, both in the studio and live. Its smart scale and chord generation reduce music theory barriers, while the chord editor and sync features appeal to advanced users building complex compositions.