Seems Cubase has some sort of Chord tool, I don't use cubase so I don't know it's functionality, but we only have a the problematic Chord Analyzer.
It would be nice not to forget midi, and progress this side of Sonar. Chord Structures are the foundation of music. With plug ins such as Midi chords, where a single not cane be used to play complex chord voicings, and aid experimenting with fuller sounding performances. Here's a basic image of it set up in Sonar
You simply press a note, then assign it the chord you want, you can copy that shape, press another note, and it paste the shape and it relates to the new note. Transpose it semitones or octaves (You can't invert or open and close voicing, but other than that it's very intuitive and flexible . Check out this guy, he has 4 running at the same time, and performing just one note at a time, creates stunning pieces. SO one note, 4 instances of the plug, a stack of synths, and a rich ensemble result
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5ar_3nGx2w Then there is EXKeys, and it's circle of fifths tool, which allow you to change chords (not on the fly), to different keys, or experiment with adding and droping intervals, invert chords. Still no open a voicing, close a voicing (which seem more important if you are higher and lower on the keyboard). Some of the Chord recognition is dodgy, such as having, labelling a inversion with the new bass note correctly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_1BgtA_lvo So what am I asking for.
A chord tool, that can:
Trigger users definable chords
Trigger to have a a mono or poly input, so playing a c can trigger a C7+9, or playing a CMaj Triad, could trigger a C7+9, and a CminTriad and Cm7+9
A chord suggestion tool, so clicking would create the the chord, instead of having to enter the notes manually, such as the circle of fifths tool
An inversion tool, that renames the chord to show the new bass note
A Voicing tool, to open and close voicings.
A way that when the sequence has been made, and is playing, the midi plug in can be manipulated to find new chords and voicings on the fly.
I think a comprehensive tool like this doesn't exist, (although I don't know the cubase tool, and if cubase has one, we should) and will allow the Sonar user base to expand its sonic potential, allowing beginners to gain confidence and apply music theory, and advanced player to take things further
.
Anyone with experience of other tool, please add ideas