Support

Need a hand?

Quick answers to common questions about pads, sounds, MIDI, and more.

How do I change a pad's shape or position?

Enter Pad Edit mode to move pads anywhere on screen and reshape them. Pads are free-form polygons with 3–10 vertices — make the kick large and round, the snare wide and horizontal, anything you like. Save each layout as its own kit; you can keep as many kits as you want.

How do I load SF2 SoundFont files?

Import an SF2 file and FingerDrumPad will treat it as a sound source. Tap "Browse Sounds" on a SoundFont to see every sample inside — key number, note name, and a one-tap preview for each. To spin up a new kit fast, choose "New Template from SoundFont" and every drum sound is auto-laid-out on pads, with GM-matched sounds getting the right colors and names.

How do I connect via USB MIDI?

On a Mac, connect your iPad or iPhone via USB, then open macOS's Audio MIDI Setup and press the Enable button next to your iPad to activate IDAM (Inter-device Audio & MIDI). In Settings → General → MIDI Output, pick your transmit channel and set the destination to IDAM MIDI Host. Pad performances are then sent as MIDI input to your DAW, letting you control software instruments from your fingertips. See the manual for a step-by-step walkthrough.

Why isn't my AUv3 plugin recognized?

Make sure the AUv3 instrument plugin is installed on this iOS device (not just the host app) and appears in your system's Audio Unit extensions list. Once recognized, you can assign any AUv3 instrument to any pad. Not sure which note triggers which sound? The audition sheet scans the plugin, plays each note, and pre-toggles the ones that actually produce sound — so you can confidently pick a starting note for any pad. Your plugin settings save with the kit automatically.

Can I slow down a song without changing its pitch?

Yes. In Play mode, the music transport bar includes a playback-speed menu that ranges from 50% to 100% in 5% steps and preserves the song's pitch. Each song remembers its own speed, so a tricky track stays slowed down until you bring it back to full tempo. You can also skip by 10 seconds, scrub to any moment, and use the Volume Mix sheet to balance drum and song volumes independently.

What does the "?" button do?

Every performance mode (Play, Pad Edit, Training, Sequencer) shows a circled "?" button in the top-right corner. Tap it to open a mode-specific help sheet that lists every icon and control on the current screen with a one-line description. On Play's fullscreen mode the button fades out so it never obstructs the pad surface.

Is crash reporting on by default?

No. Crash reporting uses Firebase Crashlytics and is off by default. A one-time dialog on first launch asks for your consent; you can also toggle it any time from Settings → Diagnostics → Anonymous Crash Reporting. When enabled, only anonymous crash data (stack traces, device model, iOS version) is sent — no personal information, location, IDFA, or behavioral analytics. The full privacy policy is viewable in-app at Settings → About → Privacy Policy.

How do I send a bug report?

Open Settings → About → Diagnostics and tap "Generate Report". The app builds a JSON with the last 24 hours of app logs, MetricKit diagnostic summaries, an app-state snapshot (selected kit, AUv3 plugin names), and device info. Review the privacy summary on screen, then tap "Share Report" to send the file to the developer. Nothing is transmitted until you explicitly tap Share.

Can I back up my practice data?

Your tutorial progress, practice history, and kit presets are stored locally on your device, so they're included in standard iCloud or Finder/iTunes device backups. Practice history itself stays on-device — we'll share more detail as backup and restore features evolve.

What about in-app purchases?

FingerDrumPad is free to start, with a single one-time purchase that unlocks everything in Pro. See the Pricing page for what's included and how purchasing works.

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