DonutStudio documentation
User guide
Read source-reviewed instructions for DonutStudio projects, notes, audio, routing, video and extensions. This draft has not verified complete native workflows. Check each chapter for its limits and prerequisites.
- 1. About this guide
Edition status, chapter navigation and permanent section links.
- 2. Website reference
Product pages, release information and account links.
- 3. Getting started
Choose standalone or hosted use, check devices, open a project and save a first version.
- 4. Workspace
Navigate the timeline, device chain and video tools without losing track of the active selection.
- 5. Projects
Save library versions, exchange project and MIDI files, and restore recovery snapshots.
- 6. Tracks and arrangement
Arrange clips, edit loop regions, comp ranges and route grouped tracks.
- 7. Note editing
Create notes, shape their timing and expression, and choose the right drawing tool.
- 8. Harmony and tuning
Use exact pitch relationships, chord palettes and tuning output without confusing written pitch with playback tuning.
- 9. Transforms
Choose immediate edits or previewed dialogs, then confirm the affected note or clip selection.
- 10. Recording
Choose an input, arm tracks, and capture MIDI or audio with the Record Deck.
- 11. Audio clips and per-note samples
Import audio, place clips in the arranger, and understand the separate timing of per-note samples.
- 12. Instruments
Select built-in synths, sample libraries, hosted instruments, and ready-made Instrument Grids.
- 13. Vocals and pitch editing
Work with sampled vocal notes or generate singing with the beta DiffSinger and UTAU engines.
- 14. Effects and mixing
Build an ordered effect chain, use the built-in Donut collection, and route track or sidechain audio.
- 15. Automation
Choose the target before drawing parameter curves, MIDI CC, note expression or video keyframes.
- 16. Plugin hosting
Scan VST3 plugins, load instruments or effects, and choose keyboard routing for plugin editors.
- 17. Patch Bay
Read the live project route, connect typed ports, reveal parameter inputs and work with modulation, feedback and reusable patches.
- 18. Instrument & Effect Grids
Load playable factory patches, open the device editor, build typed instrument or effect graphs and save reusable modules.
- 19. Graph node reference
Find graph nodes by name and family, with source-reviewed descriptions and connection types.
- 20. Video editing
Import and relink media, edit the timeline and layers, animate parameters, sync clips to beats, record video and choose an export.
- 21. Visual graphs and 3D
Edit a layer graph, use recipes and linked modules, import 3D scenes, build geometry and materials, and understand advanced rendering limits.
- 22. Audio analysis and stem separation
Transcribe audio, detect clip beats, or separate an existing recording into new audio stems.
- 23. Export
Render audio in the standalone app, check format prerequisites, and understand track-stem limits.
- 24. Controllers and sync
Edit controller lanes, approve controller packages, and choose a synchronization mode.
- 25. Scripting and API
Run local Lua transforms and review external-client access through the app.
- 26. Add-ons
Choose visible tools, install required runtimes and understand Free and Pro depth.
- 27. Settings and shortcuts
Find the relevant Settings tab and use the binding shown by your running editor.
- 28. Keyboard shortcut reference
Find the registered shortcut actions and their factory defaults by category.
- 29. Tutorials
Use guided practice in your current project and choose a lesson that matches the enabled tools.
- 30. Troubleshooting
Check the active runtime, target selection, project state and dependency status before retrying.
- 31. Licensing and activation
Check Free or Pro in the app, use supported activation controls and find the account license view.