Instruments

frdgBeats channels can use synths, samples, or SoundFonts. Pick the source based on what job the channel has.

Synth Channels

Synth channels generate sound in the browser. They are best for basses, leads, pads, plucks, and electronic sounds.

The synth tab becomes available when a synth channel is selected.

Built-In Synths

Wave Oscillator is the simple built-in synth. It gives you classic oscillator shapes:

• Sine.
• Square.
• Sawtooth.
• Triangle.

It also supports unison, detune, attack, and release.

Nebula Table is a deeper synth with two oscillators, warp, levels, sub, noise, unison, blend, filter, drive, and envelope controls. Use it when Wave Oscillator feels too plain.

Synth Presets

Some synths provide presets in the synth tab. Choose a preset to overwrite the current synth settings for that channel.

Preset names may be tagged by type:

• [BA]: bass.
• [FX]: effects.
• [LD]: leads.
• [PD]: pads.
• [PL]: plucks.
• [SQ]: sequences.
• [SY]: general synth patches.

Synth Tab

The synth tab shows controls for the selected synth. Some synths have custom graphical editors. Others use normal sliders and menus.

Common controls:

• Wave or oscillator type changes the basic tone.
• Unison stacks multiple voices.
• Detune spreads unison voices.
• Attack controls how quickly the sound starts.
• Decay controls how quickly it falls after the initial hit.
• Sustain controls held level.
• Release controls how long it fades after stopping.
• Cutoff and resonance shape brightness.
• Drive adds grit.

SoundFont Channels

SoundFont channels play sampled instruments from .sf2 banks. Use them for pianos, orchestral sketches, General MIDI sounds, retro banks, and imported MIDI.

SoundFont controls appear in the channel rack, not the synth tab.

Sample Channels

Sample channels play audio files. Use them for drums, loops, chops, one-shots, vocals, found sounds, and anything you can load as audio.

Sample channels unlock the waveform tab.