Alesis DM5 User Manual
Chapter 2: Your First Session With The DM5
10
DM5 Reference Manual
W
HAT
’
S A
D
RUM
S
ET
?
A Drum Set is a stored configuration of drum sounds and their parameters. This
setup of drum sounds and parameters can be stored so that you can get back to it
instantly. When you select a Drum Set, all of its sounds and parameter settings are
recalled to recreate the original kit.
setup of drum sounds and parameters can be stored so that you can get back to it
instantly. When you select a Drum Set, all of its sounds and parameter settings are
recalled to recreate the original kit.
The DM5 provides up to 21 internal Drum Sets. A Drum Set contains 61 notes. Each
note is assigned a voice. Each voice is an actual digital recording, called a sample.
There are 4 megabytes of drum and percussion samples to choose from. The voices
are organized into groups, for easy selection (Kicks, Snare, etc.). Once a note has been
assigned a voice, you may then edit its other parameters. These include Pitch
(transposing the playback pitch of the sample), Volume, Panning, and Output (Main
or Aux).
note is assigned a voice. Each voice is an actual digital recording, called a sample.
There are 4 megabytes of drum and percussion samples to choose from. The voices
are organized into groups, for easy selection (Kicks, Snare, etc.). Once a note has been
assigned a voice, you may then edit its other parameters. These include Pitch
(transposing the playback pitch of the sample), Volume, Panning, and Output (Main
or Aux).
Each voice is velocity-sensitive: the harder you hit a drum pad (or the [PREVIEW]
button) or the higher the velocity value of the MIDI trigger, the louder the drum
sound assigned to the pad will play. Using Dynamic Articulation™ techniques, the
timbre (tonal content) and pitch will often change as well, just like “real” drums.
button) or the higher the velocity value of the MIDI trigger, the louder the drum
sound assigned to the pad will play. Using Dynamic Articulation™ techniques, the
timbre (tonal content) and pitch will often change as well, just like “real” drums.
P
LAYING THE
DM5
The DM5 is shipped from the factory with 21 Preset Drum Sets.
A
UDITIONING
I
NTERNAL
P
ROGRAMS
➀
Press the [DRUM SET] button.
The [DRUM SET] button will light. You can play the DM5 from a MIDI keyboard or via
the external triggers; the Drum Set will be whatever was selected last (00 – 20).
The [DRUM SET] button will light. You can play the DM5 from a MIDI keyboard or via
the external triggers; the Drum Set will be whatever was selected last (00 – 20).
➁
Select a Drum Set by turning the [VALUE] knob.
The selected Drum Set number and its name will appear in the display.
The selected Drum Set number and its name will appear in the display.
S
ELECTING THE
MIDI C
HANNEL
The DM5 can receive information on any single MIDI channel of the 16 available
channels, or on all 16 MIDI channels.
channels, or on all 16 MIDI channels.
➀
Press the [MIDI] button.
The [MIDI] button will light. This selects the MIDI parameters for editing. There are 5
different pages of parameters; this is page 1. There are three parameters in this page:
Root
The [MIDI] button will light. This selects the MIDI parameters for editing. There are 5
different pages of parameters; this is page 1. There are three parameters in this page:
Root
, Chan and Thru. The first parameter, Root will be selected (the value beneath it will
be flashing).
➁
Press the [
] button once to select the Chan parameter (MIDI channel).
The Chan parameter’s value will flash in the display to indicate it is selected for editing.
➂
Use the [VALUE] knob to select a MIDI channel from 01 – 16, or 00 to select all
channels (this is also known as “omni mode”).
The display will change to indicate the currently selected MIDI channel.
channels (this is also known as “omni mode”).
The display will change to indicate the currently selected MIDI channel.
For more information about MIDI functions, see Chapter 5.