Connect a piano and set up audio

Turn on a MIDI input

You need a piano or controller that sends MIDI and a connection that macOS recognizes.

1. Connect the device to your Mac.
2. Open Medussa > Settings… > Audio / MIDI.
3. In the list of MIDI sources, turn on the device you want to use.
4. If you just connected it and it doesn't appear, click Refresh Sources.
5. Open Instrument and select a sound.
6. Play a few notes and check that the matching keys light up.

You can turn on several sources at once. If you only want to hear one MIDI channel, use the channel selector on the live instrument. Omni (All Channels) accepts every channel; a specific channel ignores notes from the others.

MIDI carries notes and controls, not your piano's internal sound. What you hear in Medussa depends on the selected instrument.

Choose where you listen (audio output)

1. In Settings > Audio / MIDI, find Audio Output.
2. Choose the device: system output, headphones or an audio interface.
3. If it doesn't appear, refresh the device list.
4. Play or play back a few notes.
5. Open Mixer and check that neither the overall volume nor the instrument volume is at zero.

Adjust playing response (latency and buffer)

The buffer size affects the time between pressing a key and hearing it. A smaller value puts more load on your computer; a larger one can help when you hear dropouts.

1. Open Settings > Audio / MIDI and find the Audio Engine section.
2. Start from the automatic option or from a setting that works with your device.
3. If you notice a delay, try a smaller size.
4. If you hear clicks or dropouts, try a larger one.
5. Check the estimated latency and play again to compare.

The sample rate and available sizes depend on the output. Changing these settings restarts the audio engine. The device's bit depth is shown for information only; you choose the WAV quality when you export audio.

Check the pedal

1. Connect the pedal to your piano.
2. Play a note, hold the pedal down and release the key.
3. Check the sound and, if it's turned on, the sustain indicator.
4. In Settings > Scene > Sustain Pedal, choose the Sustain Mode: the lit key turns off when you release it, or it stays lit while the pedal is held down.

This setting changes what you see on screen; it doesn't remove sustain from the sound. Sustain is normally sent as CC64 and can be edited after recording.

If something isn't working, see No sound or no notes coming in.