Help
A complete guide to what Chainprint measures, how each studio panel works, and how to get a chain into your session — with honest limits called out.
Getting started
1. Open the studio
Go to Analyze, sign in if prompted, and set your analysis target (Vocal, Instrumental, or Full mix) and mode (Standard or Deep).
2. Provide a reference
- Upload an audio file (WAV, MP3, FLAC, and similar).
- Or paste a link from Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, or SoundCloud — we’ll resolve a preview when possible.
- Optional: name the track and artist so your library stays tidy.
3. Run analysis
Hit analyze and wait through load → decode → measure → build. When it finishes you’ll get a processing chain plus Signature meters. Tabs unlock as results are ready.
4. Rebuild by ear
Work the Chain panel top to bottom. Use Why for priority moves, add your dry take for A/B preview, then export Ableton or the Analysis PDF. Always finish by ear in full mix context.
Targets & modes
Vocal
Measures the lead / vocal region and builds insert + send processing aimed at matching that character on your dry vocal.
Instrumental
Aimed at beds and instrumental material — useful when you’re matching a beat, pad bed, or instrumental stem rather than a dry vocal.
Full mix
Treats the whole song as the target. Expect denser, more mix-bus-aware suggestions and source detection for what’s in the bed.
Standard vs Deep
Standard builds the chain and core panels (Signature, Compare, Why, Instruments). Deep (Pro) adds Design and Master, plus deeper character tags for vocal work.
Studio panels
Chain
Your main build sheet: numbered inserts, sends, plugin targets, and dialed settings. Expand a stage for why it exists and how to set it. Preview row lets you A/B dry vs chain once you’ve added a dry take.
Signature
The measured fingerprint — tempo, key, spectral center, crest, tone (air / sibilance / harsh / mud), stereo, bands, and more. Tap any card for a plain-English definition and what this reading means.
Compare
Upload your mix and see where it drifts from the reference: frequency gaps, dynamics, width, and suggested moves to close the gap. Reference sits on one side; your mix on the other.
Why
Start here priority moves, measured facts from the pass, and the full build-order rationale so you know what to touch first vs later.
Instruments
Source guesses for what’s present in the bed (on instrumental / full-mix style passes), with confidence and a practical tip for each.
Design (Deep)
Creative production layers on top of the technical chain — space character, beds, width, actions per layer, and a checklist before you print.
Master (Deep)
Mix-bus oriented readouts, streaming target notes, mastering chain steps, and band balance for the full reference.
Library, blend & playback
- Library — keep multiple references; switch the active one anytime.
- Blend — pick two refs, weight A↔B, and build a hybrid chain that preserves contrast.
- Playback dock — audition library audio while you work (mobile docks to the bottom).
Exports & share
Ableton rack (.adg)
Builds an Audio Effect Rack from stages that map to Ableton stock devices. Drag onto a track in Live. EQ / de-ess style stages may need hand-dialing — notes travel with the rack.
Analysis PDF
A multi-page report of the full reference analysis: signature meters and bands, traits, why / priority moves, instruments, complete insert & send settings with why/how, plus Design and Master when Deep was used. Use it as a session bible.
Shared chains
Publish a snapshot of a chain to a public /c/ link so collaborators can open
the stages without your full library.
Key · BPM finder
Free utility
Open Key · BPM, upload a file or paste a streaming link, and get musical key, relative key, and tempo with confidence labels. Analysis for uploads runs in your browser when possible.
Plans & settings
Free
Sign up to analyze with a free quota. Perfect for trying the studio and running Standard chains.
Pro
Unlimited analyses and Deep mode — Design, Master, and deeper vocal character. Your quota chip in the studio shows plan status.
Settings
In Settings update profile and avatar, choose default target and mode for new sessions, and manage password / account chrome.
Honesty & limits
What we claim — and don’t
Chainprint produces a plausible reconstruction from measurements. It is not a claim that “this is exactly what they used,” and it won’t recover proprietary plugin settings from a finished mix. Treat numbers as a strong starting map; finish by ear.
Verify these by ear
- Key and BPM when confidence is low or marked verify.
- Instrument / source labels — presence guesses, not stems.
- Any setting that fights the arrangement in full mix context.
Privacy snapshot
Account data powers login and quotas. Audio is processed to generate suggestions; we don’t sell your files. Details live in the Privacy Policy and Terms.
FAQ
What does Chainprint do?
It reverse-engineers a reference mix into a rebuildable chain — measured signature, rationale, and settings — so you can recreate the vibe in your DAW.
Which DAWs work?
The chain is written in DAW-agnostic stock language. Ableton users can also export an
.adg rack. Logic / Pro Tools users dial the same stages on stock (or preferred) plugins.
Why don’t I see Design or Master?
Those panels unlock on Deep mode with a Pro plan. Switch mode in the reference rail before you analyze.
Can I analyze without signing up?
The Key · BPM finder is free without an account. Full analyze studio requires sign-in so we can apply plan quotas and save preferences.