Before you start
The DAW is desktop-only. Below 900px wide it shows a "Desktop Required" message with a link back to home, because arranging and mixing need a keyboard and mouse. Use a computer with Chrome or Edge for the full feature set (some export features are Chrome/Edge only).
A first-run guide opens the first time you open the DAW. Reopen it any time from the Help button in the header.
Project settings (the header)
- Project title - click it to rename. This becomes the base of your export filenames.
- BPM (tempo) - type a value, tap the TAP button to the beat, or click Detect to read the tempo from your first imported song (accurate, server-side). The field shows a clean whole number, while the project keeps the precise tempo internally so the grid stays locked to the song. Type a specific value to override.
- Time signature - 4/4, 3/4, or 6/8. Sets how the ruler and grid are divided.
- Snap - the grid magnet. Toggle it on or off, and pick the snap value (1 bar, 1/2 bar, 1 beat, 1/2 beat, 1/4 beat) from the dropdown. With snap on, clips lock to the beat when you drag them.
- Overlap mode - Free lets clips stack on a track; Trim trims the underlying clip when you drop another over it. Toggle with the mode button.
- Metronome - a click track for recording and timing. Toggle from the header.
Audio input (for recording)
Right-click the Record button to open the input settings:
- Input Device - which microphone or audio-interface input to record from.
- Input Mode - Instrument (raw) for guitar, bass, and keys (DSP off, keeps tone), or Voice for vocals (echo and noise cleanup on).
- Input Level - a gain trim for the incoming signal.
- Latency offset (ms) - fine-tune so takes land exactly on the beat.
- Monitor input - hear yourself through the speakers (use headphones to avoid feedback).
Full detail is in Recording live audio.
MIDI settings
Click the MIDI button in the header to choose a MIDI input device for playing and recording notes. MIDI tracks are edited in the piano roll (see Tracks and clips).
Export settings
- Format - choose WAV (lossless) or MP3 (compressed) from the Export dropdown.
- Export destination - by default files go to your browser's Downloads folder. To send exports to a specific folder for the session, open the AI-Engineer panel and click Export folder, then pick your folder. Both the main Export button and the AI batch export then save there. Browsers do not allow a typed absolute path (security), so you choose the folder through the picker. Available in Chrome and Edge.
See Exporting for the full export workflow.
Saving and autosave
The DAW autosaves your project to local storage every 30 seconds, and you can click Save to persist it to your account. Reopen saved projects from the Projects button. See Getting started for the full save flow.
Where to go next
- Recording live audio - the input settings in depth
- Exporting - format and destination
- Tracks and clips - snap, zoom, and the grid