::|CONTENTS
- Capabilities
- Quick set up
- Expert tricks
- Tutorial Docs
- Links for further development
- See also
KiraStudio is a lightweight, cross-platform music studio built for clarity, automation, and sound creation. Compose in a fully featured piano roll, build custom instruments by assembling "generators", and connect everything through flexible effect chains.
Related to the FamiStudio format, developed by the same user. And a bit related to Furnace and Deflemask as being the multichip tool. The big difference is that Kira has more instrument support (Gameboy, OPL, SF2, Samples, etc.) and uses effects.
As of now, the only export formats for this tool are OGG, WAV, and MIDI. If you want to convert to MP3, grab your own converter, such as Audacity.
As of KiraStudio is a multichip instrument tool, do not expect VGM or NSF export. Go back to its sister project for that.
Capabilities
Core Features
Make music in multiplatform, such as Windows/MacOS and Android/iOS phone and tablet/iPad layout.
Add new channels and tracks, create and reuse patterns in the sequencer
Pop open the mixer view to quickly adjust volume, balance and connect effect chains
Use the fully-polyphonic piano roll to edit notes and their associated parameters (velocity, pan, etc)
Preview instruments in real-time using the on-screen piano, QWERTY input or a connected MIDI controller
Edit curves using various editors for ADSR envelopes, custom curves (LFO) and sequences
Control dynamics of various curves by choosing how their rate and scale are affected by velocity & aftertouch
Customize instruments by assembling sound "generators" in creative ways to create unique sounds
Route channels through effect chains
Edit custom wave tables or use one of the built-in presets in the WaveTable Editor
Load and lightly edit samples, set loop and stitch points in the Sample Editor
Instruments
These instruments can be customized by their pitch, bandwidth, and blend with other generators. You can also adjust their envelope in the <instruments> -> General. (Uses classic ASDR envelope, but this can be adjusted further.)
Now these next 7 following generic instruments are not related to any emulators.
Oscillators
Saw
Square
Triangle
Sine
Supersaw: Alike classic ol' saw but it's detuned in cents. The waveform can be customized to Sine, Square, and Triangle.
Noise: Supports white, pink, brown, and LSFR.
WaveTable
Wavetable with support for cycling through multiple-waveforms.
PCM Sampler
Load samples, edit loop/stitch points, and assign them to piano keys.
Frequency Modulation (FM) synthesis
2/3/4 operators, highly customizable FM synth
8-Bit Calculator
An instrument that interprets the bytebeat equations.
SoundFont
Loads SF2 or SF3 (OGG compressed) and uses any preset.
The default Soundfount uses GeneralUser GS.
Yamaha emulation
YM2413/OPLL: The most minimalist Yamaha instrument. Only has 1 algorithm operator setting and uses the default instrument.
YM2612/OPN2: Now with 4 operators and 7 other algorithms. And added SSG envelope support.
YM3812/OPL2: Same as OPLL, but the waves in each operator can be customized. (Sine, Half Sine, Absolute Sine, and Quarter Sine Waves)
YMF262/OPL3: Has 3 algorithm operator. Waves can be adjusted customly, with Square and Saw added.
YM2149: The gool ol' classic noise, pulse and noise/pulse soundchip. Used in AYM2149.
YM2610: This is the... Yamaha's Sample chip. Make sure to change the Target Format to ADPCM-A or ADPCM-B, or it won't appear in the Sample Map.
Famicom/NES emulation
Adding the basic 2A03 channels (pulse, triangle, noise, and DPCM) and their expansions (VRC6, VRC7, Famicom Disk System, Sunsoft 5B, and Namco-163)
GameBoy emulation
Adding the basic Gameboy channels, such as pulse, wave, and noise.
Effects
The effects can be dragged in order.
Volume and Pan adjustments
Volume can be adjusted from its percentage or decibels.
Pan can be adjusted from -100% (Left) to 100% (Right).
Or this setting is called Balance in General Settings.
Filter
Low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, and notch filters
Three-band equalizer
Equalize the Bass, Mid, and Treble frequency and resonance.
Reverb
Freeverb
The "original" and simplest Kira reverb effect.
CloudSeed
An algorithmic reverb plugin. Designed for emulating huge, endless spaces, and modulated echoes.
Chorus
A three phase stereo-chorus effect that thickens and widens the sound, adding subtle subtle movement, depth, and lush spatial feature.
Stereo delay
A flexible delay effect featuring mono, cross, and ping-pong modes, with an optional low-pass filter to smooth repeated echoes for a polished, spacious sound.
Bit crusher
Bit crusher gives your channel a crunchy, gritty texture effect. Sample rate can be adjusted from 1-16000, from lowest to highest quality.
Compressor
A versatile compressor that reduces dynamic range by attenuating signals above a thresold.
Distortion
A simple distortion effect with adjustable drive and shaping modes.
Automation
Automate almost any numeric parameter with curves, automation track, or as a note parameter
Choose from up to 3 types of curves: ADSR envelope, custom curve/LFO, or sequence
Automation track editor with interpolated or stepped curves
Quick set up
Download here:
Itch.io
Unfortunately, Kira is free for Windows. While it's all paid for on other platforms. (sad)
Composing
If you have ever used any other piano roll program, you should be able to use this program. It should be learnable if you have used their other project, FamiStudio. Unlike in FamiStudio, which only limits 1 polyphone per channel.
Expert tricks
Work out the automation effect
Right-click the effect -> Control <Parameter> with Automation Track. Works too with custom curve and sequence.
Changing BPM:
Click on Song -> Master. Choose a range between 20 and 420.
You can also control this BPM automation by right-clicking it.
I cannot reorder the instruments!
Instrument channels cannot be reordered further; they are sorted by their addition.
Where's my samples?!!?!
Uhh... you need to change the Target Format. Depending on which instrument sample channel. They are different from each other fr.
Tutorial Docs
The documentation, which you can view through Help in the top right of the programme.
https://kirastudio.org/doc/index.html
Links for further development
Github page
https://github.com/BleuBleu/KiraStudioPublic
Also, the Discord server can be viewed on the documentation page, for localization, support, bugs, and whatnots.
See also
referenced from:
-
FamiStudio
-
FamiStudio (format)
further learning about instruments:
-
bytebeat (format)
-
Gameboy (format)
-
midi (format)
-
nsfplus (format)
-
OPL2 (format)
-
OPL3 (format)
