Orb Composer Review by Hexachord

We are reviewing today Orb Composer from Hexachord. There are plenty of tools available that are helping producers and composers to come up with new ideas or in for the less complicated need of getting an EDM producer much closer to the next song. Orb Composer is for the more experienced composer, and in reach for a producer with experiences.

Hexachord is a machine-learning company

Hexachord is a machine-learning company and Orb Composer is its first product.

Orb Composer is a self-taught AI musical tool that can create and arrange music with the help of algorithms that analyze and learn from scores. Hexachord claims that Orb can not only write original scores but also improvise over chord progressions.

A user can indicate whether what is produced by Orb Composer meets their standards, and the tool takes this feedback to improve its approach to producing music in future sessions.

Orb Composer isn’t a replacement for the composer and doesn’t write music automatically. You may make a complete musical environment based on the ideas, new music styles, chord progression, your own music styles you wish to test.

Advertisement

Music mock ups

For short time work with music mock ups , it’s an interesting tool, for example, to quickly audition a chord progression with some variations. You can also use Orb Composer to develop new sounds and styles.

Composers looking for a new way to create

For experienced composers, Orb Composer could be a way of working that is different from the usual way they write music. It’s an opportunity to explore new harmonic possibilities and to see how an AI can contribute to the creative process.

We hope you enjoyed this Hexachord Orb Composer Review! And be sure to check out our other music production and composing tutorials for more tips and tricks.

Spark musical ideas

Hexachord’s first product, Orb Composer aims at helping composers produce original scores that are “cohesive”, “expressive”, and fit within a harmonic context. A new approach for your next new musical ideas,

Orb Composer is Hexachord’s first product and it is a machine learning tool that can create and arrange music with the help of algorithms that analyze and learn from scores. Hexachord claims that Orb can not only write original scores but also improvise over chord progressions.

Advertisement

The software has been designed for experienced composers and producers. Orb Composer is not just a composition assistant, it is a composer in its own right. It can work with you to create original pieces of music or add variations

Orb Composer Orchestra Template

Orb Composer (Affiliate Link) is a standalone application that supports several DAWs. In your DAW you can drive the available instruments of choice and record the MIDI in the DAW as well. We review the Pro Version – Hexachord did send a review copy with no strings attached.

Installation

You need to download the purchased version from the Orb Composer website and register your copy. As a platform MAC and WIN are supported.

See here for full technical requirements. Orb Composer synchronizes with popular DAW software: Logic, Cubase, Pro Tools, Reaper, Sonar, Live, Studio One, Reason.

I used Orb COmposer with Cubase on an iMac. The compatibility depends on the version of the DAW used. Some DAWs are fully compatible, some are compatible with limitations, and some are not compatible – see the FAQ for latest details.

Sound

Orb Composer is an excellent tool to create a song or score from zero. The software claims to be the first artificial intelligence software for composers.

Advertisement

The Application is there to help and allows you to decide how involved the software gets when doing the job for you. Orb Composer is available in two versions: Artist to Pro, you can upgrade later from Artist to Pro.

The difference between the two versions is detailed here. The Pro version is what I would recommend, as there is a full upgrade path you can start with the beginner version (Artist).

Orb Composer by Hexachord

With this tool, you can create a 3 min underscore immediately for a scene when you compose to picture. You can easily define the structure of the needed score, excite the audience or calm the viewer depending on what you need for the scenes. You can add instruments in Orb Composer to add color and richness, possibly ending up at a full cinematic orchestra. If it is too much, you can withdraw some instruments and adjust their role in the arrangement.

In this context, it is also straightforward to change sections and instruments. If the feedback is “pls use fewer woods, more brass” you can quickly adjust the instruments used and where their place is in the composition.

It is your stylistic decision how the orchestra is developing the tension, playing a touching theme driven by the energy and significance you need.

It supports the import of the MIDI data of your melodies and to create your musical arrangement or orchestration.

Advertisement

Music Composers

When you do the score to picture you know how much time you spend when creating variations of the central theme. This tool helps dramatically with your time and effort spent on a project.

I did prepare the review over the course of several weeks Orb Composer Pro. It did take time to know the tool. Guided by some remarkably well-made YouTube Tutorials I was able to produce new ideas quickly. 

Setting up the target DAW takes now more time compared than coming up with something fresh.

Just before releasing the article version 1.1 was made available which added and enhanced several key features.

Version 1.1 Released June, 1st 2018:

• Loop markers
• Curves auto-update clips
• Chord inversions – the KEY feature in this update
• Clips copy/paste
• Chords copy/paste
• Updating curves automatically update clips
• Updated AI engine
• 3/8 and 1/4 time signatures added
• Empty template
• Better humanization

I marked the key features for me new key features in bold (above).

User interface & Usability

When you launch the software, you need to select a model (orchestral, strings, piano, electro, pop-rock, or ambient). This template can be linked easily to many DAWs. Hexachord includes many Orb Composer Templates for the most commons DAWs. When the DAW is ready, you can start to compose, or better the tool guides you through the process of producing and allows you to go deep into all parts of the arrangement to enhance the results step by step.

Advertisement

Orb Composer is linked to your DAW via MIDI channels (virtual Midi cables) and allows you to record the send MIDI data in your DAW and use Kontakt and other virtual instruments for example in Cubase.

Orb Composer MIDI received in Cubase

The way to create songs is racing fast and gives you returns in an incredibly fast way. Robot composer has risen. The UI is geared to help you to produce. You need to spend some time to learn the way the developer thought it all out, but it is worth the time spend on your side to learn how to use the tool. If you’re looking to expand your music creation capabilities, consider investing in the IK Multimedia Syntronik Synths. This powerful software offers a wide range of synth sounds and features that can take your compositions to the next level. In a recent Ik multimedia syntronik synths review, users raved about the versatility and quality of the sounds, making it a valuable addition to any musician’s toolkit. With the help of this innovative technology, you can unleash your creativity and produce truly unique and captivating tunes.

After creating the first version you can change the song rather quickly to adjust the overall song, you can change the role of the instrument, articulation used, and arrange the rank of the instrument.

Conclusion

Orb Composer is a Machine Learning (AI) tool for Music Composers created by Hexachord. Hexachord, the company behind Orb Composer is updating their software constantly to make it more user-friendly.

Orb Composer allows you to compose music for the screen in 3 minutes when given a picture or video reference. You can create an underscore in 3 minutes that fits perfectly with your picture or video reference.

With this tool, you can quickly produce musical scores with only a few clicks. What’s even better is that you don’t have to spend hours making variations on one theme – Orb Composer does this for you automatically! To learn more about how this software works I took my time covering

Pros:

Advertisement

• Creates original compositions in minutes.
• Smart enough to avoid repetition and boring melodies.
• Templates for many DAWs like Cubase, Logic Pro X or Ableton Live (see above)
• Create your own melody & own custom notes
• Leading ai composer software

Cons:

• You can sometimes end up with a small ‘off-tune’ melody by accident Conclusion: Orb Composer

Rating: Five out of five stars

Orb Composer (Affiliate Link) allows any composer to promptly produce a structure, arrangement, theme and harmonic progression for the next score. The results are considered advanced and are excellent based to be further developed.

This tool is inspiring and the medicine against writers’ block without side effects. There are many tools available that are aimed at the producer and composer. Orb Composer is the leading tool for a composer with plenty of competition for a producer.