— Cheat sheet

Gestures & keys

All 149 gestures and keyboard shortcuts in the guide, gathered from every chapter. Koala hides a lot behind holds, drags and double taps, so this is the list to keep handy. Pick controls to see only the rows that use them, or type what you want to do.

149 of 149 combinations

Find your way around

Tap PAD: Plays the pad.; The gestures Koala doesn’t label
Tap SAMPLE: Moves to the screen for getting sound onto pads and editing it.; The gestures Koala doesn’t label
Tap SEQUENCE: Moves to the screen for recording and playing sequences.; The gestures Koala doesn’t label
Tap PERFORM: Moves to the screen for live effects, mixing and recording your song.; The gestures Koala doesn’t label
Tap MENU: Opens the menu.; The gestures Koala doesn’t label
Hold EDIT + PAD: Selects several pads, so your changes apply to all of them.; Change several pads at once
UNDO: Steps back one change.; Undo and redo
REDO: Steps forward again through what you’ve undone.; Undo and redo
CMD + Z: Undoes the last change.On desktop; Undo and redo
CTRL + Z: Undoes the last change.On desktop; Undo and redo
SHIFT + CMD + Z: Redoes what you’ve undone.On desktop; Undo and redo
SHIFT + CTRL + Z: Redoes what you’ve undone.On desktop; Undo and redo

Get sound in

Hold PAD: Records onto the pad until you let go, while the input source is the mic or an audio interface.On an empty pad; Record from the mic
Swipe up from PAD: Locks the recording, so it carries on after you lift your finger.While recording; Lock, chain and loop your recordings
Swipe down from PAD: Switches to a loop recording that starts and stops on bar lines.While recording; Lock, chain and loop your recordings
Tap PAD: Stops the recording, if it’s the pad you’re recording to.While a recording is locked; Lock, chain and loop your recordings
Tap an empty PAD: Moves the recording to that pad with no gap.While a recording is locked; Lock, chain and loop your recordings
FX: Opens the eight input effects.On the SAMPLE screen; Add effects while you record
MONITOR: Switches input monitoring on.On the SAMPLE screen; Hear your input before you record
Drag a file onto PAD: Loads the file onto that pad.In the file browser; Import audio files
Hold a file, then drag it onto PAD: Picks the file up after a second, so you can drop it on any pad.On a tablet; Import audio files
SAMPLES: Opens the samples browser.On the SAMPLE or SEQUENCE screen; Browse samples and your own folders
Drag a sound onto PAD: Loads the sound onto that pad.In the samples browser; Browse samples and your own folders
Drag a sample onto PAD: Loads it onto that pad in your current song.In a song preview; Reuse sounds from your other songs
Tap PAD: Starts recording to a free pad. Tap the same pad again to stop.With the input source on RESAMPLE FROM APP; Resample Koala itself

Shape a sample

Hold VOL and slide: Changes the volume.; Set a pad’s volume, pitch and pan
Double-tap VOL: Resets to the sample’s original volume.; Set a pad’s volume, pitch and pan
Hold PITCH and slide: Changes the pitch.; Set a pad’s volume, pitch and pan
Double-tap PITCH: Resets to the sample’s original pitch.; Set a pad’s volume, pitch and pan
Hold PAN and slide: Changes the panning.; Set a pad’s volume, pitch and pan
Double-tap PAN: Resets to the centre.; Set a pad’s volume, pitch and pan
Pinch the waveform: Zooms in and out.; Open the sample editor and choose what plays
Drag the top stripe of the selection: Moves the selected area around the sample.; Open the sample editor and choose what plays
Drag up or down on TOOLS: Opens the menu without tapping.; Everything in the TOOLS menu
CMD + I: Opens sample info for the selected pad.On desktop; See everything Koala knows about a sample
CTRL + I: Opens sample info for the selected pad.On desktop; See everything Koala knows about a sample
CMD + E: Opens the wave editor.On desktop; Edit the audio in the wave editor
CTRL + E: Opens the wave editor.On desktop; Edit the audio in the wave editor
Drag a pole: Adjusts that part of the EQ.On the MIX tab; Give a pad its own EQ
Double-tap a pole, then swipe up: Widens its Q.On the MIX tab; Give a pad its own EQ
Double-tap a pole, then swipe down: Narrows its Q.On the MIX tab; Give a pad its own EQ
Drag PAD onto PAD: Copies to a free pad, or offers to merge, swap or add to the end if the target is taken.; Copy, swap and combine pads
Hold DELETE + PAD: Deletes those pads without asking.; Delete samples from pads
Drag PAD up to the trash: Deletes the sample without asking. The trash area appears once you start dragging.; Delete samples from pads

Chop, split and stretch

Swipe the chops bar: Changes the number of chops.In AUTO-CHOP; Chop a sample across your pads
Tap the waveform: Previews the chops.In LAZY; Chop a sample across your pads
Drag a marker: Moves where that chop starts.In LAZY; Chop a sample across your pads
Tap the blue stripe: Adds a chop marker.In LAZY; Chop a sample across your pads
Drag the CHOPS bar: Changes the number of slices.On a Chopper pad; Play slices from one pad with Chopper
Tap the waveform: Previews the slices.On a Chopper pad; Play slices from one pad with Chopper

Build sequences

PLAY: Starts the sequencer, or stops it if it’s running.; Record and play a sequence
REC: Starts recording into the selected slot. A second tap goes back to playback.; Record and play a sequence
Tap SLOT: Switches to that sequence, even while the song plays.; Record and play a sequence
Tap SLOT: Carries the recording on in that sequence, with no gap.While recording; Record and play a sequence
Swipe SLOT sideways: Moves between the four pages of slots. The arrows beside the slots do the same.; Record and play a sequence
Double-tap TEMPO: Opens the tempo menu.; Set the tempo and time signature
METRONOME: Turns the metronome sound on or off.; Set the tempo and time signature
Drag inside TEMPO: Nudges the tempo up or down. Move carefully for decimal steps, or quickly for whole numbers.In the tempo menu; Set the tempo and time signature
- or +: Moves the tempo by 1 BPM.In the tempo menu; Set the tempo and time signature
Tap TAP repeatedly: Sets the tempo from the speed of your taps.In the tempo menu; Set the tempo and time signature
Tap the BPM number: Lets you enter the exact tempo by typing.In the tempo menu; Set the tempo and time signature
Drag inside SWING: Raises or lowers the amount of swing.In the tempo menu; Tighten the timing and add swing
Drag SLOT onto SLOT: Copies to a free slot. If the target is in use, it offers to mix, add to the end or swap.; Copy, combine and colour sequences
Hold SLOT: Opens the slot’s menu, where you can set its COLOR.; Copy, combine and colour sequences
CLEAR: Clears the selected sequence.; Clear a sequence
Hold CLEAR + KEYBOARD: Clears only the current pad’s notes from the sequence.; Clear a sequence
Drag SLOT up to the trash: Clears that sequence.; Clear a sequence

Play melodies and rhythms

Tap KEYBOARD, then PAD: Plays that pad in keyboard mode.; Play a pad like an instrument
VEL: Turns on velocity mode for the keys.In KEYBOARD mode; Play on a piano keyboard
ARP: Opens the arpeggiator settings.With the arpeggiator on; Arpeggiate the notes you hold
Slide on BEND: Bends the pitch of the notes you’re holding.In keyboard mode; Bend notes with the BEND strip

Edit your notes

Double-tap SLOT: Opens the note grid for that sequence.; Edit notes on the grid
Tap a free area of the grid: Places a note.In the grid editor; Edit notes on the grid
Tap a note: Removes the note.In the grid editor; Edit notes on the grid
Drag either end of a note: Changes the note’s length.In the grid editor; Edit notes on the grid
Pinch the grid: Zooms the visible area in or out.In the grid editor; Edit notes on the grid
Drag along the bar numbers: Loops playback over that area.In the grid editor; Edit notes on the grid
Tap a free area of the grid, then drag: Draws a selection around notes.In the grid editor; Change several notes at once
Slide up or down on a note: Changes its velocity. This works on a selection too.With VEL on; Choose a tool in the grid
Slide up or down on a note: Changes its chance of playing. This works on a selection too.With DICE on; Choose a tool in the grid
AUTOMATION: Shows the automation lane.In the grid editor; Record and edit automation

Perform

Hold an effect bar and slide: Applies that effect until you let go.; How the live effects respond
HOLD: Makes effects stay on after you let go.On the Perform screen; How the live effects respond
Tap the recording timer: Starts the recording or, once it’s running, finishes it.With RECORD SONG armed; Record your performance

Mix

Tap BUS: Chooses which bus the pad goes to.In the sample editor’s MIX tab; Send pads to the buses
Drag the red level bar: Sets the channel’s volume.In the mixer; Set levels, names, mute and solo
Tap BUS A–BUS D: Changes that channel’s name.In the mixer; Set levels, names, mute and solo
Tap M: Mutes the channel.In the mixer; Set levels, names, mute and solo
Tap S: Solos the channel.In the mixer; Set levels, names, mute and solo
Tap a free slot: Opens the effect chooser.In the mixer; Add and arrange effects on a channel
Drag an added effect: Moves it to a new place in the chain.In the mixer; Add and arrange effects on a channel
Tap the hamburger menu: Shows DELETE, REPLACE and INFO.With an effect open; Add and arrange effects on a channel
Tap the power button: Bypasses the effect without removing it.With an effect open; Add and arrange effects on a channel

Mixer effects, one by one

Hold VINYL: Pauses the audio until you let go.In WARBLE; Add grit, wobble and voices

Songs and export

Tap the play icon: Previews a song before you load it.In the song list; Start, find and manage songs
Pull down the LOAD list: Reveals the search field.; Start, find and manage songs
Swipe a song left in LOAD: Shows SHARE and DELETE.; Start, find and manage songs
Tap the cog: Opens the options for the current song.In the menu; Slim down a song and set its options
Drag a .mid file onto SLOT: Writes the file’s notes into a sequence.; Bring in MIDI, songs, packs and maps

Settings

Hold OK: Switches debug logging on or off, after five seconds.In the settings window; Extra controls, downloads and backups

MIDI, sync, plugins and desktop

1 2 3 4: Plays pads 1–4 of the current bank.On a computer keyboard; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
Q W E R: Plays pads 5–8 of the current bank.On a computer keyboard; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
A S D F: Plays pads 9–12 of the current bank.On a computer keyboard; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
Z X C V: Plays pads 13–16 of the current bank.On a computer keyboard; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
Y U I O: Switches to sequence slots 1–4.On a computer keyboard; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
H J K L: Switches to sequence slots 5–8.On a computer keyboard; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
SPACE: Starts and stops playback.On a computer keyboard; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
0: Switches recording on or off.On a computer keyboard; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
M: Switches the metronome on or off.On a computer keyboard; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
/: Switches keyboard mode on or off.On a computer keyboard; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
Hold SHIFT: Stands in for EDIT, so you can select several pads.On a computer keyboard; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
Hold N: Stands in for SOLO.On a computer keyboard; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
Hold B: Stands in for MUTE.On a computer keyboard; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
[: Goes to the previous sample bank.On a computer keyboard; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
]: Goes to the next sample bank.On a computer keyboard; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
{: Goes to the previous sequence bank.On a computer keyboard; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
}: Goes to the next sequence bank.On a computer keyboard; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
=: Adds a bar to the sequence.On a computer keyboard; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
-: Removes a bar from the sequence.On a computer keyboard; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
_: Doubles the sequence, like DOUBLE UP.On a computer keyboard; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
TAB: Goes to the next screen.On a computer keyboard; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
SHIFT + TAB: Goes to the previous screen.On a computer keyboard; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
LEFT: Goes to the previous page of the pad grid.On a computer keyboard; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
RIGHT: Goes to the next page of the pad grid.On a computer keyboard; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
DOWN: Opens the SAMPLES browser.On a computer keyboard; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
DEL: Deletes the selection.On a computer keyboard; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
A S D F G H J K L ; ': Plays the white keys, from C upwards.On a computer keyboard, in keyboard mode; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
W E T Y U O P: Plays the black keys.On a computer keyboard, in keyboard mode; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
Z: Shifts down an octave.On a computer keyboard, in keyboard mode; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
X: Shifts up an octave.On a computer keyboard, in keyboard mode; Play Koala from a computer keyboard
CMD + N: Starts a new song.On macOS; Use the menu bar, shortcuts and mouse
CMD + J: Imports an audio file.On macOS; Use the menu bar, shortcuts and mouse
CMD + S: Saves the song.On macOS; Use the menu bar, shortcuts and mouse
SHIFT + CMD + R: Exports the selected samples.On macOS; Use the menu bar, shortcuts and mouse
SHIFT + CMD + E: Exports the Koala song.On macOS; Use the menu bar, shortcuts and mouse
CMD + P: Takes a screenshot.On macOS; Use the menu bar, shortcuts and mouse
CMD + L: Labels the current pad.On macOS; Use the menu bar, shortcuts and mouse
CMD + 9: Flips the window between landscape and portrait.On macOS; Use the menu bar, shortcuts and mouse
CMD + ,: Opens the settings.On macOS; Use the menu bar, shortcuts and mouse
CMD + Q: Quits Koala.On macOS; Use the menu bar, shortcuts and mouse
Hold SHIFT and scroll: Moves left and right.In the piano roll, on desktop; Use the menu bar, shortcuts and mouse
Hold ALT and scroll: Zooms in time.In the piano roll, on desktop; Use the menu bar, shortcuts and mouse
Hold ALT + SHIFT and scroll: Zooms vertically.In the piano roll, on desktop; Use the menu bar, shortcuts and mouse
CMD + click a knob: Lets you type an exact value.On macOS; Use the menu bar, shortcuts and mouse
Drag an audio file onto PAD: Loads it onto the pad, whether it comes from the Finder, Explorer or, as a clip, your DAW.On desktop; Drag files in and out, and connect your gear
Drag a .mid file onto SLOT: Imports the MIDI into that sequence slot.On desktop; Drag files in and out, and connect your gear
Drag a .koala file into Koala: Imports the song.On desktop; Drag files in and out, and connect your gear
Drag a .kpk file into Koala: Installs the sample pack.On desktop; Drag files in and out, and connect your gear
Drag PAD out of Koala: Bounces the pad to a WAV file on your desktop or in your DAW, edits and all.On macOS; Drag files in and out, and connect your gear