PadHelper — Tutorial

1 · Export your lead as MIDI

In your DAW, take the lead, pluck or melody you want to harmonise and export that clip as a .mid file. (In most DAWs: right-click the MIDI clip → Export MIDI, or just drag it to your desktop.)
Note: In FL Studio, you need to execute Tools → Macros → "Prepare for MIDI export" beforehand!
2 · Drop it in

Drag the .mid file onto the drop zone on the main page, or click the zone to browse for it. Everything runs in your browser — your file is never uploaded anywhere.
3 · Preview the pad ideas

Each card is a different pad suggestion (7th chords, plain triads, or open roots & fifths). Hover a card to hear it, it loops until you move away. The mini piano-roll shows the chord notes with a playhead sweeping across, and your melody faintly underneath so you can hear and see the fit.

Use the "Play my melody along with the pad" checkbox to toggle whether your original melody plays over the chords during preview.
4 · Download the one you like

Click a card to download that progression as a MIDI file. It keeps your original tempo and timing, so you can drop it straight back onto your lead in the DAW and it lines up.

Tip: If the chords feel slightly off, it's usually because the loop isn't in 4/4 or a chord changes in the middle of a bar — PadHelper currently reads one chord per bar in 4/4. Try exporting a clean, looped 4/4 phrase for the best results.

← Back to the tool

1 · Export your lead as MIDI

2 · Drop it in

3 · Preview the pad ideas

4 · Download the one you like