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Settings

MIDI Controllers

Connect a MIDI controller and assign its knobs, faders, and pads to actions in SAND. Each entry pairs an input device (and optional output) with a mapping you edit command by command.

  • Tap + (top right) to add a controller and configure its mapping.
  • Swipe a row left to delete a controller.
  • Use the import button next to + to load a saved .sandmap mapping file.
  • Open a controller, then tap the export button (top right) to save or share its mapping as a .sandmap file.
  • When you are signed into iCloud, your controllers and mappings sync automatically across devices. Without iCloud, they are stored on the device only.

Mapping categories

Tap a command in the mapping editor, then move the hardware control you want to assign. Commands are grouped as follows.

Transport

  • Play (toggle), Stop, Record.

Mixer

  • Volume, pan, arm, mute, and solo — for tracks 1–8, or for the selected track only.

Track

  • Select previous or next track, or jump to track 1–8.
  • Select previous or next effect, or jump to effect 1–8.
  • Toggle clips 1–8 on the selected track.
  • Add instrument track, audio track, or effect.

Parameters

  • Change Param 1 through Change Param 8 — adjust parameters on the focused track or plugin (eight assignable slots).

Sections

  • Add a section; launch Play Section 1 through 8 in Song mode.

Editing

  • Shift 1–4 — map up to four buttons as shift modifiers. Hold one or more while triggering another control to assign (or trigger) a different command on the same physical control, regardless of which screen is open.

The commands below behave like keyboard shortcuts — their effect depends on which screen is open:

  • Enter
    • Track selected — open the plugin rack
    • Clip focused — open or select the clip
    • MIDI clip editor — enable the step editor
    • Parameters view — add or pick a parameter
    • Lists — confirm the focused item
  • Escape
    • Step editor open — leave the step editor
    • Clip editor — close the clip editor
    • Plugin or parameter screens — go back
  • Up / Down
    • MIDI Editor: move selected notes — Move through items in plugin, parameter, and preset lists
  • Left / Right
    • MIDI Editor: move selected notes
    • Step editor — move by beat
    • Plugin focused — switch tabs (UI, parameters, presets)
  • Undo, Redo, Delete — Editing actions in the current view, when available.

Bluetooth

Connect to MIDI Bluetooth devices. Must be done here before they can be used as inputs or controllers.

Export Project

  • Export MIDI: export clips as MIDI files, one per clip.
  • Export Audio: export clips as audio files (.wav), one per clip.
  • Ableton Live Set Export: export the whole project as a Live Set, which can be opened in Ableton Live on Mac or Windows. Each SAND track will be included twice: once with MIDI data, once with rendered audio.

App Preferences

Show or hide master track

Audio

  • Preferred sample rate — iOS will decide the actual sample rate based on the audio interface and other apps.
  • Buffer size
  • Output device — use this to select a Bluetooth audio device.
  • Keep active in background:
    • Off: SAND will stop audio and MIDI processing when going into the background if transport is stopped.
    • On: SAND will not stop audio and MIDI processing in the background. This means SAND will continue using CPU and battery when not actively in use. Remember to quit the app when not needed.

Interface

  • Auto arm track on selection — when on, selecting a track will also arm it.
  • Project name — choose how names are assigned when creating a project:
    • Random: two random words
    • Template: use the specified template to name a project (an incremental number is appended if the name already exists)
    • Edit on project creation: edit the chosen name when creating a project.

On-Screen Keyboard

Settings for adjusting the on-screen keyboard, applied globally.

App Icon

Pick your favorite color.