MIDI Configuration and Controls
Harmonybeam allows you to trigger chord previews and navigate the Chord Picker directly from a MIDI keyboard. This is useful for auditioning and changing chords hands-on while building a progression without using the keyboard or mouse.
Chord block triggering
Section titled “Chord block triggering”By default, the white keys starting at C6 map to chord slots on the strip:
| Key | Slot |
|---|---|
| C6 | Slot 1 |
| D6 | Slot 2 |
| E6 | Slot 3 |
| F6 | Slot 4 |
| … etc |
Pressing a white key sends the chord’s voicing as MIDI note-on; releasing it sends note-off. This works the same as clicking on a chord block in the strip.
Command mapping
Section titled “Command mapping”The black keys of the trigger octave are mapped to navigation commands by default:
| Key | Command | Description |
|---|---|---|
| C#6 | Prev Chord | Navigate to the previous chord in the Chord Picker |
| D#6 | Next Chord | Navigate to the next chord in the Chord Picker |
| F#6 | Prev Page | Go to the previous page in the Chord Picker |
| G#6 | Next Page | Go to the next page in the Chord Picker |
| A#6 | Cycle Voicing | Cycle through voicing styles |
| C#7 | Regenerate | Generate new chord progression with current settings |
These commands let you browse the Chord Picker entirely from your MIDI keyboard. Hold a white Chord Block key while using them to set a chord for that slot. When you press a navigation key, the picker opens automatically if it isn’t already open, and closes after 1.5 seconds of inactivity.
Accessing the MIDI Configuration dialog
Section titled “Accessing the MIDI Configuration dialog”- Open Settings (gear icon in the bottom-right)
- Click Configure MIDI
Changing the trigger octave
Section titled “Changing the trigger octave”The Trigger Octave dropdown at the top of the dialog sets which octave the white-key chord triggers start from. Options range from C2 to C7 (default: C6). The command keys shift along with the trigger octave.
Custom mappings with MIDI Learn
Section titled “Custom mappings with MIDI Learn”You can remap any command to a specific MIDI note or CC:
- Click Learn next to the command you want to remap
- Press a key or move a CC on your MIDI controller within 10 seconds
- The new mapping appears next to the command name
Custom mappings override the default black-key assignments. If the same note or CC is already assigned to another command, the old assignment is removed automatically.
To remove a custom mapping, click the x next to it. The command reverts to its default black-key assignment.
To clear all custom mappings at once, click Reset All.
Notes outside the trigger range
Section titled “Notes outside the trigger range”MIDI notes that fall outside the trigger octave range (and aren’t custom-mapped) pass through to the instrument on the track.