FAQ
General
Section titled “General”What is INBOIL?
Section titled “What is INBOIL?”A browser-based groove box and DAW. It runs entirely in your browser — no download, no account, no plugins required. Open the app and start making beats.
What browsers are supported?
Section titled “What browsers are supported?”INBOIL requires a modern browser with Web Audio API and AudioWorklet support:
- Chrome 66+ (recommended)
- Firefox 76+
- Safari 14.1+
- Edge 79+
Mobile browsers work but the interface is optimized for desktop.
Is my work saved?
Section titled “Is my work saved?”Yes — projects auto-save to your browser’s local storage (IndexedDB) on every edit. However, this means your data lives in this browser only. Use EXPORT to download a JSON backup that you can import anywhere.
Can I use INBOIL offline?
Section titled “Can I use INBOIL offline?”The app works offline after the initial load (it’s a PWA). However, the docs site requires an internet connection.
Sound & Audio
Section titled “Sound & Audio”Why is there no sound?
Section titled “Why is there no sound?”- Make sure playback is started (press Space)
- Check that tracks aren’t muted (M button)
- Check browser volume and output device
- Some browsers block audio until you interact with the page — click anywhere first
Can I record audio output?
Section titled “Can I record audio output?”Yes — use the REC ● button in the System panel. It records a WAV file of the master output. Press REC to start, press again to stop and download.
Can I use external MIDI controllers?
Section titled “Can I use external MIDI controllers?”Yes — connect a USB or BLE MIDI keyboard and configure it in SYSTEM → MIDI. INBOIL supports note input, velocity, and channel routing.
What audio format does Export produce?
Section titled “What audio format does Export produce?”JSON for project data (all patterns, scene, settings). MIDI export produces a standard .mid file. WAV recording captures the audio output in real-time.
Patterns & Sequencing
Section titled “Patterns & Sequencing”How many patterns can I have?
Section titled “How many patterns can I have?”You can create up to 100 patterns per project. Each cell in the Matrix corresponds to one pattern.
Can tracks have different step counts?
Section titled “Can tracks have different step counts?”Yes — each track has an independent step count from 2 to 64. Different step counts create polyrhythms.
What is P-LOCK?
Section titled “What is P-LOCK?”P-LOCK (per-step parameter lock) lets you change a sound parameter for just one step. Tap P-LOCK in the Dock, select a step, then turn knobs. That step gets its own sound settings while the rest of the pattern keeps the original.
Scene Graph
Section titled “Scene Graph”What’s the difference between Loop and Scene mode?
Section titled “What’s the difference between Loop and Scene mode?”Loop plays the current pattern on repeat. Scene traverses the scene graph starting from the root node, following edges to create longer arrangements with variation.
Can the scene loop forever?
Section titled “Can the scene loop forever?”Yes — if your edges form a cycle (A → B → C → A), playback loops through those nodes indefinitely. When a node has multiple outgoing edges, the next destination is chosen randomly, so the arrangement varies on each pass.
What are Generative nodes?
Section titled “What are Generative nodes?”Nodes that create musical content algorithmically instead of playing a stored pattern. Available engines: Turing Machine, Quantizer, and Tonnetz.
Data & Privacy
Section titled “Data & Privacy”Where is my data stored?
Section titled “Where is my data stored?”All data stays in your browser’s local IndexedDB. Nothing is sent to any server. There are no accounts, no cloud sync, and no analytics.
How do I back up my work?
Section titled “How do I back up my work?”Use EXPORT in the System panel to download a JSON file containing your entire project. Import it later with IMPORT — even in a different browser.
How do I start fresh?
Section titled “How do I start fresh?”Use SYSTEM → NEW to create a new empty project, or FACTORY RESET in the Help panel to clear everything and restore defaults.