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User guide

How to play spool.

spool. is a whole studio on one screen. Pick a mode, shape a sound with the four colored controls, play the keyboard, and record it to tape. Start with Getting started, or jump to any section.

01

Getting started

The four modes, the four knobs, the keyboard, and your first sound.

02

Synth & engines

Fourteen sound engines, the envelope, play modes, and the LFO.

03

Drums

Two drum machines — slice your own kits with DRUM, or play the synthesized NINE.

04

Sequencers

Pattern, Arp, Stream, Taps and the bouncing-ball Gumball machine.

05

Tape

The 4-track recorder: record, overdub, varispeed, scrub and loop.

06

Perform

The live surface — tape moves, memos, faders and a double keyboard.

07

Mixer & effects

Levels and pan, the 11-effect rack, master EQ, and WAV export.

08

Sampling

Record from the mic or import songs from Files and crop them into instruments.

09

MIDI

Play spool. from a USB or Bluetooth MIDI controller.

10

Spool Pro & purchases

What's free, what Pro unlocks, and restoring a purchase.

spool.

Made by worried — a solo studio.

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spool. is an independent, inspired-by work — not affiliated with or endorsed by Teenage Engineering. “OP-1” is their trademark.
© 2026 Kristopher Yang.