Getting started

Open a sample session (the shortest path)

Medussa includes two ready-made pieces so you can see how everything works without looking for your own files.

Choose File > Sample Sessions.
Choose Bach — Präludium in C-Dur, BWV 846 or Clementi — Sonatina in C, Op. 36 No. 3.
Go to Visualizer and click Play.

Both come with split hands, their visual settings and training plans ready to go. They open as a new session, with no file: the first time you press Cmd+S it behaves like Save As… and you choose where your copy goes. The original sample is never modified.

From a MIDI file to your first video

In this example you'll play a piece, change its look, save the session and export a video. All you need is a .mid or .midi file; you don't need to connect a piano.

1. Open a piece

Choose File > New Session.
Choose File > Import MIDI… or press Cmd+I.
Select your file and open it.
If the file has more than two voices, Medussa asks which one is each hand. Choose one for the right hand and another for the left, or cancel the split to import everything as right hand.
Go to Visualizer from the mode selector.

You'll see the piece's notes in the waterfall and its layout in the MIDI overview. Splitting hands is covered in full in Playing MIDI.

2. Listen to it

Open the Instrument panel in the top bar.
Select System Piano to start with a built-in sound.
Click Play.
Check that the notes reach the keyboard as they sound.
Click Pause if you want to continue later from that point, or Stop to return to where you started playback.

If you see notes but hear no sound, check Connection and audio.

3. Give it your own look

Open Medussa > Settings… with Cmd+, and go to the Scene tab.
In the Appearance Profiles section, try one of the twelve built-in cards: they change colors, layers, background and floor all at once.
In Particles, turn them on and choose one of their presets.
In Keys or Waterfall, adjust any colors you like.
Play a section to check the result in motion.

A few changes are enough for now. Later you can explore all the visualizers, their presets and the profiles.

4. Save the session

Press Cmd+S.
Type a name, for example, "My first video".
Choose the folder and save the .mdss file.

This file lets you pick up the work later. Exporting a video doesn't replace saving the session.

5. Export the video

Open File > Export Video… with Cmd+Shift+E.
Choose 16:9, 1080p, 30 fps and MP4 (H.264) for this example.
Check that the bar range covers the whole piece.
Turn on Include Audio and the instrument. Turn off the metronome if you don't want it to be heard.
Click Export Video, choose the destination and wait for it to finish.
Open the file and check the picture and sound.

You now have your first video. To export in 4K, with transparency or audio only, continue with Exporting. For a vertical video, see Camera and framing.

Connect a piano and record your first performance

Connect the piano or MIDI controller to your Mac.
Open Settings > Audio / MIDI and enable its input. If it doesn't show up, click Refresh Sources.
In Instrument, choose a built-in sound and play a few notes: they should sound and appear on screen.
Create a new session and go to Visualizer or Editor.
With playback stopped, click REC. The button stays armed, waiting for playback to start.
Click Play or press the Space bar and play a phrase.
Click Stop to end the take.
Play back the recording and press Cmd+S to save it.

Everything you play live comes in as right hand. If you want part of it to show in the left-hand colors, mark it later in the editor: Marking the hands.

To fix the take, open MIDI editing. To record over existing material, see MIDI recording.

Do a first practice with the metronome

Open Free Practice from its button in the top bar.
Set 60 BPM, a 4/4 time signature and a Count-Off of one bar.
Start practicing with the panel's control.
After the count-off, play one note per beat.
Stop practicing and check History.

The log of time practiced is different from an editable MIDI take. Continue with Free and block practice.