TONIC 2

Find the key and scale of any audio

Discover the key of your loops, remixes, and song ideas in real-time with TONIC 2

TONIC 2™ is a music theory analysis plugin that detects the key and scale of any audio source, and suggests compatible notes and chords.

Put TONIC 2 on any audio track, hit play in your DAW, and it suggests three potential keys and scales, as well as their percentage probability. Audition and monitor compatible notes and chords on external sound sources, or drag-and-drop specific chords straight into your DAW as MIDI clips.

Whether you want to discover the key of samples and recordings, explore new ways to write melodies and harmonies, or simply level up your music theory, TONIC 2 is a powerful music production tool.

TONIC 2 Use Cases

DETECT

Insert TONIC 2 on any MIDI or audio track to detect its key and scale in real-time. Or simply drag and drop an audio file for offline key and scale analysis.

ANALYZE

TONIC 2 shows up to three possible key and scale matches, each with a percentage probability. Switch between the suggestions and the virtual keyboard instantly updates to show notes and chords that are melodically compatible with your source material.

CREATE

Turn analysis into new musical ideas. Fold Keys mode shows only notes from the selected scale and maps them to the white keys of your MIDI keyboard. Switch to Chord mode to play matching chords and drag them straight into your DAW as MIDI clips.

Key Features

Key and Scale Detection for Audio and MIDI
Real-time or offline analysis of key and scale
Displays Three Key and Scale Matches
With a percentage probability for each
Virtual Keyboard with Chords Mode
Find keys & chords compatible with the selected scale
Note and Chord Auditioning
Only play notes and chords that match the scale
MIDI Input and Output
Use a MIDI keyboard to play scale notes and chords, or send MIDI to external instruments
Tuning Display
Display deviations from A = 440Hz in cents and Hertz
Compatible with Windows and Mac
Comes in AU, VST3 and AAX Formats

Videos

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What's New in TONIC 2?

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TONIC is the Key!

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Benn Jordan - TONIC

News

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Save 33% on all zplane plugins and software this Halloween, including PEEL STEMS 2, TIMBRE and TONIC 2. Offer ends November 6th.

Introducing TONIC 2: The Latest Iteration of Our Key and Scale Detection Plugin



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zplane Partners with Music SA to Bring its Suite of Powerful Audio Tools to Brazil



zplane teams up with Music SA to deliver its audio software products to musicians and producers across South America.

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Technical Specifications

  • Audio Format: Mono and Stereo
  • Plugin Format: AAX, AU, VST3
  • Supported Operating Systems:
    • - Windows 10 & 11 | 64bit
    • - macOS 13 or later | 64bit Intel & Silicon
  • Plugin Latency: None

FAQs

More Answers

TONIC 2 General Operation

Do I need to upgrade from TONIC 1 to TONIC 2?

No! If you're happy with TONIC 1 and you don't require the new features, you can continue to use Version 1 of TONIC as usual. We'll continue to provide maintenance updates and customer support until the end of December 2027.

Can I upgrade from TONIC Version 1 to Version 2?

Yes! If you own a full license for TONIC 1, you can upgrade to TONIC 2 for €10. The upgrade option is accessible after you log in to your account in the zplane User Area.

What’s the difference between TONIC 1 and TONIC 2?

TONIC 2 is powered by the latest version of our real-time key detection algorithm, bringing improved performance and reliability. It also has expanded MIDI-In and Out support with chord MIDI drag-and-drop, a new keyboard and 'Fold Keys' design and functionality, and a refreshed GUI.

Will TONIC 2 automatically replace instances of TONIC 1 in existing DAW projects?

No, TONIC 2 is a new plugin, and therefore it will not automatically replaces instances of TONIC 1 in existing projects.

Does TONIC work in Reason?

Yes - TONIC is supported in Reason via the VST3-format version of the plugin.

There are hundreds of scales - which are supported by TONIC?

There are 24 keys in equal-temperament music - 12 major keys and 12 minor keys. These are often visualized on the Circle of Fifths: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_of_fifths

While it is true that there are many kinds of scales beyond just major and minor, TONIC is not a 'scale-detection' plug-in. It is designed to be a key-detection plug-in, therefore it is just looking for the best possible matches to those 24 keys in the Circle of Fifths.

When selecting one of the keys, TONIC will tell you the pitches of the corresponding scale (which will be major or minor) and the chord triads that fit in that scale. If you know alternate scales that fit within the major or minor scale indicated by TONIC, you’d still be able to use them.

Is there a demo version of TONIC?

There is currently no demo version of TONIC available. Some other zplane products have feature-reduced demo versions available. But with TONIC being such a simple and straight-forward plugin, any efforts by us to limit the performance or feature set would make it unusable.