"Innovative chord sequencing suggestions complemented by a lackluster sound engine in the inaugural review of the AlphaTheta Chordcat"

AlphaTheta, a leading manufacturer of professional DJ equipment, has recently unveiled a new music production tool called Chordcat. This compact and budget-friendly groovebox is designed with a focus on chord sequencing, making it an ideal tool for musicians and producers looking to create rich and dynamic compositions.

Priced at €279/$279/£239, the Chordcat device boasts a user-friendly interface, despite some criticisms of it feeling cheap in certain areas, with the XY pad being the main offender. However, the device offers a range of features that more than compensate for this.

One such feature is the Chord Cruiser mode, which allows users to quickly assign and trigger chords for sequencing. This mode also offers an innovative feature that suggests chord combinations to inspire new compositional ideas. Each track on the Chordcat has its own polyphonic sequencer with a maximum of 128 steps, providing ample room for intricate compositions.

The Chordcat device comes equipped with 8 individual tracks, each of which can sequence sounds selected from 145 sample-based instruments and 16 drum kits. In addition, it features an arpeggiator, delay, ducker, and reverb effects, though these are controlled via the XY pad and have limited control options.

Despite the lack of a built-in speaker, the Chordcat device can easily be connected to external speakers or headphones, making it a versatile tool for both studio and live performances. It is also smaller and lighter than previous Toraiz releases and can be powered by either AA batteries or USB-C, making it a convenient on-the-go device for sketching progressions, riffs, and patterns.

The Chordcat Manager application, available for download, promises to make it easy to export and import sequences from the device via USB. This application also has potential to enhance the device's capabilities as a sketchpad for patterns and chord progressions. However, some users have found the selection of pre-defined chord sets, separate from the Chord Cruiser mode, to be confusing from a workflow perspective.

While the Chordcat device offers a range of features and is priced competitively, its sound engine is criticized for being underwhelming and lacking in character and sound shaping potential compared to other devices at the same price point. Despite this, the Chordcat's focus on chord sequencing and its user-friendly interface make it an attractive option for musicians and producers looking to add a new tool to their arsenal.

"Innovative chord sequencing suggestions complemented by a lackluster sound engine in the inaugural review of the AlphaTheta Chordcat"