Write and perform
Playing and recording notes
Play instruments from your computer or a MIDI keyboard, then record note timing and velocity into a phrase.
Studio can play notes from your computer keyboard or a connected MIDI keyboard. Record notes writes the notes you play into the selected track. This records note events and velocity, rather than microphone or audio-interface recordings.
Use your computer keyboard
Select a track and click away from text fields. The following keys play seventeen consecutive semitones, beginning at C:
| Note within the range | Key |
|---|---|
| C | A |
| C♯ | W |
| D | S |
| E♭ | E |
| E | D |
| F | F |
| F♯ | T |
| G | G |
| A♭ | Y |
| A | H |
| B♭ | U |
| B | J |
| C above | K |
| C♯ above | O |
| D above | L |
| E♭ above | P |
| E above | ; |
The starting octave is 4, so A begins on MIDI note 60. Z lowers the octave and X raises it, within −1 to 8. C lowers the input velocity by ten and V raises it, within 1–127. Velocity starts at 100. The status reports Keys · Octave … · Velocity … when you change those values.
These note keys ignore modifier combinations and text entry. Ctrl+C or Cmd+C still copies; plain C changes playing velocity. A key that would exceed MIDI pitch 127 does not play.
You can also click the piano keys or drum labels in the Editor, or the Drum Rack's pad buttons, to audition sound. These pointer auditions do not themselves record notes through the computer/MIDI recorder.
Record a phrase
- Select the track you want to record.
- Turn on Record notes in the top bar.
- Press Play.
- Play and release notes on your computer or MIDI keyboard.
- Turn Record notes off when finished, then listen back.
The recorder follows the selected track and the global Record notes state. The track header's arm button stores an indication, but it does not determine which track receives notes. Selecting the right track is essential.
A note begins at the rounded sixteenth-note position where you press it and is committed when released. Its duration is rounded to whole sixteenth-note steps, from one to 32 steps. Input wraps within the phrase rather than extending an unlimited recording timeline.
There is a further current limit: recording uses the first launcher clip's length as its wrap reference, even when another clip is open. The input also wraps its initial position within 32 steps. For a predictable take, record a short phrase using the first clip, then edit or copy it in the piano roll. Do not rely on selecting an eight-bar launcher length to capture an eight-bar continuous take.
MIDI input
Studio asks for MIDI access after a pointer press or a recognised note-key press, if the browser supports it. Allow the browser's MIDI permission when requested. Connected input devices are attached automatically; Studio reports MIDI: … connected using the device name. There is no device-picker control in this recorder.
Note-on, note-off and note velocity are supported. MIDI sustain pedal messages delay the note's release until the pedal is lifted. The current audition sound uses a short scheduled note; recorded held length and a continuous live sustain are different things. Use playback to check the recorded result.
If an input disconnects, Studio releases its held recording notes. Leaving the window or hiding the tab also releases held input. MIDI permission failure leaves the computer keyboard available.
Pitch bend, aftertouch and general controller mapping are not part of this recorder's input handling. It does not offer an audio input, monitoring or microphone recording control.
Record drums
Use the standard drum pitches for direct pad selection: Kick 36, Snare 38, Hat 42, Clap 39 and Percussion 48. Other input pitches are mapped across the five pads. Recorded hits become editable drum notes, with the input velocity retained.
Choose the Drum Rack instrument before recording. The drum guide explains its models, velocity sensitivity and generated patterns.
If nothing records
Check that the transport is playing, Record notes is on, the correct track is selected and no text field has focus. Click Play if the browser first needs permission to make sound.
This clip could not record another note means the recording edit could not fit or validate. Remove unneeded notes, check the phrase and project limits, and try a shorter take. Use troubleshooting for MIDI permission and silent playback.