Alesis DM5 User Manual
Chapter 4: Overview
30
DM5 Reference Manual
Output Options
Having two stereo output pairs allows for several options.
Stereo with Fixed Placement: Plug the left Main output into the left channel of your
amp (or mixer), and the right Main output into the right channel. The default voice
mix for the preset Drum Sets pans the drums between the Main output jacks in a way
that works well for most applications.
amp (or mixer), and the right Main output into the right channel. The default voice
mix for the preset Drum Sets pans the drums between the Main output jacks in a way
that works well for most applications.
Stereo with Variable Placement: Plug the left Main output into the left channel of
your amp (or mixer), and the right Main output into the right channel. Pan the Drum
Set drums between the Main output jacks as desired.
your amp (or mixer), and the right Main output into the right channel. Pan the Drum
Set drums between the Main output jacks as desired.
Stereo with Individual Outputs: This requires a stereo mixer with at least four
channels, and provides individual outputs for any two drum voices. Plug the left
Main out into a mixer channel panned fully to the left. Plug the right Main out into a
mixer channel panned fully to the right. Plug the left Aux output into a third channel
(panned to center for now) and the right Aux output into a fourth channel (also
panned to center for now). Decide which two voices should be individual voices,
such as kick and snare; assign these to the Aux outputs, and all other drums (panned
as desired) to the Main outputs.
channels, and provides individual outputs for any two drum voices. Plug the left
Main out into a mixer channel panned fully to the left. Plug the right Main out into a
mixer channel panned fully to the right. Plug the left Aux output into a third channel
(panned to center for now) and the right Aux output into a fourth channel (also
panned to center for now). Decide which two voices should be individual voices,
such as kick and snare; assign these to the Aux outputs, and all other drums (panned
as desired) to the Main outputs.
Pan the kick full left and the snare full right. Thus, the kick will appear in the left aux
output, and the snare will appear in the right aux output. These outputs can feed
different signal processors and then be sent to a mixing board. Make sure that the
drums selected for individual outputs are panned to the extreme left or right in the
DM5. Otherwise, some of the sound from one drum will leak into the other output.
output, and the snare will appear in the right aux output. These outputs can feed
different signal processors and then be sent to a mixing board. Make sure that the
drums selected for individual outputs are panned to the extreme left or right in the
DM5. Otherwise, some of the sound from one drum will leak into the other output.
Separate Percussion/Drum Outputs: Standard drum kit sounds can be spread in
stereo and assigned to the main outputs, with percussion sounds spread in stereo
and assigned to the Aux outputs. Run the outputs to a mixing console, and you can
treat the drum kit and percussion sounds as two submixes. This technique might also
be useful if you’re recording the part on tape; feed the drums to two tape tracks, and
the percussion to two other tracks. Adjust the balance between the two in the mix, or
fade the percussion in and out independently of the trap drum sounds. Or, process
the two groups individually.
stereo and assigned to the main outputs, with percussion sounds spread in stereo
and assigned to the Aux outputs. Run the outputs to a mixing console, and you can
treat the drum kit and percussion sounds as two submixes. This technique might also
be useful if you’re recording the part on tape; feed the drums to two tape tracks, and
the percussion to two other tracks. Adjust the balance between the two in the mix, or
fade the percussion in and out independently of the trap drum sounds. Or, process
the two groups individually.