One of the most fun things you can do with a Fingersonic Keys is make it sound like whatever you want — your dog barking, a rubber chicken squeaking, a friend laughing, or your favorite cat meowing for treats. Yes, really.
Fingersonic Keys lets you record any sound from your phone and upload it directly to the keyboard as a playable sample. The whole process takes about two minutes, and you don't need any audio editing experience.
This guide walks you through the exact three-step workflow: Record → Edit → Upload. We've also embedded a real demo video at the end so you can watch the whole thing in action.
Why Upload Custom Samples to Fingersonic Keys?
Fingersonic Keys already ships with a huge library of pro-grade synth sounds, drum kits, and acoustic instruments. Custom sampling unlocks three things you can't get from any preset:
- Personal sounds: Your cat's "ahhh", your kid's laugh, a cartoon squeak — instantly playable on 25 velocity-sensitive silicone keys.
- One-of-a-kind tones: Layer field recordings, weird FX, or vocal chops into your live setup.
- Creative prompts: Stuck on a beat? Sampling a random sound often sparks a whole new track.
The best part: the sample lives inside the keyboard itself, so it works anywhere — on the subway, at a beach party, or in your bedroom — even without your phone.
What You'll Need
- Fingersonic Keys — connected to your phone via Bluetooth MIDI or USB-C
- Fingersonic companion app — free on iOS and Android
- Anything that makes sound — pets, voices, kitchen items, musical toys, the world
- 30 seconds to 2 minutes of silence — for a clean recording
Step 1: Record the Sound in the Fingersonic App
Open the Fingersonic app and tap the microphone icon on the main dashboard. You'll see a screen like the one below, with a big "Press Start" button and a real-time waveform display.
For best results:
- Get within 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) of the sound source
- Hold your phone steady — let the mic breathe
- Record in a quiet room if possible, or at least minimize background noise
- Trigger the sound 2-3 times during recording so you have options when editing
The demo video at the bottom shows a rubber chicken being squeezed, a "meow" from a real cat, and a friend saying "ahhhh" — all recorded in one take in a normal living room.
Pro tip: If the sound is short (under 2 seconds), record multiple hits. Trimming later is easier when you have options.
Step 2: Edit and Trim Your Sample
After recording, the app drops you into the editor. You'll see a waveform of everything you just captured.
The editing tools are dead simple:
- Drag the handles on either end of the waveform to trim silence from the start and tail.
- Tap the center marker to set the playback start point — this is where the keyboard will "begin" the sound each time you press a key.
- Adjust the volume envelope if your sample has a loud attack that needs taming (rare).
- Name your sound — something memorable like "Cat Meow v2" or "Rubber Chicken".
Aim for samples between 0.5 and 4 seconds. Shorter than half a second and the sound feels chopped; longer than 4 seconds and the keys stop responding snappily to fast playing.
When you're happy, hit Save. The sample is now sitting on your phone, ready to push to the keyboard.
Step 3: Upload the Sample to Fingersonic Keys
This is where the magic happens. With your Fingersonic Keys powered on and connected:
- In the app, tap "Upload to Fingersonic" (or the cloud icon) on your saved sample.
- Pick which slot you want to overwrite — Fingersonic Keys has multiple user-sample slots, so you can keep a whole library of custom sounds on the device.
- Wait for the progress bar to finish (usually 5-15 seconds, depending on sample length).
- The keyboard's LED will flash to confirm — that's it. The sound is now baked into the hardware.
Disconnect your phone. Turn off Bluetooth. The custom sample is still there. Press any key on the silicone keyboard and boom — your cat's meow comes out of the built-in speaker.
Using Your Custom Sample Live
Once uploaded, the sample behaves exactly like a built-in preset:
- 25 velocity-sensitive silicone keys — play it chromatically, lay down a bassline, or trigger it like a drum pad
- Multi-function knob — pitch it up/down an octave, add reverb, or apply the built-in lo-fi effect
- USB-C and 3.5mm jack — route it into Logic Pro, Ableton, FL Studio, GarageBand, or any external speaker
- Bluetooth MIDI — send it as a MIDI trigger to your DAW and chop it further
The demo video below shows the "ahhhh" sample being played live on the keyboard while the cat listens, fully confused. That's the Fingersonic Keys experience.
Common Questions
How many custom samples can I store?
Fingersonic Keys has multiple user-sample slots. The exact count depends on firmware, but you can easily store dozens of sounds on a single device. Rotate them out anytime.
What audio format and length works best?
The app records in 16-bit / 44.1 kHz mono WAV — CD quality. Keep samples under 4 seconds for tight keyboard response. For drum hits or one-shots, 0.5-1.5 seconds is ideal.
Can I upload samples from my computer instead?
Yes. The Fingersonic companion app also accepts .wav and .mp3 files imported from your phone's file system or iCloud / Google Drive. So if you've got a folder of weird field recordings on your laptop, drop them in and push them over.
Will my samples survive a firmware update?
Yes. User samples are stored in a separate partition and are preserved across firmware upgrades. Update without worry.
Can I sell or share my custom samples?
Fingersonic is building a community sample marketplace — stay tuned. For now, samples stay local to your device.
Watch the Full Workflow in 30 Seconds
Here's the actual recording session that inspired this post. We sampled a rubber chicken, a cat, and a human "ahhhh" — then uploaded all three to the Fingersonic Keys and played them back live:
Notice how the cat in the second half is genuinely startled by its own meow coming out of the keyboard. That's the kind of moment custom sampling unlocks.
Try It Yourself
If you already own a Fingersonic Keys, open the app right now and sample the nearest object. Seriously — it doesn't matter what it is. The weirder the source, the better the result.
If you don't have one yet, the Fingersonic Keys is $79 with free shipping and works right out of the box — silicone keys, dual-band speaker, BLE/USB MIDI, 6-hour battery, and unlimited sample slots.
Got a weird sample you want to share? Tag @fingersonic6 on Instagram. We feature the best community sounds every week.