Playing "live" drums - Alesis D4/Sampler?

Sir Dingo · 17th April 2004

I'm wanting to play electronic drum pads with live drum samples rather than simply programming, to get the feel of a real drummer, but I've struck a problem...

I've hooked up my drum pads to my Alesisi D4 - works great - but the D4 internal sounds aren't so great, so...

I connected the MIDI out of the D4 to my EMU sampler hoping that I could use the drum pads via the D4 to trigger some great drum samples I've got in the EMU sampler, but....

when I hit the drum pads, it only triggers the first part of the sample for a mini millisecond (as long as the duration of the hit on the pads).

What am I doing wrong? Some of the samples are 0.5 secs or longer with room ambience, etc.

Anyone please help!!

**DrDeltaM** · 17th April 2004

It's a setting in the EMU sampler. Now it plays the sample till it gets a Midi note-off command, so almost immediately. You've to set it that it plays the full sample on trigger. Dunno how it's called on an EMU: One-shot or Play till release or something like that. That setting should be on the place where you can set if a sample loops or not etc.

Succes!

Dave Martin · 17th April 2004

There ough tto be some setting in the EMU to ignore note off information. You might also want use something like the KAT Midikiti, and leave the D4 out of the equation (I've never found the D4 to be that fast - the lag between hitting the pad and hearing the samples drives me crazy.)

lofi · 18th April 2004

well I tried D4 and you are right - too slow and crappy sounds.

I am going to try soft sampler route. just ordered roland tmc-6 trigger to midi converter to bypass D4 but it did not arrive yet.

I would like to trigger my drum samples (and maaaany of them - like 20-30 per trigger randomly and dynamicaly).

any soft sampler suggestions for that (pc) ?

timtoonz · 19th April 2004

You might also want to check the D4 for a setting called "gate time", or something like it. Don't have mine at hand right now, but I know my Roland SPD-11 percussion controller has that parameter. It sets how long each trigger lasts.

On the EMU, one quick fix might be to just go to the preset and give all the drum sounds a long release time. I also like to add a tiny amount of velocity->pitch mapping for a less robotic sound. And an even tinier amount of velocity->attack so that soft hits have a duller start. If you spend some time tweaking, guess what: it still won't sound like the real thing!

But at least it can sound less like the Nintendo Band. Sometimes.

17th April 2004	#1
Sir Dingo Gear Head Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 74 Thread Starter	Playing "live" drums - Alesis D4/Sampler? I'm wanting to play electronic drum pads with live drum samples rather than simply programming, to get the feel of a real drummer, but I've struck a problem... I've hooked up my drum pads to my Alesisi D4 - works great - but the D4 internal sounds aren't so great, so... I connected the MIDI out of the D4 to my EMU sampler hoping that I could use the drum pads via the D4 to trigger some great drum samples I've got in the EMU sampler, but.... when I hit the drum pads, it only triggers the first part of the sample for a mini millisecond (as long as the duration of the hit on the pads). What am I doing wrong? Some of the samples are 0.5 secs or longer with room ambience, etc. Anyone please help!!

17th April 2004	#3
Dave Martin Moderator emeritus Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 3,152	There ough tto be some setting in the EMU to ignore note off information. You might also want use something like the KAT Midikiti, and leave the D4 out of the equation (I've never found the D4 to be that fast - the lag between hitting the pad and hearing the samples drives me crazy.) __________________ Dave Martin Java Jive Studio www.javajivestudio.com Nashville, TN

19th April 2004	#5
timtoonz Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Mr. & Mississauga Posts: 556	You might also want to check the D4 for a setting called "gate time", or something like it. Don't have mine at hand right now, but I know my Roland SPD-11 percussion controller has that parameter. It sets how long each trigger lasts. On the EMU, one quick fix might be to just go to the preset and give all the drum sounds a long release time. I also like to add a tiny amount of velocity->pitch mapping for a less robotic sound. And an even tinier amount of velocity->attack so that soft hits have a duller start. If you spend some time tweaking, guess what: it still won't sound like the real thing! But at least it can sound less like the Nintendo Band. Sometimes. __________________ "I'll play it and tell you what it is later" Miles

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17th April 2004	#2
DrDeltaM Moderator Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Belgium Posts: 4,301	It's a setting in the EMU sampler. Now it plays the sample till it gets a Midi note-off command, so almost immediately. You've to set it that it plays the full sample on trigger. Dunno how it's called on an EMU: One-shot or Play till release or something like that. That setting should be on the place where you can set if a sample loops or not etc. Succes!

18th April 2004	#4
lofi Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: in my studio mostly Posts: 501	well I tried D4 and you are right - too slow and crappy sounds. I am going to try soft sampler route. just ordered roland tmc-6 trigger to midi converter to bypass D4 but it did not arrive yet. I would like to trigger my drum samples (and maaaany of them - like 20-30 per trigger randomly and dynamicaly). any soft sampler suggestions for that (pc) ?