How do I connect Alesis Drum kit. Can I use it as a 'keyboard'? My gaol is to play and record the drum kit as an instrument. Or get a midi to usb interface and record using software instruments. Or best of both worlds get a audio, midi interface and be ready for anything ?. Also the usb to your mac. Oct 1, 2013 9:45 PM.
The Opposable Thumbs folks aren't the only ones who enjoy the occasional game of Rock Band around the Ars headquarters. Some of us who cover the Apple side of things have been known to rock the plastic instruments from time to time too. In fact, in my home, we have two drum kits, a USB Rock Band kit, and a wireless Rock Band 2 kit. We only actually bought one, leading to the question of what exactly we are going to do with the spare kit.
Being a real—as well as a fake—musician, I also enjoy making my own music from time to time. A MIDI drum kit has always been something I have coveted so I could lay down drum tracks for original music without having to have a live kit. To this day, I have yet to make the plunge—the ION set piqued my interest, as it can be used as a MIDI kit with a controller, but the $300 price tag for a set that lacks the setup of a real drum set deterred me.
So, imagine my excitement this afternoon when I saw that Mac|Life (formerly Mac Addict) had a tutorial on hooking up the Rock Band 1 USB drum controller to a Mac, and using it with Apple's entry-level music composition software GarageBand. While hooking up the kit to a computer is nothing new (PC users have had the ability for some time), this is the first I've seen anyone explain how to do the same on a Mac.
There are two methods: a cheap somewhat lag-tastic way, and a much more expensive and more responsive way. The cheap method involves a $15 piece of software called GamePad Companion, which you use to program each pad to a keyboard letter and then use the musical typing feature in GarageBand for entry. The more expensive method uses a $95 program, juXion, which allows a user to map input from nearly any device and turn it into MIDI data.
It still isn't a perfect solution for your music-making needs, but if you already have a USB Rock Band kit and a Mac, it may be fun to play with.
Alesis, amanufacturer of professional audio equipment and studio
electronics, is now shipping the USB Pro Drum Kit to dealers. It’s an
electronic drum kit designed specifically to take direct advantage of
the power of the computer for sound generation.
electronics, is now shipping the USB Pro Drum Kit to dealers. It’s an
electronic drum kit designed specifically to take direct advantage of
the power of the computer for sound generation.
The drum set combines the Alesis Trigger|iO trigger-to-MIDI interface
with high-end drum pads and Surge Cymbals. A dual-zone snare pad,
three dual-zone tom pads and a kick pad each feature an eight-inch
mylar, tension-adjustable drumhead and a 2.3mm triple-flanged
counterhoop mirroring the feel of acoustic drums.
with high-end drum pads and Surge Cymbals. A dual-zone snare pad,
three dual-zone tom pads and a kick pad each feature an eight-inch
mylar, tension-adjustable drumhead and a 2.3mm triple-flanged
counterhoop mirroring the feel of acoustic drums.
Surge Cymbals are made of brass cymbal alloy and feature built-in
triggers. Because they are true, lathed cymbals rather than rubber
pads, the symbals offer the most natural cymbal feel available on any
electronic drumset, according to the folks at Alesis A 12-inch
Hi-Hat, a 13-inch Crash with choke capability and a 16-inch dual-zone
Ride with choke capability are included.
triggers. Because they are true, lathed cymbals rather than rubber
pads, the symbals offer the most natural cymbal feel available on any
electronic drumset, according to the folks at Alesis A 12-inch
Hi-Hat, a 13-inch Crash with choke capability and a 16-inch dual-zone
Ride with choke capability are included.
Sound-generation software BFD Lite is included from FXpansion,
placing the sonic flexibility of multiple drum-sound sets with
adjustable articulation, velocity layers and microphone positions at
drummers’ fingertips. USB Pro Drum Kit is compatible with computers
running Mac OS X and Windows.
placing the sonic flexibility of multiple drum-sound sets with
adjustable articulation, velocity layers and microphone positions at
drummers’ fingertips. USB Pro Drum Kit is compatible with computers
running Mac OS X and Windows.
What’s more, Alesis has created a special configuration file, which
optimizes its SR18 for use as a high-quality drum-sound module for
use with the USB Pro Drum Kit. Drummers need only an inexpensive MIDI
cable and a custom configuration file, available for free download
from http://www.alesis.com.
optimizes its SR18 for use as a high-quality drum-sound module for
use with the USB Pro Drum Kit. Drummers need only an inexpensive MIDI
cable and a custom configuration file, available for free download
from http://www.alesis.com.