What You'll Learn
Week 1 covers two foundational sub-topics. Each one has specific, measurable objectives so you always know what "done" looks like.
Hardware Controls & Core Navigation
The Deluge's physical layout is the foundation of everything. Learn what every control does before you try to make music.
🎯 Learning Objectives
- Identify the main controls of the Deluge — pads, select knob, shortcut buttons, and I/O ports — with at least 90% accuracy.
- Navigate between Song View, Synth/Instrument View, Kit View, and Clip View without assistance in under 2 minutes.
📌 Key Controls to Know
The 16×8 Pad Grid
Your primary interface. In Song View, each row is a track. In Clip View, horizontal axis = time, vertical = pitch. In Kit View, rows represent different drum sounds.
Select Encoder
Turn to scroll presets and menus. Press + turn to zoom (time division). Hold Shift + turn to change clip length. Hold Shift + press to multiply length.
Gold Parameter Knobs
Top-right pair. Upper knob = Cutoff / Delay time. Lower knob = Resonance / Delay amount. Press for secondary functions (Reverb, Sidechain, Stutter).
BPM Knob & Volume
Black rotary = Tempo (±1 BPM per step, ±5 BPM with Shift). Swing from 1–99% when pressed. Volume knob adjusts master output and headphone level.
📐 The Four Main Views
Project Structure & Workflow Basics
Understand how the Deluge organises your music before you start making it. A clear mental model here prevents confusion for the rest of the sprint.
🎯 Learning Objectives
- Explain the difference between a Song, Track, Clip, Kit, and Synth in one clear sentence each.
- Create, save, reopen, and rename a basic project independently.
🏗️ Deluge Project Hierarchy
Song
The top-level project file stored on the SD card. Contains everything — tracks, clips, sounds, and settings. One song = one .XML file. The Deluge does NOT auto-save.
Track
A row in Song View. Each track holds clips of one type (synth, kit, MIDI, or audio). A track has a single instrument preset assigned at a time.
Clip
A looping sequence of notes or audio within a track. Clips can be any length. Multiple clips per track allow variation (verse, chorus, bridge).
Synth / Kit
The sound engine assigned to a track. A Synth plays pitched notes. A Kit maps multiple samples to individual pads (like a drum machine).
💾 Save, Load & Rename
Save button and press a pad to save to that slot. The Deluge will confirm with a brief blink. Load a song by holding Load and selecting a slot.- To save: hold Save → select a pad slot → confirm
- To rename: hold Save → hold the Select encoder → scroll to rename characters
- To load: hold Load → scroll to find your song → press Select to load
📚 Curated Resources for Week 1
All resources fit within the 3–4 hour weekly budget. Watch/read in order — earlier items provide context for later ones.
Sub-topic 1.1 — Hardware & Navigation
Sub-topic 1.2 — Project Structure
The Blind Navigation Test
Close all browser tabs and put your Deluge in front of you. Without looking at any guide, complete the following in one session:
- Power on the Deluge and identify (point to) every control described in the Controls article.
- Navigate to Song View, then into a Clip, then back to Song View — three times smoothly.
- Load a built-in preset synth patch.
- Change the tempo to exactly 120 BPM using the BPM knob.
- Save the project to slot 1 and give it a name.
- Power off, power back on, and reload your saved project from slot 1.
✅ Week 1 Completion Checklist
Tick each item when you can do it confidently without a guide. Your progress is saved in this browser automatically.
Week 2 — Sequencing & Sound Design
Program drum patterns and basslines. Build your first custom synth patch.