Chapter 3
Getting started
Download availability #
DonutStudio downloads are currently unavailable. The Windows, macOS, Linux and AUR builds have been withdrawn while dependencies are migrated. Check the download page and roadmap for updates. These chapters describe the application for readers who already have an installed copy.
Standalone or plug-in #
The standalone app owns its project library, audio devices and transport. It also provides audio rendering, the Video Editor, video export and separate windows. Use standalone when you want DonutStudio to manage the complete session.
When DonutStudio runs as a plug-in, the host DAW owns the outer project, audio devices and transport. The plug-in keeps Import, Export, Store and Settings controls in its sidebar. Standalone project-library commands, audio rendering, Video Editor and detached windows are not offered in that runtime. Save the host project to preserve the plug-in instance.
Choose your setup #
After the welcome tour, the add-on picker lets you choose which optional tools appear. Available tools have selection controls. An item that fails the app availability check shows Explore, which applies your staged choices and opens Store > Add-ons when the app supports Store. Continue also applies your staged choices.
Read the terms through Read terms and make your own acceptance choice. The separate setup-analytics checkbox controls sharing this initial selection. It does not monitor later add-on changes. Core tools such as arrangement, expression editing, media browsing and Lua scripting remain available without an add-on toggle.
Check audio and MIDI #
In standalone, open Settings > Audio and choose the audio input and output in Audio Devices. The selector also exposes the device sample rate and buffer controls. Use Settings > MIDI for the standalone MIDI-device selector.
In a hosted instance, choose the audio device and MIDI routing in the host DAW. Settings > Audio explains that audio-device settings are available only in standalone. A plug-in window is not a separate hardware-device setup.
Open and save a first project #
In standalone, use the application window commands to open the project manager or choose New Project. New Project starts a blank project while keeping user settings. The project manager includes an Examples category; double-click an example to open it.
Use Save As New to name your own project and choose a category. Choose + New Category... to create a category, then Create. An example or a project opened outside the library needs this step before ordinary Save can update a library version.
Switch between Piano Roll and Arranger with the timeline-gutter view button. Choose a track before editing its notes or devices. Start with a short phrase, play it, then save a version before making larger edits.
Status of these instructions #
This is a source-reviewed draft. Native application steps in these chapters have not yet been verified as a complete workflow on Windows, macOS and Linux. Experimental and beta tools need particular care; save a separate project version before trying them. A listed control does not establish that its complete runtime workflow has passed testing.