Melodics^™ support

Melodics^™ FAQs

Account & Payment

• How do I sign up?

  To sign-up, download Melodics for free and follow the instructions in the app to create your account.

• What are the restrictions on the free plan for Melodics?

  We have a free plan available for those users who aren’t yet ready to subscribe to a full Melodics subscription, or want to get a better feel for the app before subscribing. There are 60 lessons available to play and practice with on the free plan. This is split across the Pads, Keys, and Electronic drums (20 lessons each).

  With the free plan you have up to 5 performance minutes per day. Performance minutes are counted as the time where you’re actually practicing and playing courses, lessons or exercises. It does’nt include time spent browsing around the Melodics app, or in the pre-play screen before a performance.

  Why only 5 performance minutes?

  The word practice can leave a bad taste in your mouth, at least as it’s used musically. However - practicing by repeating something over and over again is still the best way to improve, and that’s true of learning to play music as it is anything else. We’ve found that even with small practice sessions of just 5 minutes a day, your skills, timing & muscle memory will start to improve rapidly. That’s why we start you off with just 5 performance minutes per day to build good habits around your daily practice.

• How do I subscribe?

  You can purchase an annual or monthly subscription in three ways:

  1. By logging into your Melodics account on our website, (if you haven’t already, make sure you have downloaded the app, and created a free account first); or
  2. By opening the Melodics desktop app, and choosing a subscription in the Subscribe screen; or
  3. By downloading the iPad app from the App Store, and purchasing a subscription within the app itself. If you have an existing Melodics account, we strongly recommend you purchase a Melodics subscription directly from the Melodics website, or in the desktop app rather than purchasing a subscription within the iPad app itself (which otherwise will incur an additional 30% surcharge).

• What’s a Melodics subscription?

  Melodics is a prepaid subscription service that allows you unlimited access to the Melodics app, its features, and a huge library of great sounding lessons to practice and play with. With a Melodics subscription you can practice and play across all of our available instruments - Pads, Keys, and Electronic drums!

  As a Melodics subscriber, you are automatically charged either 1) monthly on the date you signed up on, or 2) annually on the date you signed up on, depending on which option you initially chose. Monthly subscribers are able to upgrade to an annual subscription at any time.

  As a Melodics subscriber you will continue to be charged unless you choose to cancel your subscription. Upon cancelling your subscription you will still have full access to the Melodics app until the end of your current payment period.

• What do I get with a Melodics subscription?

  With a Melodics subscription you get full access to the Melodics app, which means full access to all of the content and features inside across all instruments - Pads, Keys, and Drums! A Melodics subscription also unlocks unlimited play time, premium features such as Playground Mode and the Guided Path, as well as the fresh new content that gets regularly added.

  All current Melodics subscribers have access and usage of the iPad app as part of their existing Melodics plan. You do not need to purchase an additional subscription in the iPad app to use it.

• I’m not sure if Melodics is right for me, what should I do?

  Not a problem, that’s why we have the “Free” plan available so you can start to build your skills and get to know us better. There are 60 great lessons in there for you to take advantage of, and 5 performance minutes a day for you to build good habits and an active and confident relationship with music.

• What’s the difference between the monthly and annual subscription?

  With a monthly Melodics subscription you pay on a monthly recurring basis for full access to the Melodics app and all of its features. With an annual Melodics subscription you make an upfront payment for a full 12-months access to the Melodics app and all of its features. This is a recurring annual payment and will be automatically charged every 12-months unless canceled.

• What payment methods do you accept for a subscription?

  You can pay with a Visa or MasterCard credit/debit card, or via PayPal.

  If paying via PayPal you can use PayPal balance, as long as you have a credit card or bank account linked to you PayPal Wallet. PayPal will use up any PayPal balance first before drawing from the attached payment method.

• What currency are the prices in?

  All prices are currently shown and charged in USD.

• I’m trying to pay by credit card, but it won’t work – what gives?

  First thing to check is make sure that your bank allows transactions with foreign merchants. We're based in New Zealand.

  It’s also worth waiting for 5 minutes before trying again. Some banks will block repeat transactions that occur within a very short time frame, as part of what they do to stop credit card fraud.

  If all else fails, get in touch with us.

• How do I update my payment information?

  Visit melodics.com/account/ and scroll down to update your payment details.

• How do I cancel my Melodics subscription?

  You can cancel your Melodics subscription at any time.

  1. Visit melodics.com/account/ and log in with your account details.
  2. Scroll down and click on the “Change plan” button.
  3. On the right-hand side you’ll then see a “Cancel your subscription” link to click on.
  4. Follow the instructions from there to cancel your account.

  If you’re paying via PayPal, you can also cancel your Melodics subscription within your PayPal account by choosing to cancel your recurring payment to Melodics.

• What happens when I cancel my Melodics subscription?

  Upon canceling your Melodics subscription you’ll still have full access to Melodics until the end of your current payment period. If you have an Annual subscription, that means you will still have full access for 12 months following your previous annual payment.

  After canceling your Melodics subscription and reaching the end of the last payment period, your account will be downgraded to a “free” account, and you’ll still have access to practice and play all of the free lessons for 5 performance minutes per day.

  Please note that there are no refunds for unused time in your Melodics account should you cancel your subscription early.

• Where can I see my current plan and price?

  Visit melodics.com/account/ and scroll down to see your current Melodics subscription details.

• How can I change my plan?

  Visit melodics.com/account/ and scroll down to make any changes to your current Melodics subscription.

• Where do I put my promo code?

  Go to the “You” screen in Melodics. You can enter your code in the “Promo Codes” tab on the left hand side.

• How do I delete my Melodics account and data?

  If you wish to delete your Melodics account and don’t mind losing the progress you’ve made, you can get in touch with us and we’ll delete your account. We can also delete all data associated with your account in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) when requested.

• I forgot my password. How do I reset it?

  In the Melodics app, just enter your email address and then click “Forgot password?” You'll be sent a code which will allow you to reset your password.

• My streak is wrong – what gives?

  Streaks can be broken if you play Melodics offline or if you have a dodgy internet connection. If you think there has been an error, get in touch with us and we can help you out.

Using Melodics / Getting Started

• What are the minimum specs for Melodics?

  Melodics runs on Mac OS X 10.13 or later.

  Melodics runs on Windows 10 (64bit only).

  Minimum Processor: i3: 1.07GHz 64bit or equivalent.
  Minimum screen resolution: 1280 x 720
  Memory: 512 MB

  1GB of free hard drive space.

  Note: You do not need a MIDI controller, but it is much better with one.

• How do I download Melodics?

  You can download Melodics from our home page. Note: you need to download Melodics onto a compatible Windows or Mac desktop computer / laptop. If you’re trying to download on a mobile device, we’ll send you handy link so you can download it on your computer later!

• Can I download a 32bit version of Melodics?

  No, Melodics only supports 64bit operating systems and hardware.

• Can I use Melodics on my iPad?

  Yes! Melodics for iPad will work on most iPads running iOS 12 or later. You can download Melodics on your iPad from the App Store.

• Do I need to download a separate app for keys, drums, and pads?

  No! You can try out all three instruments for free within the one app, and play 20 free lessons. Easily change instrument by clicking “switch instrument” at the top left of the main Melodics navigation bar.

  

  Subscribe to unlock all 400+ lessons, 30 Courses, unlimited play time, and get access to new content every week!

• Can I play Melodics offline?

  Melodics requires an internet connection to download content in the background. But once this is done, yes, you can play Melodics offline. Here’s what you won’t get:

  • Practice goals
  • New lessons
  • Audio previews
  • Some images might not load

  Other than that – you can play it all!

• What are the free sample packs and how do I use them?

  The more you practice, the more chance you’ll be rewarded with free sample packs! These are royalty free samples that you can use for your own music production. Check out our blog for more information about this.

• Can I make my own lessons?

  Not yet! But we’ve got 800+ lessons covering all sorts of styles, and are adding new content weekly. Let us know if you can’t find what you’re looking for!

• Why won't lessons download?

  Melodics requires an internet connection to download content. If you're having trouble starting a lesson, check that you are connected to a stable internet connection. Try disabling any firewalls / VPN / proxies that may be interfering.

  Make sure your app is up to date! Melodics will prompt you to update when one is available, or you can always re-download the latest version from our website.

  If you're still having issues, get in touch with us and we’ll help you out.

• Can I control Melodics using keyboard shortcuts?

  Yes! You can view our full keyboard shortcut list here.

• Can I slow lessons down so that I can concentrate on figuring out the pattern?

  Why yes, yes you can. For this, you need practice mode. When you go into the Play screen, you’ll see the option for practice mode at the top of the screen.

  

  You can slow the lesson right down, and it will loop forever. You can also pause the lesson during playback for a deeper look at at difficult sections. For more information on how Practice Mode works, check out this guide!

Connected instrument settings

• What do all the ‘connected instruments’ settings mean?

  In the settings screen, you’ll find a range of settings for your connected instruments.

  Selected instrument: If your instrument is one Melodics recognises you can select it here and you’re good to go. If it doesn’t appear in this list, don’t worry – click the ‘map your instrument’ button below to create a mapping.

  Map your controller: If your instrument is not on the supported devices list, you can create your own mapping for it. Click the ‘map your instrument’ button and follow the instructions to create a [USER] mapping.

  Revert all mappings: If you've previously mapped your instrument because Melodics didn’t automatically recognise it, or if you made a mistake when you mapped it, clicking this button will remove any and all of your mappings.

  For more information on Melodics settings, visit this page.

• Hit sensitivity setting

  For drums you can adjust your instrument sensitivity. This setting only appears when you have drums selected as your instrument. For more information, check out this guide on Melodics settings.

• I don’t have a MIDI instrument – do I need one?

  Well…no, but it is much better experience with one with one!

  • Melodics Pads: you can use your computer keyboard as a 4×4 controller.
  • Melodics Keys: you can use your computer keyboard, but it doesn’t cover a full range of keys and you won’t be able to complete many lessons, but it’s enough to give you an idea of how awesome Melodics is.
  • Melodics Drums: you can use your computer keyboard, but drumming is all about technique so you'll get the most out of our drum lessons by using an electronic drum kit.

• Will my instrument work with Melodics?

  View a list of all supported devices here.

• I’ve got an instrument that’s not on your supported devices list, how do I make it work?

  Almost all MIDI instruments will work with Melodics, you may just need to manually map it first. Go to the “Settings” screen in Melodics and hit the “Map your controller” button and follow the on screen instructions.

• I tried manually mapping my instrument but it still doesn’t work – what gives?

  If Melodics isn't seeing your connected instrument, try using a different USB cable or USB port on your computer. Also try resetting your controller to factory settings. You may need to refer to the user manual to see how to do this.

  If you’re still not having any luck, check out our Keyboard, Pads, and Drums setup guides.

• Can I map the play / stop buttons?

  Most instrument’s transport controls will work in Melodics. If not, try hitting “Revert all mappings” and reselect your instrument from the dropdown menu if available.

• I remapped my instrument but something weird happened, how do I go back to the default?

  Easy. Go to the “Settings” screen, and on the right under the list of connected devices there’s an option to “Revert all mappings” – just click that.

  

Audio Settings

• What do all the audio settings mean?

  In the settings screen, you'll find a range of settings for your audio output.

  Selected Device: this is your audio output device. Normally ‘OS default’ is the best setting but if you‘re using an external audio interface, you can select this as your output here.

  Outputting on channels: If your audio interface has multiple outputs to choose from, you can select the specific outputs you would like to use. This option will only appear if your have multiple outputs to choose from.

  Latency: the latency slider allows you to increase / decrease your buffer size. If you‘re experiencing latency, make sure this slider is in its lowest setting. If you're experiencing distortion, try increasing the slider until the distortion is gone.

  Use in exclusive mode: this setting is for Windows only. With exclusive mode on, you may be able to achieve lower latency. Be aware that while using your audio device in exclusive mode, system audio and audio from other applications will not be able to use your audio device at the same time. Close Melodics or turn off this setting to allow other applications to use your audio device again.

  Master Volume: you can change the over all volume level of Melodics with this slider. This will affect all audio in the app, including app sounds.

  Play test audio: this button will play a short audio clip to test your sound. If you're adjusting your audio settings or volume, you can quickly test the result with this button.

  For more information on Melodics settings, visit this page.

• How do I connect my audio interface?

  You should be able to choose your audio interface in the “Settings” screen in Melodics under “Audio Output”. Make sure you have installed any necessary drivers before launching Melodics. You may need to check with the manufacturer on how to do this.

• Why does it sound distorted?

  Distortion can sometimes be cause by latency issues. Try raising the latency slider in the Settings to see if that helps.

  If you’re using any external audio hardware like an audio interface, try increasing the buffer size settings for this. You may need to check your manual on how to do this.

  Still having issues? If your headphones are USB based, try using headphones with an audio jack!

• My audio is lagging. Why doesn’t the latency slider help?

  Some audio output devices are faster to respond than others. If you’re noticing a significant delay between when you hit a note and when you hear the note, you may need to troubleshoot your audio setup.

  Are you using bluetooth speakers? Try using something connected via a cable instead. Make sure all your audio drivers are up to date. If you’re using your computer’s built-in speakers or headphone output, you may find ASIO4ALL drivers can reduce your latency. (Applicable to Windows only.) Windows users can also try using the ‘use in exclusive mode’ option in settings. View this page for more information.

• Why does Melodics stop all other audio apps from making sound?

  We do this to get lower latency and better performance. If you want to, you can switch it off by turning off the ‘use in exclusive mode’ option in settings. View this page for more information.

• I plugged in my headphones, why can’t I hear anything inMelodics?

  On many Windows computers, the headphones are a different audio interface. When you switch audio interface, audio stops.

  To fix this, just open the “Settings” screen in Melodics, and reselect your audio output device.

• How do I turn off the Metronome?

  You can turn off the metronome by clicking on the metronome settings in the top left hand corner of the lesson play screen (see screenshot below) and select “Off”.

  You will still hear the metronome during the “count-in” intro before the lesson begins, but you won‘t hear this during the lesson itself.

  

• How can I change the metronome volume, or turn the guide track off so I can just hear what I’m playing?

  You can do this within lessons using the inbuilt mixer. Adjust the metronome, your notes, guide notes and the backing track levels direct from the play view.

  You can also pick your metronome, with the familiar sounds of Ableton Live, Logic, Maschine, and many more. Click the metronome icon in the top left corner of the playback screen to choose.

  

Melodics Pads

• Is my pad controller supported?

  View a list of all supported devices here. If your controller isn’t on the list, you can still map it using the “Map your controller" feature. Check out this guide for more information on how this works.

• How do I connect my pad controller?

  Connect your pad controller to your computer via USB. Our supported devices do not require mapping, just plug in and play. If your pad controller isn’t supported, just hit the ‘map your controller’ button in settings. Refer to our pads connection guide for more information.

• Can I try Pads lessons with just my computer keyboard?

  You do not need a pad controller, but it is much better with one. Your computer keyboard can be used as a 4x4 controller.

• Why are some of my pads triggering twice?

  Check that you don’t have “note repeat“ or an arpeggiator turned on for your controller. Also check that your controller pad sensitivity isn’t set too high. Most pads are quite sensitive, so you shouldn’t need to press too hard.

  Put the device on a solid surface when you are performing. If the play surface is unsteady or bouncy, you’re more likely to experience undesirable play characteristics such as over-sensitivity (double triggers), or under-sensitivity (missed notes).

• The pads on my controller stopped lighting up, how do I get that back?

  This is probably because you remapped your controller. User mappings don’t have pad lighting. If your controller is a supported device, go go back to the default mapping – and get the lighting back – by hitting the “Revert all mappings” button in the Settings screen.

• Why does Melodics say I need 16 pads to play a lesson?

  Some lessons require 16 pads specifically in a 4x4 layout. If your controller has 16 pads but is configured in a 8x2 layout, unfortunately it won’t be compatible. Don’t worry, you can still complete these lessons using your computer keyboard!

• How do I know which finger I should use on each pad?

  In the pre-play screen, you’ll see that every pad is either blue or yellow – blue pads are played with your left hand, yellow with your right. If there is a number on the pad, that number corresponds with the number above the “hands” illustrations to show you what finger to use.

• Can I change the layout of the pads?

  Melodics lessons are all designed with specific learning outcomes. We’ve chosen each layout to teach specific techniques and make it a challenge.

  That being said, a lot of pads players have their own preferences, so you can also edit the layout to your needs. Check out this guide for more information.

• Why do some of the finger positions say C1, C2 etc?

  For the cue point drumming style lessons, C stands for cue point. For most lessons, you want to set the cue points on the beats within a bar, so C1 goes on the first beat, C2 goes on the second, etc.

  There will be some lessons where the cue points go in other places, so check out the descriptions in each lesson.

  Generally with cue point drumming lessons, you can use any finger.

• Why don’t the pad numbers match my hardware?

  Most hardware manufactures follow the pad numbering that was established in 1988 with the release of the MPC60. Pad 1 is in the bottom left corner.

  Most, but not all.

  To be consistent across our lessons, regardless of what your hardware says, in Melodics Pad 1 is always in the bottom left corner.

• How do I get my Native Instruments Maschine to work with Melodics?

  For all Maschine controllers, you'll need to download the Melodics templates for NI Controller Editor. Check out this guide for more information.

• My ROLI Lightpad Block isn’t working properly – what gives?

  Open ROLI Dashboard and choose “Melodics” under the “Apps” tab. Refer to our ROLI Lightpad Block connection guide for more information.

Melodics Keys

• Is my keyboard supported?

  View a list of all supported devices here. If your keyboard isn’t on the list, you can still map it using the “Map your controller” feature. Check out this guide for more information on how this works.

• How do I connect my MIDI keyboard?

  Connect your keyboard to your computer via USB. Our supported devices do not require mapping, just plug in and play. If your keyboard isn't supported, just hit the ‘map your controller’ button in settings. Refer to our keyboard connection guide for more information.

• Can I try Keys lessons with just my computer keyboard?

  Yes, and the layout is like this:

  

• Why can’t I reach the higher / lower notes?

  Your keyboard might be set to an octave higher or lower than what’s required to play this lesson. Just use the controls on your keyboard to change up or down an octave (check your user manual for how to do this).

• How do I know which fingers to use on which keys?

  When you open a lesson you’ll enter the finger placement screen, which shows you both the notes you’ll need to play on the keyboard and the fingers on each hand you should be playing these with.

  Play around here until you get a feel for the different notes or chords, then give the lesson a go!

  

• What’s the difference between playing lessons and exercises?

  Exercises are a zen-like contrast to the error focussed and feedback driven lesson experience. One that instead rewards patience, concentration and repetition. The idea is to keep practicing the exercise until you feel confident and ready for the next lesson in the course.

• Will Melodics teach me to read music?

  Our Melodics lessons relate to the wider world of written music. You may notice that the design of these hints at the bass and treble clef of piano sheet music. This is designed to sub-consciously develop your spatial recognition of key interval structures and make it easier for you to transfer your learning between different contexts.

• My ROLI Seaboard Block isn’t working properly – what gives?

  Open ROLI Dashboard and Select “Single Channel” on the left panel. Refer to our ROLI Seaboard Block connection guide for more information.

• Can I play Keys lessons with my LaunchPad Pro?

  Yes you can, and here's how.

Melodics Drums

• Are my drums supported?

  View a list of all supported devices here. If your drums aren’t on the list, you can still map them using the “Map your controller” feature. Check out this guide for more information on how this works.

• How do I connect my kit?

  Connect your kit to your computer via USB. Our supported devices do not require mapping, just plug in and play. If your drums aren’t supported, just hit the ‘map your controller’ button in settings. If you’re using a MIDI – USB interface, you will need to manually map your kit. Refer to our drums connection guide for more information.

• Can I try Drums lessons with just my computer keyboard?

  Drums lessons are designed for electronic drum kits. Because drumming is all about timing and technique, you will get the most out of our lessons using MIDI drums.

  If you don’t have a kit but would like to check out some Drums lessons, you can use your computer keyboard. The layout is like this:

  

• My kit is connected – why can’t I play any lessons?

  You’ll need to make sure your kit is sending standard MIDI on MIDI channel 10. Try resetting your drum module to factory settings to fix this. Refer to our drums connection guide for more information.

• Why aren’t some of my drums triggering properly?

  This could be because your drums are sending a different MIDI note to what we’re expecting. Melodics is expecting to get these MIDI notes. Try factory resetting your drums. Refer to our drums connection guide for more information.

• I can’t reach my computer to restart the lesson – are there any shortcuts?

  Yes! Hitting your high and mid toms together with your kick and hi-hat pedals will start / restart the lesson.

• Can I use my own drum sounds with Melodics lessons?

  We recommend using Melodics drum sounds, as they are designed to suit each lesson. That being said, if you’d like an extra challenge you can try using your module’s drum sounds instead. Here’s a guide on how to set that up.