MIDI Devices that ACTUALLY Improve Your Music (Max 4 Live)

Generators are unpredictable, buggy, and no different than randomly hitting keys or pads without proper control.

Tools like Scale Logon produce algorithmic bleeps and blops that aren't useful unless used correctly, lacking musical direction.

• By the time you learn each generator's parameters, a beginner producer can already make three beats • Generated melodies require significant work to sound different than pure in-scale randomness • Generators promise infinite melodies but often waste time without delivering quality results

It's better to start with a simple idea and transform it using transform tools rather than relying on generators.

Meridian generates unique rhythms and melodies using Euclidean sequences, allowing you to set the number of events (notes) in a sequence.

• Generate four different patterns with customizable note counts • Rotate or move sequences left and right • Adjust decay time for better sound character • Use Jam feature for randomization of patterns

The Jam option randomizes selected patterns, and you can randomize individual notes with control over the amount of pitch shifting between notes.

Meridian lacks scale awareness, but you can add a scale device after Meridian or create racks as a workaround while waiting for updates.

This tool is scale-aware using Euclidean algorithm and requires setting the root note to match your actual scale (e.g., D sharp 3).

• Adjust density of root note appearance • Change scale degrees and generate patterns • Use variation slider to rotate and modify sequences • Decrease length for more variation options

A quirk occurs when clicking between different MIDI clips—generated patterns sometimes disappear or pull from previous tools.

Press the Auto button off once you're satisfied with the pattern, or commit to audio to lock in your results.

Unlike generators, transform tools are more useful and practical for turning simple ideas into complex variations.

• Utility devices: simple, focused transformation functions • Collaboration tools: more complex pattern and pitch manipulation • Chord generators for creating progressions • Arpeggiators and melodic converters

MIDI Snake Generator can shuffle gates and notes for ideas, but generated melodies need extensive work to sound musical and different from random in-scale notes.

Start with a simple idea and use transform tools to develop it, rather than spending time learning multiple generator parameters.

Mutator selectively mutes notes in your MIDI using a chance parameter to create variation.

By adjusting the chance parameter, you can create cool rhythmic patterns from a baseline by strategically removing notes.

Apply Mutator to a baseline and adjust chance values to generate new rhythmic variations from existing melodies.

Though seemingly simple, Mutator is an extremely useful tool for creating pattern variations without complex parameter learning.

This device shifts the pitches of notes by semitones, allowing you to transform melodies upward or downward.

The improved version of Inebriation with more transformation options, allowing combinations like 7 semitones up and 7 semitones down.

You don't need to transform entire melodies—highlight specific note sections and apply transformations to only those parts.

These tools help create variations of melodic ideas by shifting pitch values while maintaining the overall structure and feel.

Click a note and press transform to generate chords—creates major, minor, dominant, diminished, and augmented chords automatically.

• Major and minor chords • Dominant seventh chords • Diminished and augmented variations • Sustained chords and all harmonic variations needed

Generate different inversions (root position, first, second) and add root notes at octaves below, above, or both.

• Convert highest notes to create melodies • Extract median for middle range parts • Extract lowest notes for bassline parts • Use velocity chance and random variations

Phase Shuffler Pro rearranges slices of audio in MIDI form, originally designed by Philip Mayer and net Rush for manipulating drum breaks.

• Change slice order to create new rhythmic patterns • Adjust interval speed for faster or slower playback • Works with original brake samples • Create cool drum fills and variations

Phase Shuffler Pro is excellent for creative manipulation of vocal chops, extending its usefulness beyond breakbeat production.

Use slice rearrangement to discover new patterns and variations from existing audio samples without needing additional generation tools.