Quick start
- Place Polix-P before a polyphonic instrument, or route its MIDI output to one.
- Choose a performance in PERFORMANCE DICTIONARY. It replaces the selected Pattern and arms audition.
- In Performance, choose MIDI Chords, or Scale with a Root and Scale.
- Start the DAW transport. Edit the performance, then save it through Projects.
MIDI Chords and Scale
Both modes require the DAW transport to play. Input notes guide the performance without passing through as an extra chord layer.
| Pitch Source | Playback |
|---|---|
| MIDI Chords | Follows held notes on any channel. Without input, stays silent unless dictionary audition is armed; audition uses the preview chord. |
| Scale | Plays from Root and Scale without incoming notes. |
Changing held harmony affects new notes without restarting the Pattern. The preview chord defaults to Cmaj7; change it through project JSON.
Sections and Patterns
Sections contain Pattern chains played left to right. ×1–×8 means total passes. Section repeats repeat the entire chain.
Click a Pattern to edit; drag chips to reorder; right-click to rename, duplicate, or delete. + adds an empty one-bar Pattern or a Section containing a copy of the selected Pattern.
| Playback control | Result |
|---|---|
| Auto-Advance off | Loops the current Section. Clicking another queues it after the current Section’s final pass. |
| Auto-Advance on | Follows the DAW playhead through all Sections and repeats, anchored at beat zero and wrapping after the full arrangement. Seeking follows that position. |
| Click a Section during Auto-Advance | Changes the editing view. Playback continues; the editor follows again at the next Section or Pattern change. |
| DAW Section automation | A named Section switches immediately from its beginning; Auto-Advance restores timeline playback. |
Write sets the reference for Revert. Loading, saving, or applying JSON also sets that reference; Undo can recover reverted edits. Write does not save a library file. Use Projects to save it.
Performances and piano roll
Filter the 47 dictionary performances by category. Long performances load as several editable Patterns; Undo restores what they replaced.
- Click or drag empty space to draw.
- Drag horizontally to move timing, vertically to change voice lanes, or at the right edge to resize.
- Right-click a note to duplicate or delete it.
- Hold Ctrl while drawing or clicking for softer velocity; Shift adds an accent.
The lanes are voices, not keyboard pitches. Up to eight voices share one output MIDI channel; use another instance for a separate instrument.
| Inspector | Controls |
|---|---|
| Performance | Instance Name, Pitch Source, Root, Scale. |
| Pattern Feel | Density, Swing, Humanize, Octave. Higher note Importance helps notes survive lower Density. |
| Selected Note | Pitch, Register, Velocity, Chance, Importance. Register shifts this note by octaves. |
Pitch offers chord positions, scale degrees, input positions, or fixed notes. Scale mode offers scale degrees and fixed notes.
Pattern Options sets length or splits every 1, 2, or 4 bars, chooses Quantization (Free through 1/32), and toggles Full-Pattern Sustain. A bar is four quarter-note beats. If shortening would exclude event starts, split instead. Quantization affects editing snap and playback.
MIDI export
Drag the export icon into your DAW, or right-click for Copy or Save to Disk.
| Export detail | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Scope | Active Section, including every Pattern and both Pattern and Section repeats. |
| Harmony | One detected chord, falling back to the preview chord; Scale uses the project scale. Live chord changes and exact input voicing are not captured. |
| Included | Authored timing, note register, velocity, and sustain. |
| Not applied | Quantization, Pattern Feel (including Octave), Chance, and Importance. Record MIDI output to capture these playback adjustments. |
| Tempo | File contains 120 BPM; keep your session tempo through your DAW’s import options if needed. |
Drag/Copy uses the Section name, such as Verse.mid. Save to Disk suggests Polix-P-Verse.mid.
Projects, JSON, and MCP
In Projects, enter a name and optional description, then Save. Select an entry and Load to restore it. Overwriting or deleting asks for confirmation; loading with unsaved changes offers save/discard choices. Open Projects Folder locates the files.
The {} editor displays the complete project. Copy it, or edit/paste and Apply to validate and replace it. Start from the current document and preserve required fields. Close discards unsubmitted text.
Isorek MCP can read, validate, replace, and undo live project edits, and manage saved Projects. Use the instance name or Copy MCP ID in Help to identify it. Polix-P uses single-plugin tools, independently of Prologue/Gates pairing.
Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Cmd/Ctrl + Z | Undo |
| Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + Z | Redo |
| Cmd/Ctrl + D | Duplicate selected note |
| Delete / Backspace | Delete selected note |
| Return / Escape | Commit / cancel a Section or Pattern rename |
Note shortcuts require the performance editor, with no text field or overlay active.
Troubleshooting
- Silent: Check MIDI routing, start transport, and hold notes in MIDI Chords mode or select a dictionary performance to arm audition.
- Notes keep sounding: Stop transport or press Panic to release generated notes and sustain.
- MCP cannot find it: Keep the processor loaded and run
isorek-mcp doctor.
Support and privacy
? opens guide/setup links, registration status, and Copy MCP ID. The welcome checkbox Help improve Polix-P controls optional telemetry.