Alesis DMPro module and some megadrum feature

[stickgrinder]

Hello everyone, my first post here.

I'm planning to buy a 56 inputs megadrum to extend my half-DIY kit. I would use the brain as additional input array for a good old Alesis DMPro brain. Due to my poor understanding of the MIDI protocol and general lack of knowledge about the inside working of edrums I wonder if I'll be able to get cymbal choking capabilities, given I'm using one Roland CY-5 and two CY-6 as cymbal pads. I understand that roland brains send aftertouch signals to mute the cymbal sound but I can't find information about the aftertouch support in dmpro.

Is anyone using this configuration or has some experience with this?
If not, is there a way I can simulate the sending of Megadrum choking signal by my PC (using Linux) or other source, so I can test this by myself?

Thanks a lot for any help.

[stickgrinder]

In the meantime I managed to find an implementation reference on the DMPro manual and it reports aftertouch as NOT supported.
I still don't know if MD actually sends an aftertouch signal to implement the choking, but I'm prepared to the worst scenario.

For those interested, here is some info I gathered.
Warning: long blurb ahead! It seems the interweb has very few information about DMPro workings, despite it has been a best seller for a while, so I summed up what I discovered, should this be of help.

Choking on this module is an odd beast: is seems one and only one input supports choking the CY-8 cymbals (sorry for misposting above about two CY-6, they are actually CY-8... but I guess few differences in construction). Natively the module has a very convoluted way to mute the cymbals, using an additional input just to get the "choke" signal and playing a silent note, thus stopping all other sounds. There are actually more grim details involving Y-cables and the creation of "mute groups" at kit level, but I will spare them to you. Those interested can read about the topic in the "DM Pro Reference Manual" you can find here and there online (I can send a copy if needed).

Still that single input (and only that one) works out of the box with the CY-8 without all that fuss. I read something (here: http://is.gd/i5IOUR) about a 2.0 firmware upgrade the DMPro undergo when Alesis launched the DMPro Kit with Hart pads. In that occasion, it seems (http://is.gd/YMkZtl), one input had been rendered "chokable" to support the only kit crash. In fact the kit PDF manual I just found reports: "When you hit the cymbal and grab the edge, the cymbal sound stops abruptly. For advanced choke set up, please refer to the DM Pro Reference Manual."

This makes me think about sort of logical "hard-wiring" of the convoluted muting system on that single input marked as "cymbal". If you want more you have to sweat hard. Or (that's my sincere hope) maybe using a trigger-to-midi machine able to send a chokable signal via MIDI.
What "chokable cymbal via MIDI" means is the core issue and frankly it goes beyond my knowledge. I suspect there is nothing like a standard "choke signal" even if have memories of coding it somehow in Guitar Pro...

Anyway, nothing beats experience, so if I can manage to send the MD choke signal/sequence to the Alesis brain and hear what happens, I guess I can avoid wasting YOUR time reading my fuss. On the other hand, should this work, the combination DMPro + MD would be a killer, cheap and full-featured alternative to those relying on TD-10+/ DM10 and arrays of expensive TMC-6.

[airflamesred]

Well MD will do either type of choke so the Alesis is going to be the stumbling block here.

[stickgrinder]

Well MD will do either type of choke so the Alesis is going to be the stumbling block here.

Thanks a lot airflamesred, but I'm not lectured enough to understand your reply. What "either" means is obscure to me since I don't know what the alternatives are. I would be happy to learn something on the topic, where can I start from? Moreover I can't understand if your conclusion is hypothetical or practical. You know the DMPRO can't manage it or you are just assuming it?

I'm pretty sure MD is ready to make almost anything rock, it's the dmpro part that scares me.
Thanks a lot!

[airflamesred]

I was only going on your post about the Alesis. Does the manual not tell you if and what can be choked?

I'm no expert on choke but as I understand it one way sends cc4 and the other sends note off. It depends on (in your case) the Alesis.

[stickgrinder]

I was only going on your post about the Alesis. Does the manual not tell you if and what can be choked?

I'm no expert on choke but as I understand it one way sends cc4 and the other sends note off. It depends on (in your case) the Alesis.

OK got it right then. Yes, of course it depends on the Alesis. But now I've got two refs: cc4 and note off. I could remember now having used cc4 in GPro Beck then... I'll investigate more the topic and will try to replicate these techniques by a PC (if it's any possible).

Thanks for the info! =)

[stickgrinder]

Well, I admit I'm pretty confused.

Maybe (maybe) the CC4 signal is accepted. For sure the Note Off is not recognized.
This page of the manual http://www.manualslib.com/manual/207491 ... selected=8 recaps the midi implementation. Towards the middle it mentions a full support for control changes (but I don't think it's related), while in the end there are references to aux signals of the CC type. "All notes off" is supported... Maybe it's the way alesis used to implement the choke. Shotgun for mosquitos, if true.

I'll try to simulate it and let you know.

[airflamesred]

If this is the same as the DM5 under the bonnet then I'm pretty sure ( I had a DM5) it didn't support either. In fact I don't recall it having any choke stuff though the pro version may have. It had a group option where a null sound stopped all others in that group,

Have you looked at Addictive drums or such like?

[stickgrinder]

You could be right, they could have extended on their previous architecture letting you select 4 mute groups per kit instead of just one...

As for solutions like Addictive drums, I certainly plan to use them for recordings but to practice or gig (my edrum should not gig a lot but it happens I can't move my acoustic set to some venue, a couple of times a year) I'd like to avoid the burden of having a PC connected to the drum. Moreover I just use Linux OS on all my machines since WinXP came out and I really haven't use a Windows machine since then. Sadly the Linux support for vst instruments by manufacturers is really poor. The idea to buy and maintain a Windows machine just to have an effective edrum brain sounds overkill. I've got a DMPRO and two DM5. I can always sell them in stock and buy a Roland brain if this is the only solution... But never say die.

Obviously if I'm missing something about AD let me know =)

[airflamesred]

I get your point about the laptop and gigs but you'll notice a big difference in quality of sounds, certainly compared to a DM5. I certainly wouldn't be swapping for a Roland brain. If anything you should take a look at 2 box. They have the sample quality/gig solution, though you do have to like the colour orange!