My New I/O

[ghostman]

My I/O arrived last night and I spent some time playing with it. Mostly to verify a few items.
I played with one single input pad and the IO triggering my Korg MIDI keyboard and my MacBook Pro running the BFD Lite software.

Everything worked pretty much as expected, with most of the issues relating to the Korg keyboard. It wasn't configured to use General MIDI channel 10 for percussion, so I had to adjust the IO to MIDI channel 1.

Also, I watched the Hope Drums setup video for PinTech stuff using the I/O and the DM5 - it gave me some reference points for future testing and playing. One item I found very encouraging is the usage of groups. Groups allow sounds to cut off other sounds. I didn't really know anything about this until that video, and assumed it was an Alesis thing. Going through my tests last night, my Korg supports groups, so I am now guessing it is a MIDI thing. (any comments here would be helpful). So, using my Korg, I can get a semi-dynamic hi-hat out of it, using the PinTech HiHat and controller - I am guessing, but seems pretty doable. Which is good, because I didn't really want to HAVE to use BFD every time I wanted to drum. Sure, its on a laptop, but moving it around and setting it up is a little more work than simply 'turn on, play'. And yes, I am a little lazy.. ::)

For some of you, I am sure this is old data, but I am coming from an old PM-16 interface, which had very simple capabilities, so all of this is a big horizon for me. ;D

[OverLord]

Mute Groups have been in samplers for a long time. Like you said, it is really useful for hi-hats. It is not really a MIDI thing, but specific to the sound module.

[ghostman]

So, cymbal choke doesn't send a interrupt sound, like the hi-hat group? It sends a 'stop' like lifting the key off the keyboard or something? I was reading this from one of the Alesis PDF's I downloaded:

<start>
The trigger IO

[ghostman]

Updates...

I must say, I am disappointed in the BFD Lite software, but for just testing stuff, it was adequate. I am going to use a Korg 01/W keyboard as my sound source moving forward, but I wanted to see how the BFD software worked. The Lite product doesn't have any functionality that would lead me to decide to buy the full on software. I hear good things about it, but if I were a marketing rep, I wouldn't have approved this for a demo. I can't adjust MIDI note numbers or anything. I can use the pre-programmed kits and that's it. I can customize the sounds (pitch, etc) somewhat, but BFD Lite is BFS. (BFD's site says the B and D stand for Big Drums, and allow you to fill in the F. I am allowing you to fill in the F and the S).

Again, this pertains to the Lite version 1.5 that comes with the IO, not the full $400 BFD 2.

And to answer my own question about input #4, you cannot select anything OTHER than Piezo/Switch for that input. So, you are limited, but only on input #4.

[ghostman]

On goes the continual update..
I get the feeling no one cares.. sniff.. Just kidding.

Anyway, I am still playing around, and since I don't have the kit fully set up, I have to play with parts at a time, rather than the whole kit n' caboodle.. Last night I did a few things:
1) I got my dual mono-to-single stereo splitters a week or so ago, and I was leery of testing them. I've been doing a lot of reading on the joys of having to set up a Kieth Raper circuit with the 100k ohm resister to get the 'rim' pad to trigger. Well, I took 2 of my single input pads, and plugged them into the splitter and then into the snare input. And, it worked just fine. The I/O has the setting of trigger types on the input, and I left it at "PP" (Piezo / Piezo) and I got the two pads to work independently, and with velocity sensitivity, too. So, I am happy I don't have to mess around with soldering in a resister or something into the rim input somewhere.

2) The I/O has 21 user kits (0-20). And this is just weird; I was playing around, and I am still pushing the wrong button sometimes when I go to edit stuff.. I switch kits instead of moving down the edit fields. I noticed that whenever I switch to kit 20, it sends a MIDI signal to my keyboard and switches my active program. The Korg has 200 programs / combination programs, A00-A99 and B00-B99, and the program I use is B09. I switch to kit 20, and the Korg goes to B20... Every time.. It took a few times to figure it out, but man.. that's kind of annoying. I don't know if it is the Korg w/ outdated MIDI messages, or if it is the IO. I am thinking it is the I/O sending a footpedal switch message or something. It only happens on kit 20, 0-19 do nothing.

3) Hi-hat. I spent some serious time playing with the pintech hi-hat controller and the I/O to the Korg, and got some decent results.. then I messed something up and probably need to do a reset on the I/O preset I am working on.. I was able to get the open hat sound, the foot splash, and the closed hat sound. The PinTech controller is sensitive, though, and assigning sounds after a hit at a certain point was tricky.

Anyway, end of today's report. Keep drummin'.

[Axe_Grinder]

nah dude... we care... Just there aren't many here and probably not many with an i/o...

But I can tell you.... This information is valuable. We appreciate you taking the time to do it.

Even if it seems like we don't - lol

Thank you for contributing :)

[TAKnipe]

Hey James, Great Job on explaining it to us, I am eventually going to get 2 of these. I just have been so busy I havent gotten a chance yet. I am sure I am going to need alot of help when I get mine along with a new pc maybe. I am reading your notes and trying to let it sink in but I am more afraid of midi after working on my xtreme3. Pulling my hair out :-[

[ghostman]

Yet another update..

I am playing with the hi-hat and trying to tune it. It's a Pintech, and here's what I have come to find. Of course, this is after re-reading the I/O manual, too.. RTFM, RTFM..

The I/O allows for 2 sounds for hi-hat, that's what the manual says. BUT, the controller can signal a sound, too.
So, officially, the input (#3, I believe) can do an open and a close sound, and it depends on where the pedal is at. The hi-hat pedal input can also trigger sounds, I think it can do 2 - splash (fast close and open) and chik (close).

With BFD, I can get the open/close to work great, and the chik to work great, the splash is touchy.
Using the Korg, I get all sorts of mis-trigger / cancellation action that makes it hideous to use. I was going to blame the controller, but I set it up using BFD, and it works pretty much flawlessly. So I must blame the Korg, I am thinking.. It only happens on the 'open' tho.. when I hit the hat in the open position, I get a full sound sometimes, and the sound cutting off most of the time.

This is more of a venting post than a informational one, though..

[ghostman]

Here's another installment on my IO exploits.. not much this time, as spring is here and I find myself trying to beat the grass down with fast spinning relatively sharp objects... Here in Oregon, you gotta mow like 2-3 times a week in the spring. uggh..

Anyway, I started programming some custom kits, and made up a word Doc to help me plan / remember what I did for each kit. Granted, it's kind of customized for my kit (duh!) but I think it might be helpful. I am attaching it. I would appreciate comments.

The layout might be confusing, but I did the layout according to pad placement, not input number..
I am really not sure how useful it would be to others, but it's something I slapped together as I program kits.. Basically, it is a top-down layout.

The top row of the table are cymbals, as that is the top row of my kit.
If you look (or remember) pics of my kit, I then have three rows of pads. I set the top most row to the rings of the tom inputs, and the second row of pads to the tip.. then the bottom row is odd, the last row is the bass pads.. I have 2, I like having slightly different tuned bass drums.. Something I acquired from tuning my acoustical kit.. I like my non-main bass a little higher in tone..

Anyway, that's what I've been doing lately..
Keep drumming!

Well, I tried to upload, but there was an error.. maybe Axe will see this and aid me.

[fignewton]

i would love to see the doc.
I was playing around with my IO tonight and asside from the Hope video there isnt really alot of info
Glad there are others not giving up on the ole IO.

[ghostman]

Here's a link to the doc:
http://james.ghostman.com/IO_Drum_layouts.doc

[ghostman]

Another installment on my I/O 'blog'.. hehe..

I played with the I/O last night and dialed in some 'sensitivity'.. I misread / misunderstood how 'Gain' works. I thought the higher the number (ranges from 0 to 20) meant the more velocity it took to max out.. I changed all my gains from 20 to like 3, and my soft hits are soft hits now.. I like to think of gain as an adder. Hit softly, and gain will add to the velocity.

This is particularly noticeable on the ride bell, which is input #4, which is the only input NOT configurable to PP (Piezo / Piezo) but is set to PS (Piezo / switch). The bell is the switch, and therefore, the volume is consistent. set gain to 0, and its VERY quiet. set gain to 20, and it's as loud as it's gonna get.

Odd, but I am still learning this hunk of 'quipment.

Drum on.

Oh, and not playing for 8 or so years.. I think I suck worse than I thought I did. Or I am being hyper-critical.