Comments on: Alesis Unveils Drum Trigger Interface, Drum Pads http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/07/19/alesis-unveils-drum-trigger-interface-drum-pads/ The latest gear, software, and techniques for electronic music production and performance Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:04:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: 'EL'E'VEN http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/07/19/alesis-unveils-drum-trigger-interface-drum-pads/#comment-292106 'EL'E'VEN Tue, 23 Oct 2007 16:18:14 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/07/19/alesis-unveils-drum-trigger-interface-drum-pads/#comment-292106 Regarding Samson's Beard's last comment. It's true what you say about the bass drum 'foot-switch' - though you could always use one of the trigger inputs with a bass pedal and pad and that would sought that out. Hi-Hat: what you say about the hi-hat input is not true. We use the control pad in the studio hooked up to a full working version of BFD and a hi-hat pedal connected to the hi-hat input. When we play the hi-hat on the controller the opens and closes it - no problem. However, you have to do reasign the pad note number to play the hi-hat on note 34 (NOT 42). In BFD, this is the default note number for the opening/closing hi-hat. Hope this is a help to anyone. el-e-ven.com Regarding Samson’s Beard’s last comment.

It’s true what you say about the bass drum ‘foot-switch’ - though you could always use one of the trigger inputs with a bass pedal and pad and that would sought that out.

Hi-Hat: what you say about the hi-hat input is not true. We use the control pad in the studio hooked up to a full working version of BFD and a hi-hat pedal connected to the hi-hat input. When we play the hi-hat on the controller the opens and closes it - no problem. However, you have to do reasign the pad note number to play the hi-hat on note 34 (NOT 42). In BFD, this is the default note number for the opening/closing hi-hat.

Hope this is a help to anyone.

el-e-ven.com

]]> By: Samson's Beard http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/07/19/alesis-unveils-drum-trigger-interface-drum-pads/#comment-288532 Samson's Beard Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:14:40 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/07/19/alesis-unveils-drum-trigger-interface-drum-pads/#comment-288532 I've got the CONTROL PAD. It pretty much does what it says..... However, The bass-drum "foot-switch" only transmits at a fixed velocity of 64. The hi-hat foot-switch doesn't actually do much at all. It triggers for sure (whatever note you want at 64), but doesn't let you alternate the main hi-hat pad between OPEN and CLOSED hi-hat. - - I’ve got the CONTROL PAD.
It pretty much does what it says…..

However,
The bass-drum “foot-switch” only transmits at a fixed velocity of 64.

The hi-hat foot-switch doesn’t actually do much at all. It triggers for sure (whatever note you want at 64), but doesn’t let you alternate the main hi-hat pad between OPEN and CLOSED hi-hat.

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]]> By: launchpad http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/07/19/alesis-unveils-drum-trigger-interface-drum-pads/#comment-223671 launchpad Sat, 14 Jul 2007 17:13:48 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/07/19/alesis-unveils-drum-trigger-interface-drum-pads/#comment-223671 Frog- I had a similar problem with triggering soft synths.I found that the note gate(the time beyween a note on and a note off) is so short it confuses a lot of non drum software.My solution was to run the CP's midi signal through a midi proccessor(midipipe on a mac) and add a 100ms to the note length before you get to your main program.Works great now. I called Alesis and made them aware of the problem.I don't know if all have this problem or just some. Frog- I had a similar problem with triggering soft synths.I found that the note gate(the time beyween a note on and a note off) is so short it confuses a lot of non drum software.My solution was to run the CP’s midi signal through a midi proccessor(midipipe on a mac) and add a 100ms to the note length before you get to your main program.Works great now. I called Alesis and made them aware of the problem.I don’t know if all have this problem or just some.

]]> By: Frog http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/07/19/alesis-unveils-drum-trigger-interface-drum-pads/#comment-129767 Frog Wed, 28 Feb 2007 07:39:06 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/07/19/alesis-unveils-drum-trigger-interface-drum-pads/#comment-129767 I have been playing around with the Control Pad, using it to trigger Reason devices. It works great with Redrum and the NN 19, but I am having problems triggering the NN-XT and Dr. Rex. Has anyone tried this thing, and had success with these two devices? Solution? The Control Pad is worth the money. I dig it. I'm a person tired of repetitive beats, and lame fills. This works great with triggering my keyboard, and using the Redrum and the NN 19 in Reason. I have been playing around with the Control Pad, using it to trigger Reason devices. It works great with Redrum and the NN 19, but I am having problems triggering the NN-XT and Dr. Rex. Has anyone tried this thing, and had success with these two devices? Solution? The Control Pad is worth the money. I dig it. I’m a person tired of repetitive beats, and lame fills. This works great with triggering my keyboard, and using the Redrum and the NN 19 in Reason.

]]> By: Mark Henke http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/07/19/alesis-unveils-drum-trigger-interface-drum-pads/#comment-100688 Mark Henke Wed, 10 Jan 2007 21:21:40 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/07/19/alesis-unveils-drum-trigger-interface-drum-pads/#comment-100688 Trying to Find out the Dims of the unit and or the Individual PAD? It is not listed on the Alesis Website or the Distributor! Also whether It comes with a stand or where to buy the add-ons to it i.e the Kick Contoller or Hat Controller etc. Also I hate when they list products but they are not available yet (at least not in Canada). I guess we don't count or make music here!!! Trying to Find out the Dims of the unit and or the Individual PAD? It is not listed on the Alesis Website or the Distributor! Also whether It comes with a stand or where to buy the add-ons to it i.e the Kick Contoller or Hat Controller etc.
Also I hate when they list products but they are not available yet (at least not in Canada). I guess we don’t count or make music here!!!

]]> By: Decktone http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/07/19/alesis-unveils-drum-trigger-interface-drum-pads/#comment-60462 Decktone Mon, 11 Dec 2006 17:34:18 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/07/19/alesis-unveils-drum-trigger-interface-drum-pads/#comment-60462 I'd wanna know if is possible to trigger Roland's DR-808 using an Alesis drum control pad and wich pad stand could fit to the Alesis pad. I’d wanna know if is possible to trigger Roland’s DR-808 using an Alesis drum control pad and wich pad stand could fit to the Alesis pad.

]]> By: Martin Greet http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/07/19/alesis-unveils-drum-trigger-interface-drum-pads/#comment-59752 Martin Greet Sun, 10 Dec 2006 04:57:32 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/07/19/alesis-unveils-drum-trigger-interface-drum-pads/#comment-59752 Is there any chance Alesis might one day offer an expanded version of the Control Pad, something suitable for vibraphone/marimba players like me? Presently, midi controllers resembling mallet percussion instruments start with Alternate Mode's Mallet Kat ($2239US). It has 37 pads and IMHO a lot of unnecessary features. A simple, inexpensive pad-based midi controller set out like a mallet instrument would be welcome indeed. Is there any chance Alesis might one day offer an expanded version of the Control Pad, something suitable for vibraphone/marimba players like me? Presently, midi controllers resembling mallet percussion instruments start with Alternate Mode’s Mallet Kat ($2239US). It has 37 pads and IMHO a lot of unnecessary features. A simple, inexpensive pad-based midi controller set out like a mallet instrument would be welcome indeed.

]]> By: Iain http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/07/19/alesis-unveils-drum-trigger-interface-drum-pads/#comment-50573 Iain Mon, 13 Nov 2006 03:04:16 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/07/19/alesis-unveils-drum-trigger-interface-drum-pads/#comment-50573 MIDI is transmitted at 31.25 kilobits per second, which is not a lot if you are using continuous controllers, multi channels and chords etc.... USB 1.1 runs at 12 mega bits per second, and while no real standard exists for MIDI on USB 1.1, unlike ieee1394 Firewire, it is plenty fast for sending loads of MIDI data, without compromising bandwidth. Especially if only sending drum trigger info, which doesn't use much bandwidth, as you are limited to two sticks and two feet, and usually a hi hat pedal is the only continuous controller. The speed of USB also has a positive effect on the latency, although it is not electrically isolated between devices, unlike MIDI cables. MIDI is transmitted at 31.25 kilobits per second, which is not a lot if you are using continuous controllers, multi channels and chords etc…. USB 1.1 runs at 12 mega bits per second, and while no real standard exists for MIDI on USB 1.1, unlike ieee1394 Firewire, it is plenty fast for sending loads of MIDI data, without compromising bandwidth. Especially if only sending drum trigger info, which doesn’t use much bandwidth, as you are limited to two sticks and two feet, and usually a hi hat pedal is the only continuous controller. The speed of USB also has a positive effect on the latency, although it is not electrically isolated between devices, unlike MIDI cables.

]]> By: BobbyC http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/07/19/alesis-unveils-drum-trigger-interface-drum-pads/#comment-35190 BobbyC Wed, 27 Sep 2006 11:14:36 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/07/19/alesis-unveils-drum-trigger-interface-drum-pads/#comment-35190 Jim, if you are still here... Can you please tell us if the USB 1.1 interface is going to cause an issue with triggering latency? Jim, if you are still here… Can you please tell us if the USB 1.1 interface is going to cause an issue with triggering latency?

]]> By: JBV http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/07/19/alesis-unveils-drum-trigger-interface-drum-pads/#comment-31010 JBV Tue, 12 Sep 2006 15:38:02 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/07/19/alesis-unveils-drum-trigger-interface-drum-pads/#comment-31010 I agree with Corey, I've been wanting something simple like this for a while too. Plug & play, portable and inexpensive(so I don't freak if I lose it/break it.) Thanks for the update on this, already ordered one. I agree with Corey, I’ve been wanting something simple like this for a while too. Plug & play, portable and inexpensive(so I don’t freak if I lose it/break it.) Thanks for the update on this, already ordered one.

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