User manual ALESIS DM5

[. . . ] ALESIS DM5 Reference Manual INTRODUCTION Thank you for purchasing the Alesis DM5 18 Bit Drum Module. To take full advantage of the DM5's functions, and to enjoy long and trouble-free use, please read this user's manual carefully. HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL This manual is divided into the following sections describing the various modes of the DM5. Though we recommend you take time to read through the entire manual once carefully, those having general knowledge about drum modules and MIDI should use the table of contents to reference specific functions while using the instrument. Deals with the necessary preparation before playing, including connections to external devices. [. . . ] Decide which two voices should be individual voices, such as kick and snare; assign these to the Aux outputs, and all other drums (panned as desired) to the Main outputs. Thus, the kick will appear in the left aux output, and the snare will appear in the right aux output. These outputs can feed different signal processors and then be sent to a mixing board. Make sure that the drums selected for individual outputs are panned to the extreme left or right in the DM5. Otherwise, some of the sound from one drum will leak into the other output. Separate Percussion/Drum Outputs: Standard drum kit sounds can be spread in stereo and assigned to the main outputs, with percussion sounds spread in stereo and assigned to the Aux outputs. Run the outputs to a mixing console, and you can treat the drum kit and percussion sounds as two submixes. This technique might also be useful if you're recording the part on tape; feed the drums to two tape tracks, and the percussion to two other tracks. Adjust the balance between the two in the mix, or fade the percussion in and out independently of the trap drum sounds. Or, process the two groups individually. 30 DM5 Reference Manual Overview: Chapter 4 DRUM SET Press [DRUM SET], and the display shows the selected Drum Set number on the left side and the Drum Set's name on the top line. To select a particular Drum Set, turn the [VALUE] knob. Drum Set selection and management is covered in more detail in Chapter 2. EXT TRIG Press [EXT TRIG], and the display shows the Trigger input at the bottom and Trigger Characteristics on the top line, and the note associated with the Trigger in the middle. External triggering is a complex topic and is described in detail in Chapter 6. GROUP Press [GROUP], and the display shows the selected MIDI note number in the middle and the assigned Drum's mode on the top line. There are four options: Multi: When triggering a note repeatedly, each trigger will cause the sound to go through its entire decay. This is useful with cymbals, since early strikes continue to decay as you play later strikes. Single: When triggering a note repeatedly, a new hit will automatically terminate any sound that is still decaying. This is useful with many percussion sounds (such as tambourine, agogo, etc. ). Group 1 and 2: A newly-triggered voice assigned to a particular group (1 or 2) will cut off a voice assigned to the same group if the older voice is still sustaining. The classic use of this is with hi-hats; a closed high-hat will cut off an open hi-hat, and hitting an open hi-hat sound will cut off a closed hi-hat. DM5 Reference Manual 31 Chapter 4: Overview The DM5 can play up to 16 voices at a time, so it's possible to run out of voices if you play a flurry of notes and have lots of drum sounds assigned to Multi mode. If 16 sounds are playing and you ask the DM5 to play another one, the sound that's closest to finishing its decay cycle will be "stolen" so that the most recent sound can be played. In practice, it's difficult (and usually not artistically desirable!) to create drum parts so complex that voice-stealing becomes a problem. However, if this is a problem, try assigning all the toms to a group so that they only use up one voice at a time. See page 17 for more information. MIDI Press [MIDI], and the display shows the first of five pages which let you access the DM5's various MIDI parameters. MIDI options are described in detail in Chapter 5. COPYING A NOTE'S PARAMETERS TO ANOTHER After editing a note's Voice, Tune, Mix, Output, and Group parameters, you may wish to copy these settings to another note number. [. . . ] This will reset all MIDI and Trigger parameters and all of the Drum Sets to their default settings, and will initialize the edit buffer. CHECKING SOFTWARE VERSION The current software version may be determined by simultaneously pressing both [ ] and [ ] buttons. The DM5 will momentarily indicate the current software version installed in the top line of the display. MAINTENANCE/SERVICE CLEANING Disconnect the AC cord, then use a damp cloth to clean the keyboard's metal and plastic surfaces. For heavy dirt, use a non-abrasive household cleaner such as Formula 409 or Fantastik. DO NOT SPRAY THE CLEANER DIRECTLY ONTO THE FRONT OF THE UNIT AS IT MAY DESTROY THE LUBRICANTS USED IN THE SWITCHES AND CONTROLS! [. . . ]