Build an instrument

Shape a sound using presets, parameters, and effects.

intermediate 15 min

What you’ll do

You’ll start from a factory preset, tweak it to your taste, and add effects.

Step 1: Pick a starting sound

Open Clip Detail on any MIDI track (tap an empty launcher slot, long-press a clip → Edit double tap a clip, or select a tracks header). Select the track name at the top of the window to open the sound browser.

Browse by category—Keys, Bass, Pads, Leads, Drums, and more—or use search to find something close to what you want. Tap a preset to load it on the track.

Step 2: Shape the tone

Clip Detail shows parameter tabs for the current instrument—operators, filters, envelopes, and more depending on the sound type. Small moves go a long way:

Attack controls how quickly the sound fades in
Release controls how it fades out after you let go
Filter tabs brighten or darken the tone

Use the performance surface or piano roll to audition changes while you adjust.

Step 3: Add effects

In Detail View switch to the track effects tab. Add a reverb for space, a delay for echoes, or a filter to sculpt the tone further. Effects process the sound after the instrument—think of them as pedals on a guitar.

Reorder or bypass effects from the device chain panel if you want to compare before and after.

Step 4: Save your work

Your tweaks live in the project—Pooly remembers them automatically. To reuse a sound elsewhere, save the preset via the Instruments core panel. If you maintain a folder of user presets on your device, they appear under USER in the browser.

Tips