Channels are simultaneous voices. PicoSketch composes and arranges for the selected count; this differs from muting a four-channel song. First check whether the theme works with fewer voices, then add roles as needed.
Count
Roles
Try it for
1ch
Melody carries the flow
Checking a short theme or sparse expression
2ch
Melody + bass
Hearing melody and harmonic movement
3ch
Melody + harmony + bass
Exploration with accompaniment carrying rhythm
4ch
All of these + noise percussion
Adding drive to battle music
Rearranging versus adjusting a score
Changing channel count in step 4 and generating creates an arrangement for that ensemble. Unchecking a part on the completed screen removes that part from the same score. Use the former for arrangement choices and the latter to inspect balance. Save settings JSON before experimenting.
Choose a timbre
Melody and harmony use pulse-based tones, bass uses triangle and percussion uses noise. Names such as plucked or reed-like describe attack and sustain; they do not add recordings of strings or wind instruments. A slowly swelling tone may have a subtle effect on a song made of short notes.
Global presets reset individual tones and volumes. Choose the overall preset first, then adjust parts. Mutes are preserved.
Make fewer voices communicate
A single channel cannot play a simultaneous chord, but a melody passing through chord tones can suggest harmony. In 2ch, bass adds support. With 3ch, listen for accompaniment answering in the melody’s rests rather than filling every moment. This reveals whether roles are competing.
A listening experiment
Generate 1–4ch versions with the same seed and other settings; save each WAV and JSON.
Compare how clearly the theme comes across and whether bass or percussion is too busy.
With your preferred arrangement, change one tone at a time and compare at similar listening levels.
The master listening volume does not affect WAV; part volumes and tones do. Muting all parts also makes downloads silent. Hear the 1–4ch examples and tone examples (Japanese).