Using Alesis DM5 Drum Kit

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Using Alesis DM5 Drum Kit

Hi,

I'm not really an expert on anything musical really, but I do have an Alesis DM5 Prokit ( http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alesis-DM5ProKit-ALESIS-DM5-PROKIT/dp/B001652D80/ref=sr11?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1283448411&sr=8-1)

I'm also brand new to Mac, so I wanted to know if I can connect this and use it in GarageBand? I have a MIDI to USB connector, and I have tried plugging it in through this. GarageBand detects it as a MIDI device, but doesn't seem to register any notes I play, could this be a setting I don't have correctly on the kit? If so, what kind of setting should I be looking for?

Sorry for being such a noob >.<

Thanks

Macbook, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Sep 2, 2010 10:28 AM

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Answer 1

HangTime

Level 9

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Sep 2, 2010 10:33 AM in response to the_bowman

the_bowman wrote:
I have a MIDI to USB connector, and I have tried plugging it in through this.

make sure the controller is connected correctly:

http://www.bulletsandbones.com/GB/GBFAQ.html#controllertointerface

(Let the page FULLY load. The link to your answer is at the top of your screen)

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Answer 2

the_bowman Author

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Sep 2, 2010 10:50 AM in response to the_bowman

I think it's all connected properly - there are 2 MIDI ports on the back, an IN and an OUT/THRU, so obviously I've got it connected to the OUT/THRU port.

When I plug the USB in GarageBand tells me "The number of MIDI inputs has changed. Now one input is available".

Thanks

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Answer 3

HangTime

Level 9

53,853 points

Sep 2, 2010 12:17 PM in response to the_bowman

this may sound silly, but on what type of track are you trying to record?

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Answer 4

the_bowman Author

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Sep 2, 2010 12:35 PM in response to the_bowman

I selected "Software Instrument", as this one is what it said to use for MIDI keyboards etc.

I got the idea after I went into an Apple store the other day, and had a play with a keyboard connected up to an iMac instore, so I assumed this would work virtually the same way?

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Answer 5

HangTime

Level 9

53,853 points

Sep 2, 2010 12:38 PM in response to the_bowman

the_bowman wrote:
I assumed this would work virtually the same way?

it should.

check the web site for the interface to see if it requires a driver, and, if so, that you have the latest version

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Answer 6

the_bowman Author

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Sep 2, 2010 12:48 PM in response to the_bowman

I've checked the Alesis website, and there doesn't really seem to be any drivers, just text documents

http://www.alesis.com/dm5

As it's detecting the MIDI device, it makes me think it's probably something set up wrong on the kit? I really have no idea what kind of setting I should be looking for though 😟

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Answer 7

isteveus

Level 5

4,340 points

Sep 2, 2010 4:02 PM in response to the_bowman

Is the track record enabled?

The DM5 module has some great sounding drum kit sounds. You may want to sometime give analog recording of the module sounds a try.

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Answer 8

the_bowman Author

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Sep 3, 2010 4:34 AM in response to the_bowman

Yeah, I had record enabled, and it was registering no sound 😟

I know I could do some analog recording, it's just the fact that I want to do this now, and it's irritating me that I can't do it

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Answer 9

gjmnz

Level 3

858 points

Sep 3, 2010 2:47 PM in response to the_bowman

One thing it could be is that the MIDI info being sent from the Module is on a different channel than the GB software drum instruments are receiving on. You may need to check which channel the module is sending its MIDI info on. I am not sure what GB receives on but some of the software instruments in GB, like the organs, they only receive on channel 1 (I think thats the right channel). You have an option on the DM5 module to set the channel send info to Global which means that its info is sent on all 16 MIDI channels. Check page 14 of the reference manual which is on the Alesis site on how to set up the Global MIDI send.

Let us know how it goes. Cheers.

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Answer 10

the_bowman Author

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Sep 3, 2010 3:00 PM in response to gjmnz

I've set the channel on the module to 00 (omni mode), which is the global setting I believe?

Also, on the menu on the module "Root" is set to '00 C -2' and "Thru" is set to 'On', does this sound about right?

Additional info; on the other pages
2: "Local 'On'"
3: "PChg 'On', Ctrl 'Off"
4: "Table: MIDI '000', Int '00'"

Thanks again people 🙂

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Answer 11

gjmnz

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Sep 3, 2010 3:53 PM in response to the_bowman

Is it working now?

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Answer 12

the_bowman Author

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Sep 3, 2010 4:00 PM in response to gjmnz

No sorry, still nothing 😟

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Answer 13

gjmnz

Level 3

858 points

Sep 3, 2010 4:06 PM in response to the_bowman

Mmmm, just to clarify... you are wanting to use GarageBand to record MIDI data from the edrum kit to trigger GB's software drums?

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Answer 14

gjmnz

Level 3

858 points

Sep 3, 2010 4:35 PM in response to gjmnz

gjmnz wrote:
Mmmm, just to clarify... you are wanting to use GarageBand to record MIDI data from the edrum kit to trigger GB's software drums?

If so, then you will probably need to look at what C note each of the drum pads are transmitting and adjust them according to which kit you want to play in GB. Not every kit is the same. On the GB side you can load a kit into a SW track and open the piano roll and click on the notes to see which is which. You could then work backwards and assign those notes to your edrum pads.

Sorry I can't be of more help, I don't have an Alesis kit. Hopefully someone else chips in.

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Answer 15

the_bowman Author

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Sep 5, 2010 1:35 PM in response to gjmnz

Still nothing with this 😟

I tried adjusting the "Root Note", it had 67 different settings from "00 C -2" to "67 G 3", but picked up nothing on any of the settings.

Is there a way within OS X that I can check MIDI inputs to see if it's registering anything before it gets to the program, so we can see if it's an issue isolated to GB?

Thanks 🙂

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