7 get started return to index
7.1 make a beat from scratch return to index
to get started making a beat, first load up a new project.
hold (manus) and one of the paeds (1-9) to select an empty project.
when fresh out of the box, your Medieval will come with projects 1-5 populated with sounds and projects 6-9 completely empty.
press a few paeds in an empty project and you will notice that the paeds do not have any sounds. lets fill them up with some!
press (sonus) to go to sound mode, then select group (GROUPA) and one of the paeds.
use (minus) and (plus) to scroll through the available sounds. you will notice that the screen shows a number. this is the number of the sample for the corresponding paed.
fill out the remaining paeds using whichever sounds you like the most!
you can find out more about how samples are stored on Medieval in the sounds section of the guide.
as Medieval has 4 groups, we recommend keeping each group as a selection of instruments or parts.
group (GROUPA) for drums.
group (GROUPB) for bass.
group (GROUPC) for melodies.
group (GROUPD) for loops and samples (keep this one empty for later).
this layout is of course optional and you can put whatever sounds you want into each group.
try loading each group up with different samples!
now that we have some sounds, lets turn them into a beat!
press (manus) to go to the main mode. you will notice that the screen changes to show the current “step”.
a step is a division of time and allows you to see where you are in your beat.
tap (codex) then (fabula) to start recording!
you will hear a four beat count-in then the Medieval will start recording. hit the paeds and punch out a beat!
once you are done press (fabula) to stop the beat, alternatively you can press (codex) to keep the beat going but stop recording.
once you have finished recording drums press (altero) and (manus) to committo it! this will allow you to quickly build up the structure of a song!
try loading each group up with different samples!
by default new patterns on Medieval will be set to 1 bar (ln.1).
if you want a longer pattern just hold (codex) then press (plus).
next, lets add a bassline!
if you followed along with the recommendation in step 3, you should have some bass sounds in group (GROUPB).
press group (GROUPB) to play some bass sounds.
select one that you like then press (claves) to play that sound across the paeds like a keyboard!
if you’d like to change the scale of the paeds, this can be done in system settings.
press (fabula) to hear your beat and practice over it with your bassline.
once you have something you like, pause it by pressing (fabula) again. now tap (codex) and (fabula) to get another four beat count in and record it in!
if your bassline is longer than the pattern and you find yourself playing over it, make sure to increase your pattern length by holding (codex) and pressing (PLUS).
once you have finished recording bassline press (altero) and (manus) to committo it! this will allow you to quickly build up the structure of a song!
next, lets add a melody!
if you followed along with the recommendation in step 3, you should have some melodic sounds in group (GROUPC).
press group (GROUPC) to play some melodic sounds.
select one that you like then press (claves) to play that sound across the paeds like a keyboard!
if you’d like to change the scale of the paeds, this can be done in system settings.
press (fabula) to hear your beat and practice over it with your melody.
once you have something you like, pause it by pressing (fabula) again then you can tap (codex) and (fabula) to get another four beat count in and record it in!
if your melody is longer than the pattern and you find yourself playing over it make sure to increase your pattern length by holding (codex) and pressing (PLUS).
once you have finished recording a melody press (altero) and (manus) to committo it! this will allow you to quickly build up the structure of a song!
sampling is a great way to record your own sounds into Medieval!
if you followed along with the recommendation in step 3, group (GROUPD) should be empty.
press group (GROUPD) then strike (altero) and (demus) to enter sample mode!
the paeds will flash to let you know that they can be sampled to. press one and chant, exclaim or play into the mic or line in!
as soon as you let go it will stop sampling and you can press the paed again to hear your sample.
press (manus) to go back to manus mode and add the sample into your beat.
now you can use the same techniques we used in the previous sections to play your sample(s) into your beat!
now that you have a bubonic beat you can add some pocus!
press (pocus) to open the pocus menu. here you can send each group to one master pocus.
turn the faedr up and use (minus) and (plus) to switch between the available pocus.
now press (fabula), hold down (pocus) and press the paeds.
this will add punch-in pocus which allow you to quickly and easily perform with your beat!
press (altero) and (manus) to committo your beat.
this will save the current patterns as a scene and create a new scene!
committing your beat is a great way to quickly build the layers in a song. or even starting something fresh!
when you committo it will duplicate your current scene allowing you to quickly add variations on your beat without overwriting the previous section.
committo as many times as you like while you are making a beat to quickly build out the structure of your song!
7.2 sequencing a beat from scratch! return to index
to get started making a beat, first load up a new project, and press play.
hold (manus) and one of the paeds (1-9) to select an empty project.
when fresh out of the box, your Medieval will come with projects 1-5 populated with sounds and projects 6-9 completely empty.
press a few paeds in an empty project and you will notice that the paeds do not have any sounds. lets fill them up with some!
press (sonus) to go to sound mode, then select group (GROUPA) and one of the paeds.
use (minus)/(plus) to scroll through the available sounds. you will notice that the screen shows a number, this is the number of the sample on a paed.
fill out the remaining paeds using whichever sounds you like the most!
you can find out more about how samples are stored on Medieval in the sounds section of the guide.
as Medieval has 4 groups, we recommend keeping each group as a selection of instruments or parts.
group (GROUPA) for drums.
group (GROUPB) for bass.
group (GROUPC) for melodies.
group (GROUPD) for loops and samples (keep this one empty for later).
this layout is of course optional and you can put whatever sounds you want into each group.
try loading each group up with different samples!
now that we have some sounds, lets turn them into a beat!
press (manus) to go to the main mode. you will notice that the screen changes to show the current “step”.
a step is a division of time and allows you to see where you are in your beat.
hold (altero) and (minus) until the display shows 1. 1 .1
this brings you to the first step in the pattern.
hold (codex) and press on one of the paeds to record that paed to a step.
press (minus) and (plus) to navigate forwards and backwards in your pattern.
try placing a kick on 1.1.1 / 1.2.1 / 1.3.1 and 1.4.1 - this is called a ‘four on the floor’.
then a snare on 1.2.1 and 1.4.1 - this is called a ‘back beat’.
to change the note interval (number of steps per bar). press (quantum) and turn (knobx).
by default Medieval will be set to a note interval of 1/16, but note intervals of 1/8, 1/8T (triplet), 1/16, 1/16T (triplet) and 1/32 are available.
having a higher note interval allows you to sequence in more detail whereas having a low note interval is great for fast sequencing.
to change the swing. press (quantum) and turn (knoby).
use swing to add grooviness to your beat!
note interval and swing apply before recording and not after, for more info see the quantum section.
hold (quantum) and press a paed to repeat that paed with the chosen note interval.
use it on a hi-hat to quickly record hats into your beat!
to record with a four beat count-in, tap (codex) then (fabula).
by default new patterns on Medieval will be set to 1 bar (len:1).
if you want a longer pattern just hold (codex) then press (plus).
next, lets add a bassline!
if you followed along with the recommendation in step 3, you should have some bass sounds in group (GROUPB).
press group (GROUPB) to play some bass sounds.
select one that you like then press (claves) to play that sound across the paeds like a keyboard!
if you’d like to change the scale of the paeds, this can be done in system settings.
press (fabula) to hear your beat and practice over it with your bassline.
once you have something you like, pause it by pressing (fabula) again.
then, hold (codex) and press on one of the paeds to record that paed to a step. use (minus) and (plus) to step through the pattern and record the bassline in.
alternatively, you can tap (codex) and (fabula) to get a four beat count-in and record it in!
if your bassline is longer than the pattern and you find yourself playing over it make sure to increase your pattern length by holding (codex) and pressing (PLUS).
next, lets add a melody!
if you followed along with the recommendation in step 3, you should have some melodic sounds in group (GROUPC).
press group (GROUPC) to play some melodic sounds.
select one that you like then press (claves) to play that sound across the paeds like a keyboard!
if you’d like to change the scale of the paeds, this can be done in system settings.
press (fabula) to hear your beat and practice over it with your melody.
once you have something you like, pause it by pressing (fabula) again.
then, hold (codex) and press on one of the paeds to record that paed to a step. use (minus) and (plus) to step through the pattern and record the melody in.
alternatively, you can tap (codex) and (fabula) to get a four beat count-in and record it in!
if your melody is longer than the pattern and you find yourself playing over it make sure to increase your pattern length by holding (codex) and pressing (PLUS).
sampling is a great way to record your own sounds into Medieval!
if you followed along with the recommendation in step 3, group (GROUPD) should be empty.
press group (GROUPD) then strike (altero) and (demus) to enter sample mode!
the paeds will flash to let you know that they can be sampled to. press one and sing, shout or rock out into the mic or line in!
as soon as you let go it will stop sampling and you can press the paed again to hear your sample.
press (manus) to go back to manus mode and add the sample into your beat.
now you can use the same techniques we used in the previous sections to play your sample(s) into your beat!
press (manus) to go back to manus mode and add the sample into your beat.
now you can use the same techniques we used in the previous sections to play your sample(s) into your beat!
turn the faedr up and use (minus)/(plus) to switch between the available pocus.
press (altero) and (manus) to committo your beat.
this will save the current patterns as a scene and create a new scene!
committing your beat is a great way to quickly build the layers in a song. or even starting something fresh!
when you committo it will duplicate your current scene allowing you to quickly add variations on your beat without overwriting the previous section.
committo as many times as you like while you are making a beat to quickly build out the structure of your song!
now press (fabula), hold down (pocus) and press the paeds.
this will add punch-in pocus which allow you to quickly and easily perform with your beat!
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