Settings

Open the settings

1. 1Tap MENU.
2. 2Tap SETTINGS.
3. 3Find the group you’re after: GENERAL, AUDIO, MIDI or EXTRAS.
4. 4Not sure what an option does? Tap the small question mark beside its title for a short explanation. Most settings have one.
5. 5Tap OK to close the window.

What’s in each group

Parameters

One-shot enabled by default

With this on, a sample carries on to its end once it’s triggered, without you setting it up on each pad. See Make a pad play through, play while held or play backwards.

Hold to record

On, a pad records for as long as your finger stays on it. Off, one tap starts the recording and a second tap ends it. See Record from the mic.

Count in

How much metronome you hear before a sequence recording begins.Range NONE, 1 BAR, 2 BARS

Pitch knob snap to semitone

On, PITCH moves in whole semitones. Off, it moves in cents, for fine tuning.

Use waveform handles

On, you have to hit the start or end marker itself to trim, which frees a single finger to pan around the waveform. Off, you can touch anywhere and the closest marker moves.

Enable auv3 state savingiOS AUv3 only

Stores your Koala session inside the host’s project file, ready for when you next open that project. It’s the recommended choice. See Get more from Koala as a plugin.

Import Audio

Chooses the file picker you get from IMPORT AUDIO, or from tapping a pad while the input source is IMPORT FILE. KOALA is the app’s own browser and SYSTEM is your device’s picker. AUDIOSHARE is an iOS choice that needs the AudioShare app installed. See Import audio files.Range KOALA, SYSTEM, AUDIOSHARE

Warn before delete samples and sequences

Asks you to confirm before a sample is deleted or a sequence is cleared. See Delete samples from pads and Clear a sequence.

Koala folderAndroid

Opens Koala’s own folder in the Files app, handy for backing up your songs, samples and settings. Other apps’ file pickers call the same folder “Koala”.

Inputs, outputs and drivers

Input source

Chooses the input channels Koala records from. If you have a USB audio interface, this picks from the interface’s inputs. See Record from an audio interface.Range L, L + R, R

Input / OutputDesktop

Picks the device Koala records from and the one it plays through. See Drag files in and out, and connect your gear.

Audio driverWindows

Picks from the audio APIs your computer offers, ASIO and WASAPI among them.

Sample rateWindows

Sets the rate Koala runs at.

Stereo inputAndroid

For phones with a mono mic that will only record in stereo. Try it if your takes come out silent or distorted.

Use OpenSL (older devices)Android

Moves Koala off AAudio, the modern API, and onto OpenSL. Reach for it when an older or budget phone has glitchy sound, and bear in mind that MIDI sync stops working.

I/O

Shows the sample rate, the channel count and the buffer size.

Playback and sync

Metronome volume

A slider that sets how loud the metronome sounds.

Background audioiOS

Keeps Koala sounding after you switch to another app. Android doesn’t have this option.

Host clock syncAUv3 only

On, Koala takes its timing from your DAW or host. Off, Koala keeps its own time and may sound out of step with the host. See Get more from Koala as a plugin.

Pocket Operator sync out

Sends a sync signal from your headphone output. It’s part of the Samurai add-on. See Sync a Pocket Operator.

After you record

Auto trim on record

With this on, a new sample’s selection begins where the audible sound begins.

Auto normalize recordings

With this on, Koala raises the level of quiet recordings for you.

Key combinations

Hold OK

Switches debug logging on or off, after five seconds.In the settings window

What you see on screen

Show EQSamurai

Shows or hides the EQ in the sample editor’s MIX tab. See Give a pad its own EQ.

Show Mute/Solo

Shows or hides MUTE and SOLO on the SAMPLE and SEQUENCE screens. See Mute and solo pads while a sequence plays.

Show status bariOS

Puts the system’s status bar, with the time and battery, along the top of the screen.

Show file names on pads

Uses file names as pad labels automatically.

Show Debug Info

Lays the start, end, length and samples per pixel over the sample’s waveform editor.

Hide Apple Audio UnitsiOS, macOS

Leaves Apple’s built-in Audio Units out of the plugin browser. See Use third-party plugins as effects and Load plugin instruments onto pads.

Advanced Quantization Options

The TEMPO menu gains a quantise menu, holding the division and LIVE QUANTIZE. See Tighten the timing and add swing.

Your copy of Koala

Koala Version

Shows your version number and which in-app purchases are active. Tap the number for the precise build.

GET SAMURAI / Restore purchasesiOS, Android

Buys the add-ons, or brings back what you already own when you move to a new device. See Samurai, Mixer and sample packs.

Downloads you can remove

Stem splitter files

UNINSTALL clears the neural networks that SPLIT STEMS downloaded. Koala fetches them again the next time they’re needed.

Sample Packs

Shows the space your downloaded packs take up. UNINSTALL clears them, and you can download them again later without paying twice. See Sample packs and kits.

Songs, files and moving devices

Save as template

Makes the current song the starting point for NEW. REMOVE TEMPLATE returns you to the standard empty song. See Start every song from your own template.

Export bit depth

Sets exported WAV files to 16 or 24 bit. See Choose the format of an export.Range 16 bit, 24 bit

MIDI Map

IMPORT and EXPORT move your MIDI mapping in and out of Koala as a .json file. See Map controls with MIDI learn.

QWERTY Map

EDIT changes the computer keyboard shortcuts, and IMPORT and EXPORT move them between devices. See Play Koala from a computer keyboard.

Export Settings

Writes all of Koala’s settings to a file, either as a backup or to copy to another device.

Song folderDesktop

Tells you where your songs and samples sit on disk. See Install and update Koala on a computer.

Background

Background

CHOOSE picks an image to put behind Koala. See Give Koala a background image and effect.

Background Effect

Appears once you’ve picked an image, and sets how that image moves. See Give Koala a background image and effect.

Set an image and an effect

1. 1Open the settings and find the EXTRAS group.
2. 2Beside Background, tap CHOOSE. A photo preview window opens.
3. 3Pick any image from your gallery.
4. 4Find Background Effect, which has now joined the menu.
5. 5Choose one of the effects below, or NONE to leave the picture still.

Use a different image for one song

1. 1Tap MENU.
2. 2Tap the cog beside the song’s name to open the song options.
3. 3Tap SET SONG BG and choose an image. It applies to this song only.