Need Advice on Adding a 2nd Brain

[Reverend Poppy]

There just aren't enough jacks in the back of my TD-10. I'd like to add at least 4 more cymbals, and a few pads to use as timpani. I also want the ability to expand in the future.

What is involved in adding a 2nd brain? Does it have to be the same brain? For diversity, I'd kinda like to add something from a different brand. I'm kind of looking for something cheap here. It also must play the major electronic cymbals (Vcymbals and Ecymbals II). Any thoughts, suggestions or advice?

Thanks.

------------------
Reverend Poppy

[puttenvr]

Is having extra inputs the only goal? Then i would hook up a Roland Octapad or PM-16 trigger > MIDI module.

In case of a different brain with extra sounds I would consider a
- brain with slightly different sounds (ddrum)
- a sampler.

Cheap? No but it can be the best of both worlds. And both the ddrum and sampler have the advantage that you can load your own sounds into it as long as you (or the memory) want

[Stixx777]

I would recomend an SPD-11 or 20. 8 pads on the unit plus 4 trigger inputs. The SPD-20 will trigger the rim of a PD-120 on one input. I have added an SPD-11 and am very happy. I use it only as an MIDI trigger(use the TD-10 sounds not the SPD-11) You may also want to try an TD-7 that will give you a lot of trigger space.(12?) You can use it as a MIDI controller as well. That maybe one of the cheapest routes depending on how much they are going for at eBay.

------------------
Ted H.
www.tocsinrocks.com

[redman]

I plan on buying a second sometime and it will probably be a ddrum4 if the rumoured ddrum5 isn't out by then . If your in a hurry check this link.
http://cgi.ca.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayIS...tem=1438043183

------------------
~REDMAN~

[Reverend Poppy]

Do all of these support the different zones of the newer electonic cymbals (Hart, V-Cymbals), etc? Even the Octapad?

Also, how do they actually hook up? Is there an output from the 2nd brain into the first, or do they run as 2 separate kits?

------------------
Reverend Poppy

[This message has been edited by Reverend Poppy (edited June 15, 2001).]

[Mick Wade]

Hey, Rev. Poppy:

I posted a similar question recently and got an answer similar to the one Putt gave you, which was to try using a trigger-to-MIDI interface. I'm going to configure my V-drums to where they're an exact duplicate of my acoustic set, and I'm having the same problem you are: I don't have enough inputs! My original course of action was to simply get the TD-6 module and devote it strictly to cymbal sounds, but since I have both a MIDI patchbay and two extra drum modules, I figured I'd try using my D-4 as a trigger-to-MIDI interface. Well, here are the problems I've run into after some experimentation:

1. Keeping in mind that I have a TD-8 and that this function may be available on the TD-10, the Note Chase function will only display MIDI Note information for pads that are plugged directly into the TD-8. Yes, I was able to trigger V-drum sounds from pads plugged into the D-4 which was MIDI'd to the TD-8, but the TD-8 gives you no capability to edit those sounds because it doesn't even tell you what MIDI note is being played! The D-4's Note Chase function, on the other hand, displays all this information regardless of how the note is being triggered. I could hit a pad and the D-4 would tell me that I was playing note C2 54, for example, but the TD-8 would not.

2. Obviously, one of the biggest selling points of the V-drums is their dynamic range, but to take advantage of that, you have to be plugged in directly to the TD-8 itself. In this particular scenario, I was triggering TD-8 sounds using the D-4's triggering parameters because the D-4 was the interface. Needless to say, the dynamic range sucked, and doing things like cymbal swells was out of the question.

3. I have absolutely no idea why, but the TD-8 would not respond to program changes from the D-4, and both units were set up to transmit and receive on MIDI channel 1.

Now, reversing the flow of the MIDI connection (i.e. TD-8 MIDI Out into D-4 MIDI In) yields some good results, and this is in fact the current configuration I'm using. Of course, the downside to this is that you would only be able to trigger D-4 cymbal sounds, so this might put you right back at square one as far as that goes. The upside of this is that you can stack sounds, match MIDI notes, have better dynamic control over the Alesis sounds from the V-drum pads, use the D-4's Program Map feature so as to offset the D-4's 21 kit slots to the TD-8's 64, mix and match usage of the two modules' sounds freely, and to be able to use the D-4's auxiliary outputs, which are not global like the TD-8's are. One cool feature of the TD-8 that comes in really handy when you MIDI to another sound module is that it does not operate within a fixed 60-note range like the D-4 does. With the D-4, the root note can be changed, but you still top out at 60 notes. My D-4 is set up for the note range of 24 to 84, and if I don't want to trigger one of its sounds from my TD-8, I simply assign that pad's MIDI number to be lower that 24 or higher than 84.

Sorry about the Tolstoy-length reply, folks. I hope this helps. In the meantime, I'm still waiting to hear a better solution to my problem than buying a TD-6. If someone can help or can even just point out something I might have missed, believe me, I'm all ears.......

[Richieman]

for those who need just one more single trigger input, there is a quick and easy way:

the kick trigger input has a rim function as well, but it's normaly not used.
with a Y-cable (converting 1 stereo jack into 2 monos) it can be connected to any pad.

ok, you all knew that allready, but for those who are as slow as i am it might be helpfull...

r.

[ToBiMaN]

Originally posted by feefer:
Hi all,

Due to Alesis' demise, I've recently seen the DMPro module selling for as little as $299 (although I can't recall exactly where I saw that price: if anyone wants to know, I'll try to find a link).

Chris

[DougM]

Originally posted by ToBiMaN:

This month's Guitar Center ad lists many Alesis products on sale including the DMPro at $299.99. However, it mentions that some of these products are "demos" and "limited to stock on hand." With such a steep dicount on the DMPro, my guess is that it's probably limited to demo models at each store.

[MPCman]

sheesh.... why doesn't any manufacterer dump their stuff over here in the Netherlands... otherwise I'd probably buy 3 DMpro's

[puttenvr]

Originally posted by MPCman:
sheesh.... why doesn't any manufacterer dump their stuff over here in the Netherlands...

Most dealers suck in the Netherlands.

otherwise I'd probably buy 3 DMpro's

You won't if you'd listened to them.

[MPCman]

The fact that we don't pay $300 for a DMpro in the Netherlands has nothing to do with dealers.

I once tried one out and for $300 I'd like to have at least one as add on for my ddrum for some effect sounds and so on.. I believe the DMpro has 4 built in effect processors, so for that purpose it's very nice