I discovered Midiculous-4 several weeks ago and it is growing on me. Thought I would share if this subject is of interest.
Midiculous comes in three versions, Free, Player and Pro. Geared to Piano teachers to visualize keyboard, chords and notation, it also includes a full midi player. However, the Free version is surprizingly useful.
Let me know if you have any specific questions. There is one competing program called ChordieApp. I have studied both programs in consideration of purchasing the $ version. It is a very difficult decision. Nevertheless, here is Mediculous:
is this a VST or a standalone? What do you see as the primary benefit? Do you load another keyboard inside of it, to play? I am sorry, the video confused me a bit!
Good questions. The free version of Midiculous is a standalone program only. The Pro Pro version provides a VST plugin version along with the standalone.
This program is typically seen alongside OBS or other screen\steaming application as a teaching aid for musicians. But you do not need any other application to use it fully. Check out my friend Simeon on Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSFUjfyrVz6D3KyqQ5JUkOQ He uses this in every video to show what chords and keys he is playing.
I guess this would be applicable to a unique group of folks. But the price makes it possible for anyone to enjoy.
For me it is a learning aid. Seeing notation, along with chord names and chord voicings as I play is a big help in my understand during composing.
The free version comes with all the Midi sounds and it also permits you to insert an external VST to play via its VST manager (see picture) to get HiQ sounds.
The money ball for me is the ability to split each window out and place them anywhere on the screen. Chord window, notation window, keyboard window - and then close all the rest since I don't use it as a midi player. But that splitting is the Pro version only! Free version requires you to keep all elements visible.
Oh, did I mention besides the piano keyboard this will also display chords, notation and notes on a guitar or bass fretboard with flexible tuning. So when the guiatist asks the keyboard player how to play the C#m7(#11)(b5) in the turnaround, he can just show him on the screen.
I discovered Midiculous-4 several weeks ago and it is growing on me. Thought I would share if this subject is of interest.
Midiculous comes in three versions, Free, Player and Pro. Geared to Piano teachers to visualize keyboard, chords and notation, it also includes a full midi player. However, the Free version is surprizingly useful.
Let me know if you have any specific questions. There is one competing program called ChordieApp. I have studied both programs in consideration of purchasing the $ version. It is a very difficult decision. Nevertheless, here is Mediculous:
I just checked the ChordieApp website. It requires an internet connection to operate, not just for licensing. Did not check it out any further. Looking at MIDIculous v4 now. The last time I looked at it, it was v2, so some time ago.
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I just checked the ChordieApp website. It requires an internet connection to operate, not just for licensing. Did not check it out any further.
Exactly. It has a screen which displays "calling home" each time you run the app. Not favorable in my opinion. Copy protection taken to the extreme I am afraid. And it only costs $25 USD.
I just checked the ChordieApp website. It requires an internet connection to operate, not just for licensing. Did not check it out any further.
Exactly. It has a screen which displays "calling home" each time you run the app. Not favorable in my opinion. Copy protection taken to the extreme I am afraid. And it only costs $25 USD.
This got my attention, so I took a look. It appears the program does indeed require a consistent Internet connection during use. Not just every now and then, not even just at startup. How do they justify this extreme requirement? Like so:
Quote:
Why does ChordieApp need an internet connection?
The chord definitions are stored online so I can update them at will without needing to release an app update every time someone requests I add or modify a chord definition. The latest definitions are retrieved every time you run the app.
OK, this is absolute nonsense, and all I need to not give this product another thought. Plus this guy sounds like a control freak, and the app name is baby talk.
OK, so if you are still following this tread you must have an interest. Here is a good comparison between the two programs. Although, I agree, the calling home of Chordieapp really rules it out. So my decision now is do I need to pay for the Pro version versus the free version of Mediculous 4? I may have already answered this question based on my use of the freebee for the past month or two.
Before Mediculous, I used Pianoteq 7. I too will allow you to see the keyboard and call out the chords. But honestly, Mediculous does this much better (more flexible visibility). And Pianoteq ain't anywhere near free.
BTW - that sure don't look like a Ab6(#9)?? Cmaj min 7 (11) according to Mediculous. I think that is an artifact of my trying to hold the chord with one hand and screen capture with another.
We had a long discussion of this at the beginning of the year. I have used the free version off and on over since then. But the full version Midiculous Pro always had a strange attraction to me so I have kept my eye on this product. Unforturnately the price did not budget - so last night I sent them a nice email suggesting they pony up with a sale - I suggested 10 - 20% would be nice and may make me pull out my wallet. This morining I got a reply. "Check the web site" was all the message said
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Just pressing some notes on a keyboard and having the device name the notes for you does not appear to be of any use as far as I can see.
... Billy
Just thought I would mention that one of my favorite BIAB features has done this for decades, and gives up to four interpretations from which to choose: Window menu, MIDI Chord Detection. Especially since I do not play piano, this feature is of tremendous importance in arranging and composing using jazz chords with complex extensions.
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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
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XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
It’s time to celebrate! Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Band-in-a-Box® is here, and we've got 200 brand-new styles coming your way!
No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
zplane recently interviewed Peter Gannon, the founder and creator of Band-in-a-Box, about the software's early days, what sets it apart from AI, how zplane's audio algorithms are used in Band-in-a-Box, and more!
Special thanks to the team at zplane for their continued support.
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
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Another exciting new addition is the amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can transcribe an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
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