Which module....the real post!

[getuhgrip]

Damn! I tried posting this twice from work but the network was freakin' out. There any way to delete those two dry runs?
Anyway...what was the question?
Oh yeah....
My 12X12 recording room hasn't really benefitted (or been tamed) by different approaches to wall treatments, so I'm going to run triggers. I've got Ddrum triggers but haven't selected a module yet. I don't need a bunch of psycho-synth sounds, just some solid traditional drum configurations.
Any suggestions for a decent module for around $300?

Thanks, Rick

 

[Tim Brown]

Damn! I tried posting this twice from work but the network was freakin' out. There any way to delete those two dry runs?
Anyway...what was the question?
Oh yeah....
My 12X12 recording room hasn't really benefitted (or been tamed) by different approaches to wall treatments, so I'm going to run triggers. I've got Ddrum triggers but haven't selected a module yet. I don't need a bunch of psycho-synth sounds, just some solid traditional drum configurations.
Any suggestions for a decent module for around $300?

Thanks, Rick

Hi Rick,

I'll tell you right now what is the problem with the cheap (i.e., drumbrains...it's the Trigger to MIDI conversion...it flat out sucks. they are all slow...which means they don't do very well with any fast stuff, like rolling on the snare or toms.

I have a DM5, and the only thing I use it for is to convert to MIDI...but I'm not doing anything intricate-it's just to be able to fire off church bell sounds from a synth...that's it.

Your best bet is going to be look for a used Space Muffins 0.0 unit...that's the best MIDI unit on the Market as far as conversion time goes.
Next would be the Roland Vdrum, with the ddrum unit about the same.

I have an old ddrum set, and it was pretty decent at converson-but then again, it's not MIDI...you bought the sounds on what look like old ATARI cartridges....the sounds? You could listen to "The Final Countdown" by Europe to hear what they sound like...Sort of that "Scorpions" drumsound from the 80's. hahaha


Tim

 

[mikeh]

I've always liked Alesis drum modules. Decent sounds for the value. You should be able to find an Alesis D4 or DM5 in that $300 range. I can't say how well the Ddrum triggers will work. I can say I've used Hart triggers, S&S pads and V-drum pads to trigger both a D4 & DM5 with no problems (playing mostly standard rock/pop material).

 

[getuhgrip]

Well Tim, I was hoping to hear more enthusiasm for the DM5. I think I can swipe on for $125. Again I'm faced with more research. I hadn't really considered their ability to process a signal in terms of time. I've been thinking it was all about sample quality and acuracy.
Mikeh, I posed the question of triggers about a month ago, and while the response wasn't overwhelming, Ddrum seemed to stand out.

Thanks guys

 

[Tim Brown]

Well Tim, I was hoping to hear more enthusiasm for the DM5. I think I can swipe on for $125. Again I'm faced with more research. I hadn't really considered their ability to process a signal in terms of time. I've been thinking it was all about sample quality and acuracy.
Mikeh, I posed the question of triggers about a month ago, and while the response wasn't overwhelming, Ddrum seemed to stand out.

Thanks guys

I really don't have a problem with the DM5 in terms of sound quality... It is what it is. If your EQ and process the parts separately(kick , snare, and then a Left and Right for everything else), you can totally change the way that they sound.
My problem is that snare and tom rolls come out sounding like a Drum machine, and that has to do with the Trigger to MIDI conversion.


Tim

 

[getuhgrip]

O.k., I thought you meant that the processor couldn't physicaly keep up with a fast roll. I assume you mean it has difficulty "digesting" or inturpreting the signal. Damn, this is kinda like that movie The Fly! The computer muffed the process of breaking genetic code down to binary code and back, thus yeilding its flawed inturpretation. Did they ever get that squared away?

 

[skippy]

I have both a DM5 and a Roland TD10/TDW-1. The triggering on the Roland is the hands-down winner there, and especially so after installing the expansion module. You can tweek the DM5 only so far, and at its best it is still slow and prone to mistriggering on fast passages.

The TD10 is certainly outside your budget, but it's the best I've played- haven't tried the Spacemuffins or DDrum rigs yet, so I can't comment on them. But if you can find a TD10 at fire-sale prices, snag it- or save up longer. Like the man said, "buy it right, or buy it twice...".

I'm glad that I waited and invested in a good trigger setup up front for my primary kit, because a slow or mistriggering module really kills the joy of playing. If I'd bought the wrong equipment, my enthusiasm would have been damped down quite a lot: playing a rubber-pad TD7 kit for a while nearly got me to quit playing again! Anyway, it takes some tuning time to get the rig to match your style...

 

[Tim Brown]

O.k., I thought you meant that the processor couldn't physicaly keep up with a fast roll. I assume you mean it has difficulty "digesting" or inturpreting the signal.

That is exactly what I meant. It has a hard time tracking accurately...of course, that is one of the reason's that it can be had relatively cheaply...while the top of the line Electronic kits can literally cost you thousands of dollars.
The Triggering Interface just isn't that great.

I've spent hours playing with the parameters trying to get it "perfect", but I just became extremely frustrated with it.

Tim