What You'll Learn
Week 2 covers two core skills: building patterns with the step sequencer, and shaping sounds with the synth engine. These two skills together let you create full musical ideas from scratch.
Sequencing Fundamentals
The Deluge's step sequencer is the heart of the machine. Learn to program patterns, change lengths, and understand how the grid represents time and pitch.
🎯 Learning Objectives
- Program a simple 1–2 bar drum pattern and a bassline using step sequencing.
- Change clip length, tempo, and playback behaviour to produce two clearly different patterns.
🎹 How the Sequencer Grid Works
Time (Horizontal)
Left column = beat 1. Each column further right = the next time step. Default zoom = 16th notes (16 steps = 1 bar). Zoom out to see/edit longer patterns.
Pitch (Vertical)
Bottom row = lowest note shown. Higher rows = higher pitch. For Kit clips, each row = a different drum sound instead of a pitch.
Entering Notes
Press any pad to toggle a note on/off at that step. Hold a note pad and press another pad to the right to set the note length. Press an active pad to remove it.
Note Parameters
Hold a note pad to access its parameters: velocity (how hard it plays), probability (chance of triggering), pitch offset, and more via the Select encoder.
🥁 Building Your First Drum Pattern
🎸 Playhead Directions
Sound Selection & Basic Synthesis
The Deluge has a fully-featured subtractive synth engine. You don't need a degree in synthesis — just learn the three key ingredients: oscillator, filter, and envelope.
🎯 Learning Objectives
- Load a preset synth sound and modify at least three basic parameters (filter, envelope, and oscillator settings).
- Build one simple custom patch that is recognisably different from the default preset.
🔊 The Three Building Blocks
Oscillator (OSC1 & OSC2)
Generates the raw sound. Choose from Sine, Triangle, Saw, Square waves, or a sample. Each wave has a different character: saw = bright/buzzy, square = hollow, sine = smooth. The Deluge has two oscillators — detune them slightly for a thick, layered sound.
Filter (Cutoff & Resonance)
Shapes which frequencies you hear. Cutoff = how bright/dark the sound is (upper Gold Knob). Resonance = emphasis at the cutoff frequency — high resonance creates a squelchy peak (lower Gold Knob). Turn cutoff fully closed to silence the sound, then open it while playing to hear the filter sweep.
Envelope (ADSR)
Attack = how quickly the sound rises. Decay = how quickly it falls after peak. Sustain = level held while note is on. Release = fade time after you lift the note. Short attack + no sustain = a percussive "pluck". Long attack + high sustain = a pad sound.
🛠️ Your First Custom Patch
- Load any preset synth. Enter the Sound view for that track.
- Set OSC1 to Saw wave. Set OSC2 to Square wave, then detune it by +7 semitones.
- Close the filter Cutoff to about 40% (upper Gold Knob). Set Resonance to 20%.
- Set Envelope: Attack = 0, Decay = short, Sustain = medium, Release = short.
- Play a sequence. Then change the filter Cutoff to 80% and hear the difference.
- Save your patch with a new name.
📚 Curated Resources for Week 2
Sub-topic 2.1 — Sequencing
Sub-topic 2.2 — Sound Design
The Two-Track Groove
Using only step sequencing and the synth engine, create a short loop with exactly two tracks:
- A Kit track with a 1-bar drum pattern (kick, snare, hi-hat minimum).
- A Synth track with a 2-bar bassline you programmed yourself.
- Modify the synth patch: change at least one oscillator waveform, adjust the filter cutoff, and tweak the envelope decay.
- Set both clips to loop and let them play together for at least 30 seconds without stopping.
- Save the project.
✅ Week 2 Completion Checklist
Tick each item when you can do it confidently. Progress is saved in your browser.
Week 3 — Kits, Sampling & Live Recording
Load and edit samples, build custom drum kits, and record notes live into clips.