AlphaTheta Chordcat review: The easiest way to write chords without theory?€250, alphatheta.com
AlphaTheta — the 2024 rename of Pioneer DJ — has dabbled in music production tools before. Under its Toraiz brand, it released the SP-16 multitrack sampler in 2016 and the AS-1 in 2017, a monophonic synth designed in collaboration with Dave Smith. With just one other product to its name (the Squid sequencer), that’s a pretty short track record, so you’d be right to wonder if such a company, beloved for its DJ equipment, can continue competing in the studio instrument world.

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That question could soon be answered with the release of Chordcat, a compact groovebox designed to bridge the gap between beatmaking and songwriting. With built-in sounds, a 4×4 grid-based sequencer, and a unique tool for generating chord progressions, it’s geared towards helping musicians go from loops and beats to full arrangements, no music theory required.
Can this inconspicuous grey box keep AlphaTheta in the ring with names like Novation, Elektron, and Roland? And more importantly, does it offer a quick path to loop liberation?
Image: Press
How User-Friendly Is the Chordcat?
I’m impressed first by the Chordcat’s portability. Its dimensions are similar to an OP-1, albeit twice as thick, but it’s incredibly lightweight. AlphaTheta has chosen to skip the knobs, opting solely for low-profile buttons and touch pads — the usability takes a small hit, but that does mean the unit can be tossed in a bag with no fear of damage to any extruding parts.
As I’m holed up at home during the testing of the Chordcat, I opt to run off USB-C power. But six AA batteries deliver roughly five hours of life, so it certainly ticks the box as an out-and-about music-making companion too.
From the off, Chordcat is intuitive and easy to use. I barely need the manual, instead exploring my way around the device’s features while I build a loop from scratch. This one won’t be topping the charts, but I’m pleased with my first attempt.

What’s the Chordcat Sequencer Like?
Chordcat’s sequencer is arguably its focal point, and for the most part, it does a fine job. Creating patterns feels relatively seamless, although a few efficiency tweaks could be made, such as dedicated rest or duration buttons, for example.
You can play and record parts live, but editing incorrect notes is clunky, so I mostly opt to program my parts. That’s more a reflection of my playing than a flaw in the touch strip; I’m not usually a fan of ribbon controllers, but I’m surprised by how responsive the Chordcat feels.
Of course, I’m here looking for inspiration, and Chordcat does offer a few tricks for unearthing new ideas. The Running Direction feature is excellent, letting you change step order on the fly with options like top to bottom instead of left to right, or spiralling round the 4×4 grid. Reworking the drums from my first idea, this feature delivers some intriguing syncopated rhythms.

Chordcat’s sequencer operates in 16th notes, but there is a workaround. By doubling the tempo of your project, you effectively squeeze more resolution into each bar at the expense of halving the max length of each pattern. Check out this Dilla-style swing I dial in on the kit:

How does Chordcat help you create chord progressions?
Chord Cruiser is Chordcat’s signature feature, and one you won’t find on other grooveboxes. The idea is simple — choose a chordset, play a chord on the touch strip, and audition new chords with the XY pad. Find one you like? Assign it to the touch strip for easy jamming. Admittedly, I have to refer to the manual to figure this out, but constructing progressions is ultimately fun, fast, and playful with no need for any music theory knowledge.
I do encounter a few snags. While the built-in chordsets offer plenty of emotive juice, you can’t mix chords between them. And while I love the way Chordcat encourages exploration of non-diatonic chords, it’s sometimes challenging to find a way back from my meandering harmonic paths.
My next foray keeps things fairly simple and gives me an opportunity to explore the arpeggiator in more detail.

Enable the arp, and the Chord Cruiser really comes to life. It does a lot of heavy lifting, adding movement and interest to even the most bog-standard progressions.
Arpeggiating two instruments at different rates is pretty exciting, too, revealing surprisingly musical ideas that you’d rarely play manually.
There are only four arpeggiator modes currently — Up, Down, Up+Down, and Random — so I’d love to see more added in a future firmware update.
Image: Press
Are Chordcat’s built-in sounds good enough for final tracks?
Unless you’re planning to hook up Chordcat as an external controller for other gear, you’ll want to know about its onboard instruments and drumkits.
The sounds aren’t exactly modern, bringing to mind old-school romplers and General MIDI-style sounds. But that’s not to say they’re unusable, and AlphaTheta even included TR-808 and TR-909 kits — these drum machines remain production staples across many genres. After flicking through the patches, I find myself steering towards something akin to a racing game loading screen.

I actually like the limitations here. There’s no synth engine on board, but a few rudimentary effects encourage you to get creative with what’s available. Each sound can be sculpted with a low-pass filter and attack/release envelope, which opens up a broader palette of sounds than one might initially think. While not designed for pristine, cutting-edge sound design, these patches are perfect for sketching ideas or even full tracks in the right hands. Check out this impressive demo project from AlphaTheta as an example.

However, I do find it hard to accurately dial in parameters with the XY pad; it’s the only time I find myself wanting for physical pots. The lack of high-pass filtering becomes noticeable, too, and the sounds can quickly get muddy once you’re stacking channels.
The ducker delivers a faux sidechain effect, although I use it as a tremolo to add movement to some synth keys. Throw in reverb and chorus, and you’d be surprised what you can get out of this little machine.

There’s also a basic delay on board. This affects MIDI, not audio, so you might run into note choking if you’re hitting the max polyphony, but it gets the job done.

How does the Chordcat compare to other grooveboxes?
Given its €250 price point, the Chordcat is up against stiff competition. Roland’s AIRA Compact J-6 delivers timeless Juno sounds and a chord mode for £100 less. Teenage Engineering’s K.O. II, menawhile, touts deep sampling capabilities for £20 more.
Sonicware’s Liven grooveboxes are the most direct rivals, packing in significantly more features for a similar price, although they have a much steeper learning curve. And if it’s simply a music theory shortcut you’re after, Scaler 3 offers a much more advanced toolset for chord and melody creation, provided you’re happy working in the box.
Given these alternatives, where does the Chordcat sit? Somewhere in the middle. Does it reinvigorate my creativity? Yes and no. I get lost in making loops for hours, taking me back to my early days producing music. But it’s hard to imagine creating a full track with the workflow and limitations present. You can, however, export ideas to a DAW, turning Chordcat into a creative springboard for your next project.
Undoubtedly, the device’s strength lies in its accessibility, with minimal menu diving and an instantaneous workflow that doesn’t require advanced musical or technical know-how. For first-timers, there’s a simplicity to Chordcat that feels incredibly rewarding.
Stick with it as your setup’s centrepiece and you’ll likely outgrow it. But as a portable sketchpad that’s incredibly easy to grasp, with flexible sounds and a fast track to captivating chord progressions? Chordcat distils non-negotiable functionality into a compact package at an affordable price. It won’t replace your DAW or your higher-end hardware — but it might just replace your creative block.
Image: Press
Key Features

Chord Cruiser with 110,000 possible chord combinations
8 sequenceable tracks, 16 patterns per track, 128 steps (8 bars) per pattern
145 instruments and 16 drum kits
Responsive touch strip and XY pad
Key and scale settings
Low-pass filter and amp envelope for each instrument
Arpeggiator, reverb, chorus, delay, and ducker effects
MIDI in/out/thru for connecting external hardware
DAW integration and manager software for importing patterns
Powered by USB-C or six AA batteries (approximately five hours life)
Dimensions: 27.4cm x 11.1cm x 3.3cm
Weight: 0.4kg

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