Plug in an audio interface, a USB effects pedal or an amp modeller and Fretnook records the processed sound. Add a MIDI footswitch or knob box, teach each control with one press, and run loops, recording and drums hands-free.
Plug in the interface, pedal or amp modeller by USB. Anything that appears as a sound input on your computer works.
Choose the device from the Input menu at the top of the page, then press Listen. On the MIDI & Gear tab, Channel chooses Mix, Left (Input 1) or Right (Input 2).
Use Input trim to raise or lower the level from -12 to +24 dB until the meter looks healthy without clipping. If you hear yourself twice, turn off direct monitoring on the device.
In Chrome or Edge, press Connect MIDI. Next to any action press Learn, then hit the pedal or turn the knob to map it.
Any device that shows up as an audio input works, including interfaces, modelling pedals and amp modellers with USB audio.
Record the mix, or just the left (Input 1) or right (Input 2) channel, which suits interfaces with separate instrument inputs.
Adjust gain from -12 to +24 dB when a source is too quiet or too hot.
Press Learn, hit a control, and it is assigned. No configuration files.
The four looper slots, record, play, drums, click, tap tempo, previous or next song, undo and redo, song controls, and level knobs for the master and each track.
Your MIDI mappings are stored on that computer and come back next time. Footswitches that simply type keys also work with the built-in keyboard shortcuts.
The effects happen on your pedal or modeller, not in Fretnook. Fretnook records and monitors the processed sound, so what you hear from the pedal is what lands on the track. If your setup sounds doubled, direct monitoring on the device is probably on; turn it off and monitor through Fretnook instead.
Wear headphones when recording over existing tracks. See the multitrack recorder for the full recording workflow.
A typical setup is a simple four-button MIDI footswitch mapped to the four looper slots, plus a second footswitch for record and tap tempo. With both hands on the guitar you can record a loop, overdub, and stop it without touching the computer.
Mapping takes a few seconds per control. Next to any action, press Learn, then press the pedal or turn the knob.
USB audio input works in modern browsers. MIDI uses the Web MIDI feature, which is available in Chrome and Edge but not Safari. If Connect MIDI does nothing, switch to Chrome or Edge and reconnect your device.
Fretnook is free and runs in your browser. Your microphone audio and recordings stay on your device.