Quick Start

Use this page when you want the shortest reliable path from an empty browser session to a saved project.

Open the App

Open Miao in desktop Chrome. New sessions start as an empty editable draft so you can add chords, create MIDI, choose an instrument, record audio, or drop files immediately. The draft is not a saved project until you create or unlock one.

The empty project prompt starts with music actions instead of file-management choices.

Use Manual in the Project menu to open this documentation.

The top transport has Play, Stop, Record, a time readout, input/output meters, the Audio menu, and the Project menu.

Start in the Project menu when you need to create an editable project, unlock an existing project, save, export, or open the manual.

Create a Project

1. Open Project in the top-right header, or click Create editable copy on the demo card.
2. Enter a New title.
3. Enter a password with at least 8 characters.
4. Click Create.

Miao creates a project with a unique ID and opens it at /p/{projectId}. Keep the project ID or project link. There is no account recovery in the current app.

Save Work

Use one of these:

• Press Cmd+S.
• Open Project and click Save.
• Open the command palette with Cmd+K, search Save project, and run it.

The Project menu shows snapshot status. Saving writes the project document to the server and adds a history snapshot.

Play the Project

Click Play or press Space. The playhead moves across the ruler and timeline. Click Stop or press Space again to stop playback.

The time readout shows minutes/seconds by default. Right-click the timeline ruler and choose Show bars when you want the ruler and secondary transport readout in bars/beats.

Add a Built-In Instrument

1. Select a MIDI track and click its instrument shortcut, or click Track in the right inspector and then MIDI Sound.
2. Use search or the family filter to find a sound.
3. Click the small preview icon to audition a sound without changing the project.
4. Click the instrument name to load it into the sampler.

Miao includes keys, basses, guitars, plucks, strings, orchestral sounds, brass, woodwinds, mallets, world instruments, synths, voices, drums, percussion, and FX.

Sketch Chords

Fastest path: choose an arrangement style, then click Build arrangement in the empty timeline. Miao creates a pop chord progression, adds editable layered MIDI regions, and opens the piano roll.

1. Click Add chords in the empty timeline prompt, use the + button in the Chords header, or click empty space in the chord lane below the ruler.
2. Select a chord block.
3. In Notes, set the project Root, Scale, and optional Snap notes.
4. Use the progression presets for common patterns, or change the selected chord Root, Type, Ext, Inv, Start, or Beats.
5. Click Preview to hear the selected chord.
6. Click To MIDI, Arp, or Bass to create a MIDI region from the chord.

Use the diatonic chord palette in the same inspector to add chords from the current key/scale. Use Pop, Classic, Jazz turn, Rock, Minor pop, or Blues for quick progression sketches.

Use Build arrangement after editing the chord lane when you want Miao to create layered Song, Dance, Ambient, or Cinematic MIDI tracks from the full progression.

The Notes inspector shows the current key, diatonic chords, and progression presets.

Create a MIDI Region

1. Click Piano Roll in the bottom bar.
2. Click Create MIDI Region in the MIDI toolbar, or right-click the timeline and choose Create MIDI region here.
3. Select the draw tool.
4. Click in the piano roll grid to add notes.
5. Drag notes to move them, drag their right handle to trim them, and edit velocity in the velocity lane.

MIDI regions are placed on MIDI tracks. If there is no MIDI track, add one first from the command palette, context menu, or track add buttons. In the unsaved demo, MIDI creation shows a Create editable copy prompt because demo edits need a saved project.

Record Audio

1. Select or create an audio track.
2. Arm the track with the record-arm icon on the track header or mixer strip.
3. Open Audio and choose metronome/count-in settings if needed.
4. Click the Record button.
5. Miao shows the recording strip, highlights the target lane, starts playback, moves the playhead, and draws the recorded region while recording.
6. Click Record again to stop.

The recorded take becomes an audio region. If the recording replaces an existing take on a region, the Notes inspector shows take choices.

Import Audio

1. Click Library in the right inspector.
2. Click Import audio.
3. Choose an audio file.
4. Click Place to put it at the playhead, or Use as sample to load it into the sampler.

Imported audio is saved with the project when the project is unlocked.

Add Effects

For track effects:

1. Select an audio or MIDI track.
2. Click Track in the right inspector.
3. Click Track Mix.
4. Click Add Track Effect and choose a Track Effect.
5. Use a preset chip such as Warm, Bright, or Glue for a fast starting point, or click the small preview button beside a preset to audition it.

Add track effects from Track, Track Mix, Add Track Effect after selecting the target audio or MIDI track.

For master effects:

1. Click Track.
2. Click Master FX.
3. Adjust the output chain modules, apply presets, or preview presets before committing.

To automate a master effect parameter, click the small A beside that parameter. Miao opens the automation row under the Master track.

Collaborate

Share the project link and password with another user. When both users unlock the same project, Miao connects the project room and shows collaborator presence. Edits sync through the shared project document, and remote activity may temporarily lock edited items to avoid conflicting changes.

Export

1. Save the project.
2. Open Project.
3. Click Export.
4. When export status is ready, click Download ZIP.

The ZIP contains the rendered mix and project data/audio files needed for the export.