The pads are numbered 1 to 64, starting in the top left corner (pad 1) and ending in the bottom
right corner (pad 64). When a sequence is built or recorded, the first step or note value is stored in
pad 1, the second step or note value is stored in pad 2, the third in pad 3, and so on. An eight step
sequence would have the note values stored in pad 1 through pad 8. A sixty-four step sequence
would have the notes stored in pad 1 through pad 64.
2. Two modes: Grid and Notes
There are 2 modes to work with the 2 types of Grid data: Grid mode and Notes mode. The Grid
mode is used to program and edit any Patch Modifying Data, and the aptly named Notes mode is
used to program and edit the notes of the sequences you create. By default the Medusa starts in
Notes mode, and this mode is indicated by the sequencer oled screen displaying “Notes Mode” in
the top left corner. To enter the Grid mode, simply press and release the Grid button. The Grid
button will now be lit, and the sequencer screen will display “Grid Mode” in the top left corner.
While the Note mode works more in a classic keyboard controller manner, the Grid mode is by
default empty and pressing pads won't produce any sounds unless you'll program them first or
you've already recorded something in the Note mode. As each of the steps/pads in the Grid mode
can hold up to 118 parameter locks and store from one note to six note chords, users are able to
configure the Grid totally up to their needs. You can program a chord progressions and then
manually trigger or sequence them. It can hold both steps with and without notes which can just
modulate the synth engine in real time. The Grid is a really powerful and versatile tool which one
can adjust freely.
You can use the Grid mode for triggering in many different ways. Use the individual pads to trigger
different sounds, or even map an ensemble of sounds. Set up particular pads for percussion, and
others for bass notes or chord progressions for instance). Grid mode also allows other features,
like making your own musical scales with the ability to store fine-tuned pitches per pad. You can
also bend between notes by targeting Pitch with the X-axis for example. Just make sure to keep its
adjustable range manageable and slide between notes (in this case we suggest a value of just 1 or 2
instead of the full 100, this way it will slide over the whole pitch range as you wiggle your finger).
In the Grid mode not only can you trigger modulation live over a sequence, you can also use those
triggers to modulate X, Y, and Z targets of your choice while the sequence plays.
The Grid mode also offers a way to see where notes, tie and patch modifying data are stored.
In GRID mode, if a pad is lit:
• 75% - contains Note/Chord
• 50% - contains only TIE data
• 0% - is empty or contain parameter locks only (press Clear button to display)
In order to edit the particular modulators, when in Edit mode (Rec. is blinking) hold the Clear
button and nudge a selected knob/slider/button to see if any of its parameter locks are existing in
the sequence.
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3. Using the pads as a keyboard
The 8 x 8 grid of velocity sensitive silicon pads can also be used to play the Medusa, using one of 40
predefined musical scales and modes (see Appendix C: List of Modes and Scales for the complete
list of options). Just put the Medusa in Notes mode (ensure the Grid button isn't lit), and start
hitting the pads to make beautiful music. In addition to playing a note, each pad can modulate up
to 3 different targets based on side-to-side motion (X), up-and-down (Y) motion, and pressure
(Z).
Notice that X, Y & Z targets are being modulated by the last pressed pad only.
The playable matrix of pads is laid out with the lowest note value being in the lower left pad (pad
57), incrementing a semitone with each position to the right. If pad 57 were a C1, then the next
note on pad 58 would be a C#1, pad 59 would be a D1, and so on until pad 64 which would be a G1.
How the adjacent pads change pitch depends on the chosen Layout from the Preset Menu. Choose
a pad, and the pad directly to the right will increase the pitch one semitone regardless of the
chosen Layout. For Layout 1, the pad directly above will increase the pitch 1 semitone. For Layout
2, the pad directly above will increase the pitch 2 semitones. For Layout 4, (see the illustration)
the pad directly above will increase the pitch 4 semitones. And so it goes, up to Layout 7 where the
pad directly above will increase the pitch 7 semitones.
When not in Grid mode (when the pads are behaving like a keyboard), the pads corresponding to
the root and octave notes will be lit, letting you know which keyboard layout is selected.
4. Creating, playing, and editing a sequence
With a sequence playing, it's possible to toggle between play modes (unison and polyphony), and
the Voice Priority setting (first or last, in either of the polyphonic modes), or sequence length, all
live without impact sequenced playback. So you can have some fun playing with these settings.
The sequencer only triggers preset changes when the Grid mode is enabled. So you can start
a sequence, then toggle your sequenced parameters on and off by switching Grid mode on and off.
+4
semitones +4
semitones +4
semitones
C1 +1
semitone +1
semitone
Keyboard layout 4
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