Progressions for iOS - Getting Started

This is the first in a series of tutorial videos for Progressions for iOS.
This tutorial uses AUM as a host and explains how to load the plugin and route MIDI to external instruments.
It covers how to generate chord sequences using the Complexity Levels and Freedom settings. It explains how to convert open chords into closed chords, as well as how to change the voicings. We discuss how to edit a chord and create chord substitutions.
I also demo how to use the Harmonize options and how to sync data across multiple instances.
NOTE: Simply for the sake of completeness of this tutorial series, I do go over several features shown in the preview video, in slightly more detail.
If you want to learn more about the theory behind Progrsssions please checkout this paper by David Collett who help work with me on this app.
www.dropbox.com/s/cx0lqc6ky68...

[@dr.feelicks2051]

Helium, who knew. Does what it says on the tin. Exploring the sweetness of the suite

[@MarkBennett007]

For a non techy guy like me….thank you for this vid. Worth studying…..your a star Paul.

[@Robsi60]

Hi Paul. A week ago I did not even know what chord progression is, and due to circumstances I know now a lot more. This video made it even clearer. One thing I wish some apps would have which may seem strange to a musician is some "weird" randomization, somehow not following any theory. I could do it manually by just looking at the circle and just pick chords that do not follow a rule, randomly. Like a child that finds anything on the floor and tries to make it sound. The other way around, from chaos to harmony. If you are old one most of the time likes harmony and not chaos. But if you are young? Most of the apps try to achieve and help to find an easy way to do it, and if they are smart have a huge success. That is what I found out so far in my short time of doing music. But somehow I like children and sometimes I like to be one again. Just playing not thinking. Having fun, not try to achieve fun. As if you were Cpt. Kirk and tell Scotty: Beam me down. To my expirience old, educated and serious, are of absolutely no help without getting drunk. If I even have to think to get close to chaos, it is already to far off of playing. You may think strange you maybe right but also to my expirience, harmony has taken us to the moon, but concerning nature we could hardly be farther off. Think of an expert in this aspect and sometimes I think he has great fun even if he is live - Doug. Sometimes he gets excited and mostly doing something weird. Samplr, Borderlands and lately Loopy 2 are good examples. For me watching him acting like that is just great joy. He must have at this very moment have a lot too. To follow and understand what he does then I have given up. This is a goal, a high goal for me getting anywhere close. I mean not musically, but the feelings in this very moment. Speaking for me. I bought tons of apps and have a lot of choices, but with more apps the fun gets less. So for the time being I try not to buy any more and concentrate on a few apps only. But I had to buy them and do not regret to money I spent. If you have no idea about anything, iPad and possibilities and want to get a picture I had to buy them. A recommandation and video maybe of some help, but as a child you stick everything in your mouth just to find out. Even shit. When you know how bad it tastes you do not do it again. As we say, a burned child tries not to get burned again. But to know the difference, you must get burned and you will sometimes. But to get back to your app, cool beans. Cheers! PS: I hated the time in school.

[@ColinPowell_AMultitudeofOne]

Been waiting for this series of videos, Paul. Really enjoying what is coming out of this app so far! :)

[@PaultheMusicMan]

Thanks Colin, pleased you like what you see so far, and plenty more to come my friend.

[@iampaul9poetry]

Looking forward to getting to know this one, as well as Euclidean 🍻

[@djba]

Thanks Paul for all the great apps and videos.

[@ErrkaPetti]

Incredible app!

[@kabedford]

Wow! Wow! You have been missed! 🦑😀 Thank you for this, Paul! :)

[@michaelbodalski]

I've used Scaler on the Mac for a couple of years and snapped it up last month when it became available on iOS. I've had limited time with Progressions, but this is already giving it a serious run. I'm looking forward to the Song Mode video.

[@PaultheMusicMan]

It's coming very soon. I've been updating song mode with some additional extras which I need to document in the video.

[@dreamingofwolvesofficial]

@@PaultheMusicMan Apples and oranges. Scaler comes with a library of preset patterns and AI algorithms to detect and suggest scales and harmonies. Progressions has harmony visualiser (the circle of fifths) and a pattern sequencer. Both are great to have but if I had to choose one over the other it would be Progressions for the instant gratification factor.

[@edzielinski]

I've been using both Scaler 2 and Progressions for a few months now and there are many cases were Progressions is a better fit, and provides a much more direct path to what I want. The ability to manipulate the performances on each chord is much easier (for me), and also the song mode is a lot better suited to writing songs with verse, chorus, bridge structures. I do, however, steal chord sequences from the Scaler 2 library and use them in Progressions - no one said it was not allowed!

[@edzielinski]

I'm really enjoying this app and starting to appreciate it's power and simplicity. There were a couple things I couldn't figure out how to do right away, but your videos helped me out, and showed me some other neat stuff that I haven't tried yet. This is a great app and a really good value.

[@AmpApps]

Another amazing addition!

[@ThePaja242]

Thank you for this tutor. Good job.

[@kentaccordionist]

Loving this app.

[@3stig]

Unbelievable great 😎 Thanks you very much Paul 👍🏼🧙‍♀️

[@suntanbear4763]

Instant buy for me, awesome

[@rayderrich]

Nice app Paul. I bought it yesterday and will definitely use it during #jamuary2023.

[@monch1962]

Really nice app, particularly as it seems to nicely complement Scaler 2 which came out shortly before. Thanks @paul

[@bryantwalley]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="405">6:45</a> -> That is what I was trying to ask on the other video. Sometimes I just do not know how to ask the questions clearly. Thanks for showing that part.

[@PaultheMusicMan]

Hopefully this video answered your question?

[@bryantwalley]

@@PaultheMusicMan yes.

[@xencage]

Really loving the app, Paul! Knocked it out of the park with this one!

[@PaultheMusicMan]

Thanks Kevin, I'm pretty pleased how it turned out too. So many ideas for future updates too.

[@JadeStarr]

Absolutely loving this App!

[@PaultheMusicMan]

Thanks Jade, more goodness to come!!

[@howdydoody6312]

Thank you Paul for another wonderful contribution. I hope you are feeling much better. I am still anxiously awaiting for your Massively Fat Synth design to appear, I hope it will be soon. Howdydoody 😊👍

[@PaultheMusicMan]

Begore I peg it, it will be so.... lol

[@GaryR55]

I was thinking this is an "also ran," compared with Scaler 2 (which I'm using), but, thanks to your detailed and precise tutorial, Paul, I will definitely be using Progressions in addition to Scaler.

[@dadadrew]

Progressions is a blast

[@GaryR55]

The playback can be captured right into a track, while recording with the app and a DAW both in AUM! Cool!

[@mmane257]

this should have been a VST.so many song writers,producers and novice artists will never have writer’s block.

[@PaultheMusicMan]

Afreed, but sadly, there is only one of me and writing iOS plugins takes up all of my time.

[@alejandrocortesvilches]

This video Is so clear ! Thanks, Paul ! Pd. It would be very great if in the future to consider having an option to change the duration of the individual chords in the pad … I know that there is the song mode, but I feel that in the pad it is much more versatile to change chords and try different combinations of chord sequences (it’s fantastic ) I really enjoy my time there. Thanks Paul, your apps help me a lot, and progression is now my favorite harmony app. Cheers

[@dreamingofwolvesofficial]

Yes set the quantisation: On/off if on by pattern or on beat. The strummer app works well in this regard and I expect progressions will implement this soon enough.

[@alejandrocortesvilches]

@@dreamingofwolvesofficial yes, Strummer is a good example of that. It Works directly on the principal wiew 👌

[@dreamingofwolvesofficial]

@@alejandrocortesvilches not only is this developer one of the most prolific bar none, he also makes tutorial videos for all his apps and takes the time to read his viewer comments too. If only other developers followed Paul's examples, we would live in a better world.

[@GaryR55]

That all of this is within the same view is a real plus. In Scaler, it's a little more obscure.

[@lubbockleft]

Very easy decision to purchase this app. Looking forward to getting more familiar with it. Thanks as always for taking the time to make these great tutorial videos to go with your apps!

[@biggersound]

Very good app. Any chance of being able to export the song as a midi file?

[@LELuis10]

Hi Paul, I love the intuitive aproaches that mobile developers create for iOS. Any chance that this can be ported to Logic X Pro, since it's AU v3?

[@PaultheMusicMan]

If you have an M1 Mac then it should just work, otherwise no.

[@russ8889]

Hello Paul cannot get this to write midi in nanostudio 2 any help on this issue me and Jade tried for a hour with no luck

[@AFRoSHEENT3ARCMICHAEL69]

Also can you not record this to MIDI on your DAW? I’m using the new Logic Pro for iPad. Wish I could just tap the pads to orchestrate my own timing and rhythm and it just records it to midi.

[@PaultheMusicMan]

if a button is configured to play a chord then it will output MIDI on/off data that can be recorded. You have to configure some elements on your surface to send MIDI, because by default they are turned OFF. You do this with the 3 knobs under MIDI Setup. To test the output open the MIDI Monitor, and press the monitor button until it says 'Monitor: Output' and you can see if an object is generating MIDI. Since some objects can perform internal functions they don't need to send any MIDI. I really need to get some tutotials out soon.

[@ethanmrobins]

Where can we buy this?

[@iosmusicman]

Hi Paul. Where’s the best place to send you an annotated video of a couple of problems I have with progressions please? Thanks. Lee

[@PaultheMusicMan]

Try sending a link to the following email info at 4pockets dot com and I will take a look.

[@iosmusicman]

@@PaultheMusicMan Thanks Paul - I am out all day tomorrow so it will probably be Friday before I can annotate the video - Lee

[@GerliRodrigo]

Is there a date for a Windows architecture release?

[@PaultheMusicMan]

Sadly no... I don't do windows!

[@shivamoon108]

I wish this had come out before I paid all that $$ for Scaler 2 iOS & Desktop versions! How do you maximize the screen?

[@PaultheMusicMan]

If you are running in AUM just double tap on the title, otherwise in Cubasis or GarageBand just go full screen mode.

[@shivamoon108]

@@PaultheMusicMan Thanks! (I figured it out shortly after my question. They sure don't make it easy!) BTW: Is it possible to get a separate, downloadable .pdf, or whatever, of the manual?)

[@PaultheMusicMan]

@@shivamoon108 Not currently, but I will look into it.

[@shivamoon108]

@@PaultheMusicMan Thanks!

[@andreasguse7276]

Hi, where can I get the software? I can't see it in the German App Store

[@PaultheMusicMan]

It is available on the German App Store as I'm getting sales there. Look for 4Pockets and see if you can see it listed as one of our products.

[@user-uf3xp2wu9c]

Excellent basis for learning "Progressions". However, I encountered the following problem when learning: if I enter an "A" for key and "minor" for mode, I get a "C" and an "Am" in the red field of step 1. However, in various videos on the Internet, including one by Paul the MusicMan, they get an "A" and an "F#m" in the red field of step I for the same entries. This is what I get in my version when I enter "A" "major". Is this a bug in the programme or have I selected the wrong settings in the basic settings?

[@PaultheMusicMan]

If you choose 'A' for the key and 'minor' for the mode, you will see an Am appear in the first of the 6x3 grid. I think you are referring to the circle of fifths on the left of the screen, where the RED triangle should have a C (outer) and an Am (inner). This is correct, as the MINOR chords are always displayed in the inner circle. This is assuming we are talking about the same thing.

[@user-uf3xp2wu9c]

@@PaultheMusicMan Thanks, it appears correctly in the grid, but I was a bit confused as in the circle of fifth in various videos there is always an A in the outer ring instead of the C. For example in the video of The Sound Test Room (Progressions - Intelligent Chord Generator - Getting Started & Upcoming Features - for iOS, kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWfYeq2qrpmjsJI ) at minute 4:29 or at SoundForMore Tutorials (4Pockets Progressions Intelligent Chord Generator - Tutorial 1: Getting Started) at minute 2:42. I'm not very familiar with the theory behind the circle of fifth, so these differences are perhaps "normal". But since the circle of fifth also follows logical (or mathematical?) laws, I would expect the same results in the programs. Also in the pure sequence of steps I to VII, C-D-E-F-G-A-B appears in the outer ring in my version in the A minor setting and A-B-Db--D-E-F#-Ab in the A major setting. This A major sequence always appears in the A minor setting in the videos mentioned above. This A major sequence also seems to be correct and so I will be able to continue working with it.

[@PaultheMusicMan]

@@user-uf3xp2wu9c The chord that appears in the RED section circle of fifths does change when you pick a root Key or Mode. So if you pick C Major a C will appear in the red section. If you pick A Minor, an Am will appear in the RED section. There are lots of ways to interpret a circle of fifths and we have had many debates with people much more qualified that me to acknowledge it is technically correct. David Collett worked with me on this app, and he's taught music at MIT and has a couple of music degrees, and assured me it is correct.

[@eross21]

i may have missed it in the video. but what does the hold button do to the bottom right of the circle of fifths?

[@b-roll642]

See 20:33

[@eross21]

@@b-roll642 don’t know how i missed that, but that is an awesome feature thanks

[@Noldy__]

I'm drawing midi notes from C-2 in my midi clips to trigger the chord pads I want inside Cubasis and Beatmaker 3, and when I hit play, it's not triggering them. Instead, it's still playing default even when I disable auto. I have midi input enabled in Progressions. When I play them, they're triggered correctly. But when I play the midi clip, they're not. I'm I missing something?

[@PaultheMusicMan]

The 18 drum pads are triggered using midi notes from C-1 and up. Notes from C1 and up are for solo purposes and pass the notes through to the destination instrument. Please read the manual on MIDI Control.

[@daviddahl8562]

looks like the aum audio mixer only can be used on iphone or ipad. I was going to buy it I use a mac mini iosX 2020 computer I bought 4 pockets able to get that on my mac desktop but now I can't use it cause the aum - audiomixer on my mac. Is there any way I can get refunded for 4 pockets or is there another alternative of aum-audio mixeer for mac can you help me

[@PaultheMusicMan]

You should be able to load it directly as a MIDI processor inside of Logic Pro I've heard, although not tried this myself. The problem is not all Mac M1 DAW's support AUv3 plugins and AUM as you found out is not compatible with M1 Mac. You should be able to request a refund from Apple if you explain that you purchased for use in AUM, but developers are not able to give refunds unfortunately, we don't even get to know who buys our products.

[@daviddahl8562]

@@PaultheMusicMan I just have garageband can't afford logic pro

[@daviddahl8562]

@@PaultheMusicMan thank you it was only $9 i.m gonna keep it just in case I figure or find something else,

[@PaultheMusicMan]

@@daviddahl8562 I think Leo suggested this app to you? Have you tried loading it in GarageBand?

[@PaultheMusicMan]

@@daviddahl8562 I just took a look at GB on the Mac and it looks very limited, doesn't look like it supports MIDI plugins!!

[@GaryR55]

Is Progressions capable of exporting MIDI or audio to a DAW?

[@GaryR55]

....and as soon as I ask, you cover the Output features! Figures.... ;)

[@weavebrain]

Keyboard ‘Input’ doesn’t work for me at all, even when I enable my midi controller. Bug or user error?

[@weavebrain]

Figured it out. I had to ‘octave down’ on my controllers to the zero (0) key to access those input keys 👍

[@nonyourbuz5805]

I have a problem using this in iOS 15.5 on 8th gen....In AUM the Window is constrained...almost as if the wrong container was chosen (if using something like SwiftIU )....If I open it out of AUM it displays correctly....

[@PaultheMusicMan]

Ok, I will take a look. Thanks for pointing this out.

[@PaultheMusicMan]

Oh I think it may not be an issue. The interface is scrollable so if you only have a small window in AUM not all the interface fits so you can swipe UP and DOWN to move to the next page. Expand the window by double clicking on the title of the AUM window.

[@nonyourbuz5805]

@@PaultheMusicMan ...THANK YOU....Double clicking on the Title WAS the solution...I would never had found that....

[@PaultheMusicMan]

@@nonyourbuz5805 it's an AUM thing, but equally Progressions also works in a condensed mode where you can scroll the interface just by dragging. Glad I could help.

[@AFRoSHEENT3ARCMICHAEL69]

Can you not pick diatonic chords in order? It gives you a bunch of random chords from a key that don’t sound good together. Generates more sus and other chords that aren’t diatonic. Playing them to find a good progression with no luck and I have it on low complexity and relaxed freedom.

[@PaultheMusicMan]

You have just about every major chord under the sun there to play with. I guess I can add to that list in future versions, but it is easy enough to use the bulk midi to setup your own chords, but I realise that is a tedious job. It allows you to send MIDI commands on a button press and more commands on a button release, so you could send multiple note on's when pressed and multiple note off's when released. The chord list is essentially lifted from Progressions.

[@rgrandles]

Anybody know how to change the built in instruments not obvious

[@PaultheMusicMan]

Progressions is an AUv3 MIDI plugin, which generates MIDI to drive other instruments inside of your DAW. I added an audible voice for testing chord progressions in standalone mode and for use in GarageBand so they could hear chord generation before recording to a destination track, but ultimately it is intended to drive other instruments. To change the internal voice you need to add your own Soundfonts and then select them via the Instrument Settings menu.

[@rgrandles]

@@PaultheMusicMan thank you. I will try tomorrow, excellent program

[@PaultheMusicMan]

@@rgrandles If you work your way through my Progressions tutorials you should find something on how to setup Progressions for use in your DAW and how to select other standalone voices.

[@rgrandles]

@@PaultheMusicMan that’s great I’ll do that already done some good stuff on neon 🤟🏻

[@dezinerAhmad]

Is it Only for IOS?

[@PaultheMusicMan]

Yes, sorry! I really need to put something in the title of the video so people aren't dissapointed.

[@dezinerAhmad]

@@PaultheMusicMan Why so? Please Make it for Windows too

[@Stick4.4]

Progressions keeps crashing when editing? replacing chords seems fine till i try to find G7sus4 (is there this chord? as I cant find it} I put in g7 sus Boom ...crashes...have tried many times and crashes every time.

[@PaultheMusicMan]

I've not had anyone else report this. Are you working inside any particular DAW? You can manually add chords using a popup keyboard if a required chord doesn't exist. Tap on a chord cell and drag right to open up the keyboard. I've been unable to reproduce the crash, but it might depend on whatever chord preceeded it in your list, since its constantly trying to guess a chord sequence. You may have come up with a combination of user choices that lead to the crash.

[@Stick4.4]

@@PaultheMusicMan I select scale E...change to minor random open chords with bass {medium/hard/extreme } tried them all....then swipe left....change whatevers there to Em7 Dmaj7 Fmaj7 G7sus4

[@PaultheMusicMan]

@@Stick4.4 I think I've found and fixed the issue and will get a fix out ASAP.

[@Stick4.4]

@@PaultheMusicMan Cool.....Im really good at breaking things ... I think its a really good app...so can you add G7sus4 while your there? lol thanks

[@PaultheMusicMan]

@@Stick4.4 G7sus4 is already in there when compexity is set to High.