Welcome to Chaos Line
Thanks for spending some time to get more familiar with Chaos Line. Chaos Line is a random performance sequencer.
It runs as a MIDI effect in audio apps. This means the setup is a bit different to normal audio effects plugins. We have setup guides for Ableton Live, Bitwig, Cubase, FL Studio, Logic Pro, and Reaper.
Playback mode #
The playback mode determines the order the notes will be played. The sequence is split into quarters, each represented by a letter — A is the first quarter, B is the second, followed by C and D. ABCD plays the full sequence from start to finish. AAAB plays the first quarter three times, and then the second quarter etc.
Randomise a bit #
Clicking a bit randomises the sequencer seed and nothing else. This causes a new sequence to be generated.
Randomise a lot #
Clicking a lot randomises the sequencer seed, as well as many other parameters. Click this if you want to generate something very different.
Lowest note #
The lowest parameter sets the lowest note that will be used in the sequence. The lowest note can also be set by played a note into Chaos Line via a keyboard or a MIDI region. This allows realtime transposition of sequences.
Range #
The range parameter sets the number of semitones above the lowest note that can be used.
Rest #
The rest parameter sets the chance a step will be a rest. A rest value of 1 means every step is a rest. A rest value of 0 means no notes are rests.
Slide #
The slide parameter sets the chance a step will be a slide. A slide value of 1 means every step is a slide. A slide value of 0 means no notes are rests. Slides result in notes overlapping the next step.
Accent #
The accent parameter sets the chance a step will be an accent. An accent value of 1 means every step is an accent. An accent value of 0 means no notes are accents. Accented steps have a MIDI velocity of 127.
Gate #
The gate parameter sets the length of notes as a percentage of the step length.
Division #
The division parameter sets how long each step plays for.
Length #
The length parameter sets how many steps are in the sequence.
Morph area #
The morph area in the bottom left of the plugin smoothly morphs between four different note sequences. Option-clicking the morph area reset the position to the center.
Allowed notes #
The note buttons in the bottom right of the plugin set which notes are allowed. For example, if the C button is lit, C in any octave will be allowed. If the C button is not lit, C will never be played. If all the notes are turned off, all notes will be allowed.
← and → #
The two arrow buttons at the top of the plugin offset the sequence. Option-clicking either arrow resets the offset to 0.
MIDI #
Drag the MIDI button to the arrange area to export a MIDI region of the sequence. It can also be dragged to your desktop and other places. If you do that, it will appear as a MIDI file.
Instrument version #
Some apps, like Mixcraft and Fender Studio One, require MIDI effects plugins to be tagged as an instrument. We have a special version of Chaos Line for apps with this requirement. If the main version of Chaos Line doesn’t work in your music app, please try the version below.