Preferences

Preferences

The Renoise Preferences panel lets you set various general options for the program, such as soundcard settings, MIDI device settings, how files are loaded/saved etc. These settings need to be set only once and will be applied to all songs and sounds you create with Renoise.

To open the Preferences panel, choose "Edit -> Preferences..." from the main menu (Windows + Linux). On the Mac, choose "Renoise -> Preferences...".

When setting up Renoise for the first time, you should only need to tweak the Audio and MIDI pages. The rest of the default options should be sufficient until you are more familiar with Renoise. The Setting Up Audio Devices and Setting Up MIDI Devices sections of the manual can help you with the initial setup.

Audio

Device Settings (Windows)

• Device Type: Determines the sound-driver architecture that Renoise should use. On windows you will have the choice between DirectSound and ASIO. ASIO is highly recommended, when available, because it results into better timing with MIDI instruments and lower latencies in general. DirectSound should only be used as fallback.
• In Device: (DirectSound only) In case you've got multiple sound cards installed, you will be able to select the one you want to use with Renoise here. Choose "Primary Device" to use the systems default.
• Out Device: Just like the In Device: In case you've got multiple sound cards installed, you will be able to select the one you want to use here. Again choose "Primary Device" to use the systems default.
• Sample Rate: Select the sample rate for playback. All internal audio processing in Renoise will be done at this rate. So the higher the Sample Rate is, the more 'detailed' the results will be, but also the more CPU will be used.
• Latency: (DirectSound only) Setup the buffer size, overall latency. Higher numbers will reduce the possibility of crackles on high CPU usage, but also cause more latency (the time it takes till the sound from Renoise reaches the real audio output of your audio device).
• Use hardware buffers: (DirectSound only) This option may speed up playback processing a bit, but only some soundcards this may also up the recording. Experiment with using the sample recorder with this option first. If you experience strange results, then try to disable this function.
• Dither: Apply Dithering to the audio stream, when the soundcard uses a bit depth of 8 or 16 bit. 24 and 32bit is never dithered.
• Limit to stereo in/out: (ASIO only) When you have a multi IO soundcard, you can this way disable all input and outputs except the main ones. This may lead to better performance when you don't need the other channels.
• Control panel: (ASIO only) Opens the ASIO drivers control panel, where you can configure your soundcard in detail.
• Reinitialize: Shut down and reopen all connections to the soundcard/driver. Might be useful for troubleshooting.

Device Settings (OSX)

• In Device: In case you've got multiple sound cards installed, you will be able to select the one you want to use here.
• Out Device: Just like the In Device: In case you've got multiple sound cards installed, you will be able to select the one you want to use here.
• Sample Rate: Select the sample rate for playback. All internal audio processing in Renoise will be done at this rate. So the higher the Sample Rate is, the more 'detailed' the results will be, but also the more CPU will be used.
• Latency: (DirectSound only) Setup the buffer size, overall latency. Higher numbers will reduce the possibility of crackles on high CPU usage but also cause more latency (the time it takes till the sound from Renoise reaches the real audio output of your audio device).
• Dither: Apply Dithering to the audio stream, when the soundcard uses a bit depth of 8 or 16 bit. 24 and 32bit is never dithered.
• Reinitialize: Shut down and reopen all connections to the soundcard/driver. Might be useful for troubleshooting.

Device Settings (Linux)

Setting up Linux for fast and reliable audio usage can unfortunately be quite complex, depending on the distribution you are using. For general questions and FAQs regarding sound output on Linux, have a look at the Linux FAQ as a starting point please.

• Device Type: Determines the sound-driver architecture that Renoise should use. On Linux you will have the choice between ALSA and Jack. ALSA will be available on all setups. Jack is more advanced, but also a bit harder to set up, and may be installed manually. Jack is highly recommended though, because it allows you to use several Jack based audio applications at once, and also gives you the ability to route audio between programs.
• In Device: ALSA: In case you've got multiple sound cards installed, you will be able to select the recording device you want to use for Renoise. JACK: Select the number of output pairs you would like to pass over to Jack.
• In Device: Just like 'In Device' this selects a audio device or driver for ALSA, the number of stereo channels for Jacks, but for the sound output.
• Sample Rate: (ALSA only) Select the sample rate for playback. All internal audio processing in Renoise will be done at this rate. So the higher the Sample Rate is, the more 'detailed' the results will be, but also the more CPU will be used.
• Buffer Size: (ALSA only) The base buffer size that should be used for audio processing in Renoise. The higher the buffer size, the higher the latency will be. Higher latencies will reduce the possibility of crackles on high CPU usage, but also cause more latency (the time it takes till the sound from Renoise reaches the real audio output of your soundcard).
• Periods/Buffer: (ALSA only) How many 'Buffer Sizes's should be used. The final latency for ALSA playback is 'Periods/Buffer' * 'Buffer Size'. Some drivers need 3 buffers to work reliably. Others only 2. In case you get crackling output in Renoise, try if changing this gives you better results. Also try if disabling the 'In Device' results into better audio performance.
• Use realtime priority: (ALSA only) On most "out of the box" Linux systems, applications are not allowed to do realtime performance critical tasks. Those are needed for real time audio processing though, so they should be enabled when possible. Please see the Linux FAQ -> PAM for more info about this topic. If you can not configure your system to allow such real time tasks, then you can avoid that Renoise tries to do so with this option.
• Enable Transport Support: (JACK only) Pass over time and transport information to other applications that are running with Jack and also react on transport and timing information from other applications. This is only useful to sync multiple running audio applications in one big session. If you only run Renoise, this option should be disabled.
• Dither: Apply Dithering to the audio stream, when the soundcard uses a bit depth of 8 or 16 bit. 24 and 32bit is never dithered.
• Reinitialize: Shut down and reopen all connections to the soundcard/driver. Might be useful for troubleshooting.

Multi CPU/Core support

• Multi CPU/Core support: If you have a processor with multiple CPUs or cores, you can adjust here how many CPUs or cores should be used by Renoise for realtime Audio processing. By default all cores are used, which is also highly recommended.

Automatic PDC

• Automatic PDC: Automatically compensate all delays that some Renoise internal effects and VST or Audio Unit plugins introduce, to get all tracks and instrument played back in sync. For troubleshooting, you may want to temporarily disable this option.

CPU Load and Threshold

This option avoids that a very high CPU load freezes your whole computer.

• When the CPU is above % value, For at least: - msec value, then perform panic (instantly stop all playback).

Metronome

• Beats Per Bar: Setup how many beat clicks (see Lines Per Beat) should be treated as a bar.
• Lines Per Beat: Setup how many lines in Renoise should make up a beat for the metronome.

MIDI

MIDI Master Keyboard / Mapping

• In-Device A/B: Select up to two devices you would like to use for general MIDI input in Renoise Recording and Editing Notes and for MIDI remote control MIDI Mapping.
• Record and play XXX: Enable or disable the input and recording of specific MIDI messages for Renoise. This only applies to recording into Patterns and realtime playback.
• Ignore specific controllers: Explicitly prevent certain MIDI Control Change messages from being received and recorded. You can enter a list of CC numbers here, separated by commas.

MIDI Clock Master

• Out device: Setup a MIDI device that you would like Renoise send MIDI Clock to.
• Offset: Manually shift all messages send out to the devices by the given amount. This can be useful to manually compensate extra latencies that external devices introduce. Audio latency is always automatically compensated by Renoise.
• Send clock: Include sending MIDI Clock pulse messages.
• Send start/stop: Include sending MIDI Clock start/stop messages.
• Send song position pointers: Include sending MIDI Clock song position messages.
• Send MIDI Machine Control (MMC): Beside of MIDI clock, also send MMC sysex message to sync external devices to Renoise.

Midi Clock Slave

• In-Device: Selects the MIDI Device that Renoise should use to receive MIDI clock messages. When enabled, you can slave Renoise this way to a MIDI clock master (a device which sends MIDI clock). As soon as a MIDI clock device is set, you will see a new option in Renoises Transport Panel. This option must be enabled to finally activate sync from external devices and thus also can be used to enable or disable sync quickly without having to open the preferences all the time.
• Offset: Manually shift incoming timing information by the given amount. This can be useful to manually compensate extra latencies that the sending MIDI clock devices introduce. Audio latency is always automatically compensated by Renoise.
• Smoothing: MIDI messages often have only a very rough timing, thus the beat clock messages transferd from MIDI clock masters to Renoise, may result into a wonky playback. Depending on how precise the incoming MIDI clock stream is, you can use this option to setup how fast Renoise should react on changes from the MIDI clock master: The higher the smoothing value, the more stable the sync will be, but the slower will Renoise react on 'real' BPM changes from the master. Try playing around with the smoothing to find a good value for your setup and needs.

Files

Please note: all import options noted below, can also be quickly accessed in the Disk Browser by right clicking the file, then choosing "Load File with Options..."

Wave Import Options

Applies to WAV/FLAC/AIF/OGG and MP3 files

• Ignore loops: Do not import loops settings that are saved along with the WAV/FLAC and AIF files.
• Autoset 'Sync' Settings: When loading samples, Renoise automatically guesses a good beat sync value in the Instrument Settings, overwriting previous values. If you don't want this, you can disable this here.

Raw Audio Import Options

Applies to any files that are 'forced' to be loaded as audio files. See also Disk_Browser#Importing Raw Audio Files (any Files as Audio Samples).

• Bits: Bit-rate that should be applied to the raw sample imported.
• Sample Rate: Sample rate of raw samples.
• Skip header bytes: Will skip the specified number of bytes, do not treat them as audio data.
• Big Endian: Select the byte order that should be used for the raw sample import. Only applies to bit depths >= 16.

Device Chain Import Options

Applies to XRNT files

• Replace Existing Chain: When enabled, loading a device chain will completely erase all existing devices first. When disabled, the imported chain is appended.

Midi Import Options

Applies to MID or MIDI files

• Create instruments: Create instruments based upon the instruments used in the MIDI file. When disabled only notes and CC events are imported and you have to set up instruments manually.
• Create MIDICC devices: Create MIDI Control devices to also import & send MIDI control Change messages (like modulation wheel and other controller messages).
• Lines per Beat Set the Lines Per Beat resolution that should be used for the new song. The higher the value, the more precise MIDI events can be plotted into the new song.
• Lines per pattern: Divide the imported MIDI song in patterns at the given length.
• Midi device: Choose MIDI device to select MIDI instruments from (and send output to).

Song/Instrument Export Options

Applies to exported XRNI (Renoise Instrument files) and XRNS (Renoise Song Files)

• Sample format: Setup how samples are stored in Renoise song or instrument files. XRNI and XRNS files regular zip files with a custom extension. So you can open them with any tools which can open zip files (like WinRar/WinZip on Windows, Stuff-it on OSX) and extract all contained samples manually. FLACs will result into smaller files and should be used by default. WAV files might be useful if you want to extract the files manually later on, and use the sample files in other programs than Renoise.

Keys

Keyboard Mapping List

As keyboard based application, all keyboard shortcuts in Renoise can be configured to perfectly fit your needs. All this is done in the Keyboard preferences pane.

On the top of the list you will be able to choose the "focus" of the mappings, which means in which part of the interface the shortcuts apply. If you select 'All', you will get an overview of all existing keyboard shortcuts in Renoise, which makes it easier to search for a specific settings.

There are many mappings which are not assigned by default, because they might only be useful to some. So if you miss a shortcut for a specific operation, you should have a look at the available mappings first. Probably its already there but has no shortcut assigned yet.

To change or create a keyboard mapping, select the mapping you want to change in the list first. Then click into the box below New Assignment and press the key combination you would like to assign. If the given combination is already used somewhere else, a small warning text will appear. To apply the new shortcut, hit the 'Assign' button.

The new configuration will be saved automatically.

Im/Exporting Keyboard Mappings

• File:Vvoois renoise preferences keys load.png - Load a saved set of key-bindings.
• File:Vvoois renoise preferences keys save.png - Save a custom set of key-bindings.
• File:Vvoois renoise preferences keys reset.png - Reset to default key-bindings.
• File:Vvoois renoise preferences keys print.png - Display the current key-binding layout in your default browser. Theres also a special prent preview, so printing the shortcuts should result into a nice reference card alike list.

Keyboard Repeat Rate

Repeat Rate Configure how fast Renoise repeats key pressures in for example the Pattern Editor

Mouse Repeat Rate

Left-Click Repeat Rate: Set up how fast changes to a value (for example to increase or decrease the BPM with the small arrows beside the BPM value) with a mouse should be repeated. Right-Click Repeat Rate: Just like 'Left-Click Repeat Rate', but for right mouse button clicks.

GUI

The GUI options offers several options to customize Renoise’s general display behavior.

Global

• Enable GUI effects: When enabled, Renoise will use some fancy animations in some part of the interface: like smooth scrolling and fading of menus, transparency and so on. If you don't like those effect, or are using Renoise on a very slow computer, you can turn those options off here. They usually require a bit more of CPU.
• Use more compatible GFX updates: (Windows only) Uses a possibly slower way to draw the Renoise GUI with your graphics card. You may try if disabling results into a more responsive GUI, else the option should kept enabled. This option also is often needed to avoid troubles with multi monitor setups.
• Frame Rate: Setup how fast the Renoise GUI should update itself. Lower values do require less CPU, higher values result in a more responsive user interface. Disabling the frame rate will use as much power from your computer as needed, resulting in a very responsive and less tearing updated, but also requires more CPU.

Pattern Editor

• Single mouseclick navigation: When clicking with the mouse somewhere into the pattern, the pattern editors edit cursor will follow to this position in record mode when enabled. Without this option, you have to double-click to move the cursor to the new position.
• Instant Drag’n’Drop: When enabled, clicking upon a selected area in the Pattern Editor will instantly start to drag the selection. When off, you have to click and wait a bit to drag instead of starting a new selection.
• Position number format: Use either heidecimal or decimal numbers i nthe pattern editor to describe the current line numbers.

Pattern Sequencer

• Separate edit & play positions (with pattern follow): When enabled, the sequencers playback position will be detached form the edit position with Pattern Follow disabled.
  • Pattern Follow mode On: Edit and play position are linked, the pattern played back pattern is always the one that is also edited.
  • Pattern follow mode Off: Edit and play position are separated, you can edit a pattern that currently is not playing.

Theme

Configure Renoises Graphical User Interface colours.

Theme Files

Im/Export the current colour set to a file. Theme files can also be Imported/Exported in the Disk Browser.

Colour Settings

Change individual colour settings. Colours are organized into multiple Categories, like 'Main', 'Automation' and so on.

Global Colour Filters

Change all colour settings at once by applying Hue, Saturation or Value on them.

Graphic

Change the bevel amounts or texture set that should be used for the current colour theme.

Plugins/Misc

Audio Unit Plugins (OSX only)

• Enable the use of Audio Unit plugins in Renoise.

LADSPA Plugins (Linux only)

• Enable the use of LADSPA effects in Renoise.

VST Plugins (Windows, Mac & Linux)

• Select up to two folders, where Renoise should look for VST plugin files. Both folders can also be temporarily deactivated with the small check boxes.

Plugins General (Windows, Mac & Linux)

• Rescan previously failed plugs: When hitting the rescan button, let Renoise also again try to open plugins that failed to open in previous scans. Plugins which caused a crash when being scanned are never rescanned though, unless you delete the VST cache files in the Renoise preferences folder. When this option is disabled, hitting the Rescan button will only look for new plugins.
• Rescan: Rescan for new plugins, or try to rescan previously failed plugins (see above).
• Scan for new plugins on startup: Renoise by defaults always starts scanning for new plugins when starting up. Depending on how many plugins you have installed, disabling this option can vastly improve the time Renoise needs to start up. After having installed new plugins you have to rescan for the manually by clicking on the 'Rescan' button described above.

Backup

• Autosave backup: When enabled, Renoise will periodically save backups of your song. For existing songs, the backups are saved into a new folder, that is named like the song. For Untitled songs, the backups will be saved into Renoises preferences folder.
• Save while playing: When enabled, backups will also be saved while the song plays. Depending on how big the songs are, this can lead into a small idle time of Renoise. If you want to avoid this while composing, you can disable this option. Then songs are only saved when you've stoped the playback.
• Every x minutes: How often backups should be saved.
• Keep x backups: Specify how many revisions of the backups should be kept.
• Save at: Instead of saving the backups next to the original song files, use a specific folder to place all backups for all songs.

Misc

• Autoplay song after loading: With this option enabled, Renoise will automatically start playback as soon as you've loaded a song file.
• Stop playing notes on pattern sequence navigation: When navigating around in the pattern sequencer, Renoise will stop all playing notes, then skip over to the new pattern to continue playback to avoid "hanging" notes. You can disable this behavior here.
• Update automation on song position changes: When navigating around in the song, Renoise will make sure that any Pattern or Envelope Automation is played back exactly as if you would play the song form the very beginning to the end. You can disable this behavior here.
• Space rec/stop mode
  • Renoise: use the space key to start/stop playing.
  • FT2: use the space key to stop the song and or to toggle the record mode.
• Default Trackmute mode:
  • Off: Notes and other events will not be triggered, the sounds of the tracks is still running (Soft Mute).
  • Mute: The track is completely played back, but its sound will be muted (Mixer Mute).