Consistent Output Levels (How?)

[Groove4daddy]

RE: TD-10 Brain


Problem:
When toggling from one preset kit to another, I must manually readjust (by guessing) every fader to keep the sound levels of each trigger output the same as the initial kit. Often it is the initial kit that, say, a sound board operator had already set the levels to and now they are out of whack too.

Question:
Is there not a way to get an even sound (amplitude) from different kits (ie.. a global compression setting) in a "live" setting, so that no matter which kit I've chosen, I won't have to readjust each time. Any help or suggestions appreciated.

Bert

ps... I hate a great deal of compression, though cause it "ruins" my attempts at playing dynamically.

[tonycpsu]

Is using the internal mixer not an option? Each kit can have its own mixer settings, which allows the volume of each drum in your kit to be independently adjusted. My understanding is that the faders then raise or lower the volume within this range.

Mixer is under "control room" somewhere, I think. There's a shortcut if you have the TDW-1, I think you hold down "Kit" and then hit "control room" or something like that.

[Groove4daddy]

Thanks Tony,

It appears that when I tailor different kits to my liking, by individually adjusting the levels in the "control room", not the sliders on the face of the TD10, this is (obviously) what changes the output to the external board.

I guess my question is how can I EQ different kits (within the kit itself) to my liking, and yet not have the total kit output (on certain ones) blow up my monitor or the soundman.

Thanks,
Bert

[tonycpsu]

not have the total kit output (on certain ones) blow up my monitor or the soundman.

Easy. Tell your sound man to give you more headroom.

[Boingo]

Originally posted by Groove4daddy
Thanks Tony,

It appears that when I tailor different kits to my liking, by individually adjusting the levels in the "control room", not the sliders on the face of the TD10, this is (obviously) what changes the output to the external board.

I guess my question is how can I EQ different kits (within the kit itself) to my liking, and yet not have the total kit output (on certain ones) blow up my monitor or the soundman.

Thanks,
Bert

There is a "kit" volume control. Once you tweak each pad's volume level and are satisfied with the balance of sound, you need to be concerned about volume changes when switching kits. Some kits are hotter than others even though many of the settings appear to be the same. CONTROL ROOM/GRP VOL/ADJUST DRUMS. This adjusts the entire kit's volume. The goal is to level out all your kits and keep you on good terms with the soundman.

[Groove4daddy]

Thanks Boingo!

Thats exactly what I wanted to know.

So if I have to adjust each kit volume separately, as you describe, and setting the volume on say, "8" for all of the kits will not necessarily yield me the same actual output volume for all of them; does there exist a device (meter) that one can plug outputs into and adjust kit volume so as to "level out all your kits" at home?

If so, any idea of expense? $$

Thanks

[Boingo]

Originally posted by Groove4daddy
Thanks Boingo!

Thats exactly what I wanted to know.

So if I have to adjust each kit volume separately, as you describe, and setting the volume on say, "8" for all of the kits will not necessarily yield me the same actual output volume for all of them; does there exist a device (meter) that one can plug outputs into and adjust kit volume so as to "level out all your kits" at home?

If so, any idea of expense? $$

Thanks

8? Strange example if we're talking about pad or group volume. Are you talking sliders? I usually set them to around 75% and just use them for tweaks during play. You really don't want to have to adjust them every time you change kits IMO.

I'm not sure I follow why you think you need a meter. Adjust the pad volumes to get a good balanced kit and then try setting the kit (group) volume at 110. Next take another kit and do the same. Then compare the overall volume of the two kits. Select one of the two kits and adjust the group volume up or down so both kits are equal. Between your ear and the sound man's ear, you should be able to even them out. Do this for all of your kits.

I have found that when taking a kit group volume of somewhere between 100 and 110 as a starting volume, you have sufficient room to adjust up or down. I do have a couple really hot kits which have a group volume of around 100, but most end up 110 to 125.

[Mr Stixx]

This consistant kit volume is something I found to be a right pain in the ass. I have around 16 kits I',ve made for my gigs and when gigging I noticed sometimes that a drum or cymbal was very faint when playing along with music even though the kit sounded balanced on its own. So to get better individual levels and to get the kits all near as possilbe the same volume, here is what I done.

Once I created the kit. I generally balanced it out just on its own, then I choose a pattern from the module like one of the more louder rocky ones and record a drum pattern on to it. Doing this I can play the music with the drum part and check that each part of the kit comes over in the song and no drums or cymbals are drowned out, too faint or too loud. Keeping the pattern at the same volume I change to another kit and check it. I repeat this process through all my kits.

Now I know that all my kits and each part of the kits can be heard and by scrolling through the kits whilst the music is playing I can check the kits are all the same volume. The fact that the music volume never changes gives you a constant volume for your drum levels to play over.