Chord Board is a fundamentally new way to make music, letting anyone create complex chords and progressions with just one finger—no theory or skill required. It unlocks creative possibilities by helping you build chord sequences you may never have imagined.

The Hand Board is a patented music creation phenomenon that automatically syncs basslines, rhythms, and leads with the chords you play, producing a full, professional sound instantly.

It’s software that’s part of the Chord Board system, enabled with your Chord Board Pro + Hand Board purchase. Designed so that it’s virtually impossible to sound bad, the results are truly mind-blowing, no matter your level of musical experience.

Chord Board is compatible with all major DAWs on Mac and Windows, and works as a standalone app as well. It is available as a VST3/AU plugin for seamless integration.

Chord Board lets you create and play back full songs directly within the app using its built-in tracks and sequencer. To record audio output, simply connect it to a DAW or external recording software—Chord Board handles the performance, your DAW captures the sound.

Chord Board lets you create and play back full songs directly within the app using its built-in tracks and sequencer. To record audio output, simply connect it to a DAW or external recording software—Chord Board handles the performance, your DAW captures the sound.

Windows

Minimum System Requirements for Chord Board on Windows Standalone or VST3:

• Operating System:
  Windows 11 (64-bit) or later

• Processor:
  64-bit CPU (dual-core or higher recommended)

• Memory:
  4 GB RAM or more

• Display:
  1024×768 resolution or higher

iPad

Minimum System Requirements for Chord Board on iPad:

• Operating System:
  iPadOS 13 or later

• Processor:
  64-bit processor (compatible with all current iPad models)

• Memory:
  At least 2 GB of RAM (for optimal performance, 3 GB or more is recommended)

• Display:
  Optimized for all iPad sizes and resolutions, including iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro

Mac

Minimum System Requirements for Chord Board on all Apple Computers running macOS:

• Operating System:
  macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later

• Processor:
  64-bit Intel or Apple Silicon (Universal Binary)

• Memory:
  4 GB RAM (or higher recommended)

• Display:
  Compatible with Retina displays

iPhone

An iPhone Optimized version of Chord Board is planned for the future. Stay Tuned!

Android

Currently, there are no plans for an Android version of Chord Board. In initial testing, Android has been unable to keep up with the real time graphics and audio processing requirements of Chord Board.

Older Devices & Operating Systems:

Note: Chord Board has been designed and tested to run on all modern computers and devices with the minimum specifications above. Chord Board is not supported on slower devices or older operating systems. Chord Board may work on older CPUs and operating systems, but real-time performance may vary.

You’ll need Two Class-Compliant USB MIDI Interfaces, one for the iPad and one for the PC.

Benefits of These Interfaces

• iPad sends MIDI via Lightning or USB-C → USB MIDI interface
• Interface routes MIDI to PC over USB or DIN
• Some (like U6MIDI Pro) allow multi-port routing and merging
• All are class compliant, requiring no special drivers on iOS or Windows

 Low latency

 Stable

 Windows-compatible alternative to Apple’s IDAM

These interfaces allow reliable MIDI communication between your iPad and a Windows PC (via USB or DIN cables), without needing Apple IDAM or expensive dual-host gear.

Note: Most audio interfaces you already use for your DAW have a class compliant MIDI interface. If not, you’ll need a separate one for the PC.

If your iPad has a lightening port, then you’ll also need an adapter that has the USB type port of the MIDI interface you purchase. You can use the Apple Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter (with passthrough charging) or standard Camera Adapter (no charging). One example is a 7-in-1 Adapter which has both USB-A and USB-C connectors and passthrough charting. You can get it on Amazon for less than $20 (as of this writing) https://a.co/d/gFGQd1C (non-affiliate link).

A non-exhaustive list of Class-Compliant USB Interfaces include:

The Lekato USB MIDI, for instance, is low cost and is available on Amazon for less than $20 (as of this writing)  https://a.co/d/3VjwwVl (non-affiliate fee link).

Depending on the Adapter you use, you may need female-female DIN MIDI Adapters https://a.co/d/cxBeg82 (non-affiliate link).

 Connecting iPad + Lekato USB MIDI Interface to Windows PC + Audio Interface with DIN MIDI

Connect the iPad

• If your iPad has a Lightening Port, connect the Apple Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter (with passthrough charging) or standard Camera Adapter (no charging).
• Connect your Lekato to your iPad via its USB-C cable (or via Lightening Adapter). The unit is bus-powered.
• Open Chord Board, touch the Configuration button in the lower right, and in the MIDI section, touch the dropdown and press Refresh, then open teh dropdown again and select USB MIDI Interface.
  • Tip: If you’re using a different MIDI Interface, select its port from the dropdown instead.
  • In the MIDI Section, Set your MIDI Output Device to “USB MIDI Interface”.
    • If you’re using a different MIDI Interface, you may see a different Device name in the the dropdown.
    • Toggle on Send MIDI 
    • Toggle on Receive Sync.
    • Important Note: As of Chord Board release version 1, MIDI Sync with remote DAWs from iPad to PC is only supported for starting from the beginning of the DAW at 1.1.1 plus pausing and restarting. A future version of Chord Board will have full synchronization allowing you to jump around in Logic Pro.
  • Close the Configuration Menu
  • Now set a desired Tempo, we’ll use 120 BPM again. Make note of that.

Mixer

• Open the Chord Board Pro Mixer (mixer icon lower left corner).
• Make note of the MIDI channels for each track, and optionally change as desired.

• • • Now that you have Chord Board configured on your iPad, you can route both MIDI AND Audio to your PC DAW.

Connect the PC

• If you have an Audio Interface, connect it to your PC now if not already connected. 
• Connect the iPad and PC MIDI Interfaces together. If connecting MIDI DIN connectors, connect the DIN MIDI Out on the Lekato to the DIN MIDI In port on the Audio Interface, and connect the DIN MIDI In on the Lekato to the DIN MIDI Out on the Audio Interface.
• Tip: If you’re using a MIDI Interface on your PC that has male DIN MIDI connectors, use female-female DIN MIDI Adapters https://a.co/d/cxBeg82 (non-affiliat  Remember to connect MIDI Out of one to the MIDI In of the other.
• If you’re using a different setup, such as a Class-Compliant MIDI adapter to USB, make those connections now.

Open Your DAW 

1. • In this case we’ll use Ableton Live 12.
     • Ableton will automatically detect your Audio Interface or dedicated Class-Compliant MIDI Interface.
     • Press Ctrl-comma to open the Settings box
     • Click the Link, Tempo & MIDI option on the left navigation bar. 
     • Locate the Audio Interface or your Class-Compliant MIDI Adapter.
     • Select all checkboxes for Track, Sync and Remote for the Input and Output Port
     • Close the Settings box.

Virtual Instrument Setup

• • Load your favorite virtual instruments on a MIDI track.
  • Set the MIDI From to the Audio Interface or Class-Complant MIDI interface. 
  • Set the desired MIDI Channel to match the Chord Board track you want MIDI from.
  • Important:
    • Remember to Toggle on Monitor In. This is easy to forget, but if you get no sound from your plugin, check this setting first.
    • Press Play on Ableton or Chord Board – and let the magic begin! <let a few chords play and toggle on some drums, then stop after a few  moments>.

That’s it. That’s how easy and powerful it is. 

• • Add more virtual instruments and map them to all of Chord Board’s MIDI out tracks, including Chords, the Arpeggiator, or any or all of the three Hand Board tracks, Bass, Rhythm or Lead.
  • Play and have a blast and create without limits!

ASIO4ALL Driver

If you’re having trouble getting audio from Ableton, keep in mind that the ASIO4ALL Audio driver is recommended by Ableton to ensure robust sound output with audio interfaces. This driver is available for free in your Downloads on the ChordBoard website or at its official site: https://asio4all.org/.

There are two likely issues which may prevent Chord Board Standalone on Windows from outputing audio.

Audio Muted

The desired track(s) maybe muted, or another track is being soloed, or the volume is down on Chord Board or your computer. Check the [S] and [M] buttons below the track tracks to ensure they are set for the sound output you desire. Also, look in the Mixer for master [M]. Check all the volume buttons, and the volume on your computer.

Audio Output Device

Chord Board normally is set to output audio on the default audio device on your system. If that is not working, you can change the output audio device by pressing the [Options] button in the upper left corner of Chord Board and setting the Audio Device Type, Output, and Active Output Channels accordingly.