A Captain Chords alternative for writing with your hands
Captain Chords is built for planning a progression in a grid. still.synth is built for playing one.
Compared in November 2026. Prices and features change — check each maker’s site for the latest.
Captain Chords — part of Mixed In Key’s Captain Plugins — lets you choose chords for a progression in a grid, edit the MIDI, and add strums and rhythm, with separate plugins for melody, bass and beats. still.synth is one instrument for playing: tap a shape and a root and the chord sounds straight away, with bass and drums following and a looper to stack parts.
Side by side
| Captain Chords | still.synth | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Songwriting plugins: Captain Chords, Melody, Deep (bass) and Beat | One instrument: chords, bass, drums and a looper |
| Writing chords | Pick chords for a progression in a grid; edit notes, rhythm and strum | Play them live on your MIDI keyboard and pads |
| Bass | Captain Deep, a separate plugin | Built in, follows every chord |
| Drums | Captain Beat, a separate plugin | Built in: 8 kits, 10 patterns, fills |
| Getting it into a track | MIDI in your DAW | WAV and MIDI export, one track per looper layer |
| Price | Sold as bundles, often discounted — check mixedinkey.com | $39 during beta ($59 after) |
Why producers pick still.synth
Write with your hands
Play the progression on your MIDI keyboard and pads instead of clicking it into a grid.
One plugin, whole band
Chords, bass and drums in a single instrument — no separate plugins to buy and wire up.
Hear it instantly
Every chord sounds the moment you tap it, and the looper keeps what you play.
Play it before you buy it
The home page has a live version of the chord pads — tap a shape and a root and listen.
Other comparisons
Set it up in your DAW
Sources for Captain Chords: MusicTech review of Captain Plugins 2.0 · MusicRadar on Captain Plugins. Captain Chords is a trademark of its owner; still.synth isn’t affiliated with it.