Dual Zone/Dual Trigger pads

  • Thread starter Thread starter nate_dennis
  • Start date Start date
nate_dennis

nate_dennis

Well-known member
Hey guys,
I'm using an Alesis DM5 Pro kit (with a few additional pads) and have a question regarding dual zone pads. I know that in theory you can use these to trigger two different sounds (i.e. snare and/or rim shot, ride and/or bell of the cymbal) but using a "Y" cable (TRS 1/4" that splits to two TS 1/4") fails to acheive this. I am routing each TS cable to seperate inputs of the module, each input works (tested using known good cables) but only one of the two ends in the "Y" cable produces sound. Is this a broken cable problem or a set up problem? Any help would be appreciated.
 
Are these the Alesis dual zone pads or are you using another brand?
 
The module should just read each zone on it's own with no need for a y cable.

Especially the DM5, you should not need a Y cable for any of the triggers.
 
BentRabbit said:
Are these the Alesis dual zone pads or are you using another brand?
Click to expand...
I have some of the Alesis ones and one or two of another one. I tried both. No go.

Guitargodgt said:
The module should just read each zone on it's own with no need for a y cable.

Especially the DM5, you should not need a Y cable for any of the triggers.
Click to expand...
Really? I thought I had to assign a sound to each zone/trigger. DO you know how I would go about doing this? Thanks so much.
 
Ok. I've run the following tests on both an Alesis Dual Zone pad and a Roland PD-8 and a CY-8 Dual Trigger pads....
I've tried a 1/4" TRS cable into the module itself.
Plugged in a stereo splitter/adapter 1/4" TRS Male split to two 1/4" female mono into the module.
All known good cables.

I can never trigger more than one sound per pad. What am I doing wrong? I've gone through the manuals. There must be something I'm missing. Because I've tried it all on different pads with same model numbers so it's not a bad pad.

Any help you can give would be great.
 
What am I doing wrong?

Not reading the manuals?

Seriously, you will need to do that to figure out how to use the equipment; a lot of companies handle it differently.

In general, if a dual-zone pad only has one jack, you will need a TRS cable on the pad end; if it has two jacks you will two TS cables on the pad end.

If the sound/midi module is designed for use with dual-zone pads it could want them coming in on a single TRS or on two TS's. If it's designed for single-zone pads it will probably want them coming in on a TS, although anything is possible.

So, you're pretty much going to have to read all of the manuals...
 
No. I'm saying I HAVE read the manual. it is not designed to handle two zones/triggers on one port so I know I need a TRS at the pad. I have that. I've split it and only one of the cables sounds a note/sample.
 
Many times on the dual zone pads, you have to strike both at once (head and rim) to trigger both... But I have had issues in the past with an Alesis D4 (never tried the DM5).

I have a Boom Theory snare that actually has two jacks (one for head, one for rim) and running each to it's own port on the D4 never worked as I wanted it to or folks said it was supposed to... I have read where some people have been able to get them functioning as designed, but I never could...

I switched to a Roland TD-8 and it worked perfectly first time with no extra tinkering at all...
 
Thanks man. It's not something that I'm going to get bent out of shape about. I just wanted it for extra nuance. i.e. putting a bell sound on a ride and the obvious rim shot. I'm a a guitarist primarily so it's not something worth getting all worked up over. Thanks for the input.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top