ChordU vs SongEngine

ChordU identifies chords in audio and aligns them with musical notation. Users can also find a song on YouTube, copy its link and search for it in ChordU. A song may have simplified, advanced, bass or edited chord arrangements, as well as treble-clef and bass-clef note versions. Chord diagrams cover guitar, piano, ukulele and mandolin. On the website, users can obtain PDF chord and note sheets, MIDI files and synthesized notes in WAV format. MusicOnly mode provides controls for vocals, bass, drums and other instruments, and can export a mixed audio download. Local music uploads and MusicOnly for those uploads require Premium; Premium also permits chord downloads without a stated monthly limit. The Free plan has limited access, while Premium costs $5.00 per month. ChordU is available on Android, iOS and the web. Its terms limit song and chord use to personal, non-commercial purposes.

SongEngine creates chord progressions and generates matching basslines, phrases, and melodies. Users can make chords with Chord Pads, import MIDI progressions, or generate progressions in the plug-in. Its free core includes 60+ presets for basslines, arpeggios, phrases, and melodies. Live Mode turns MIDI chords sent from a keyboard or DAW into new MIDI phrases in real time. Generated parts can be dragged into a DAW as standard MIDI files; an optional MassExporter can write hundreds of phrases to a computer folder. SongEngine runs as a VST2, VST3, or AU plug-in and needs a compatible host such as FL Studio or Ableton Live. It supports 64-bit Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11, and macOS 10.13 or later on 64-bit Intel or Apple Silicon processors. There is no official Linux build, though the manual says users have reported using Wine. The maker says its algorithms were crafted by human musicians, not AI, and generated MIDI files may be used in commercial releases.