Drum Map problem

[nickisonpar]

Hello,

My goal is to drop my drum module altogether and have EDrumin + Drum Software. I have a Roland TD17 kit. I started by running all the pads, cymbals and hi-hats through EDrumin and connected them to my Roland Module via USB. Worked!

The next step is to replace the module. I downloaded the EZDrummer 2 trial and came to two conclusions: their "Roland" presets are way off AND to make everything work, you need to modify the MIDI triggers in EDrumin to match EZDrummer.

Now, some other software I have, which runs great with the Roland module doesn't detect certain pads. I am assuming this is because I had to change the MIDI values. Like EZDrummer, this software doesn't have the ability to edit MIDI values.

Here's my question: if I went to SD3, I should be able to set it up so the MIDI values going into SD3 are the the "native" Roland MIDI values, correct? In general, have people found EDrumin + SD3 to be a good enough experience to drop their Roland drum modules?

Thank you!

[monospace]

I'm one of these people. I got rid of my Roland (TD-9) module within a week of getting my eDrumIn. I still love my Roland hardware, but their modules and their sounds? Junk. Always hated it.

I've never owned EZDrummer, but I've used Superior Drummer since version 2.

The trick is to make all your adjustments on the module (in this case, the eDrumIn) and not on the software. Leave the software alone. Don't change MIDI note assignments, don't change velocity curves. You want to do all of that on the eDrumIn.

Assigning note values on the eDrumIn is easy. You can do it manually, but thankfully, Rob has included mappings for many of the most common software (and hardware) configurations. Just select your trigger, click the corresponding item on the drum map, and you should be good to go.

I cannot stress this enough: don't change any drum sample software settings unless you absolutely have to. Assume that the developers made it work the best they could. And all you need to do is tweak your module, the eDrumIn, to get the most out of that software. Once your module is dialed in, you can go to town on mixer, plugins and effects. That's the fun part, your output settings. But you'll never get decent output unless you configure your inputs properly first.

[Rob]

I cannot stress this enough: don't change any drum sample software settings unless you absolutely have to. Assume that the developers made it work the best they could.

Great advice. I leave all the SD3 settings at default.

[monospace]

On a related note, the best way to get your eDrumIn dialed in properly is to find (or create) a drumkit in the sample software of your choice and stick with it (pun ... eh... intended, I guess.) Most software comes with a nice preconfigured kit that showcases all it can do. Pick one of those kits and use that to dial in your settings. Believe me, you do not want to tweak a snare drum trigger on your eDrumIn, and then tweak the snare drum response and/or sound in the software, and then go back and tweak the eDrumIn, ad infinitum. That's a recipe for madness.

[nickisonpar]

I'm one of these people. I got rid of my Roland (TD-9) module within a week of getting my eDrumIn. I still love my Roland hardware, but their modules and their sounds? Junk. Always hated it.

I've never owned EZDrummer, but I've used Superior Drummer since version 2.

Thank you for the feedback!
Yes, this is all new to me and I am trying to only modify one variable at a time. I also agree that making changes on the EDrumin makes the most sense. Its just I have three components here: EDrumin, EZDrummer 2 and another piece of software and I cannot make all 3 align.

Stepping back, it seems to me that EDrumin + SD has worked well for you? I am just a hobbyist who wants to have some fun, so my "needs" are pretty basic.

Thanks again

[Dadwrshpdrum]

Hello,

My goal is to drop my drum module altogether and have EDrumin + Drum Software. I have a Roland TD17 kit. I started by running all the pads, cymbals and hi-hats through EDrumin and connected them to my Roland Module via USB. Worked!

The next step is to replace the module. I downloaded the EZDrummer 2 trial and came to two conclusions: their "Roland" presets are way off AND to make everything work, you need to modify the MIDI triggers in EDrumin to match EZDrummer.

Now, some other software I have, which runs great with the Roland module doesn't detect certain pads. I am assuming this is because I had to change the MIDI values. Like EZDrummer, this software doesn't have the ability to edit MIDI values.

Here's my question: if I went to SD3, I should be able to set it up so the MIDI values going into SD3 are the the "native" Roland MIDI values, correct? In general, have people found EDrumin + SD3 to be a good enough experience to drop their Roland drum modules?

Thank you!

So I’m doing something very similar. I use EZDrummer2 and SSD5.5. I’m keeping the TD-17 for two reasons: 1) as a backup sound engine if I don’t have my computer and 2) I still use the AUX and Crash 2 inputs for my kit.

Maybe similar to you I ran into some MIDI mapping issues when i first started with eDRUMin and EZD2. I’ve come up with several work arounds. 1) I set up EZD2 first, 2) within EZD2 settings I selected Roland, 3) I used the Roland midi map within edrumin, 4) adjust eDRUMin midi notes to match EZD2 (more to follow on that below), and 5) use MIDI mapping feature in SSD5.5 to make it match EZD2.

As I advanced (relative term because I’m still a novice) in noticed some cymbals or other effects within EZD2 using the EZD2 Roland MIDI map is unmappable, even with eDRUMin’s flexibility. On Vdrums I asked the question and the suggestion was not to use midi mapping within EZD2, instead use the DAW. That proved to be complicated and I found using Generic HH CC midi map within EZD2 helped, but then I lost CC16 so no positional sensing. However, I figured out a way. With my DAW I have two MIDI tracks, one for Channel 10 and one for Channel 11 (could be any two channels). My primary MIDI track is Channel 10 and is mapped within EZD2 settings to Roland. That way CC4 and CC16 works as expected, and 95% of everything else. Then within eDRUMin I change whatever pad I want to Channel 11 to drive the second MIDI track, which also has an identical instance of EZD2, but no MIDI mapping! So for example I have a China cymbal that is a CY13R three zone cymbal. On that pad I have the MIDI notes on Channel 11, and edge and bow are China midi notes, but the bell I set to whatever effect I want. Currently I play the Gospel EZX mostly and that EZX has a cymbal called “stacked” and that is the bell zone of the China. I do the same thing for my Alesis Strike Multipad. I set it to Channel 11 and MIDI in (via a DIN cable to eDRUMin 10). Then I can do finger snaps, the various splashes, stomps, claps, side snare, whatever using the multipad’s 9 pads.

Now the MIDI mapping issues with EZD2 and eDRUMin MIDI map. First there is no EZD2 MIDI map inside of eDRUMin. When I first started out I thought I would use the SD3 midi map within eDRUMin, because it is all toon track (or at least that was my thought). Wrong, that doesn’t work. It has even more issues. Some of the cymbals and Toms are off. The Roland map for me worked the best, but that assumes EZD2 settings is set to Roland. The issue is that Floor 2 is not the 2nd floor Tom in the modern EZD2 kit. Instead it is Rack Tom 3. A potential improvement would be to add a EZD2 modern (Roland) MIDI map. That way there are three rack toms and two floors toms (my set up) and the various cymbals. The current Roland midi map in eDRUMin only has two crashes and a Ride. So I guess my request is build from the SD3 midi map, but with EZD2 (Roland settings) midi notes.

Edit: the only EZX I own that I’ve seen that doesn’t follow the normal modern kit midi mapping is the Gospel EZX. I had to set up a unique note bank for just that EZX and manually map it the way I wanted. I think the main reason the Gospel EZX is off from normal, because the instead of just rimshots on the Toms all of the Toms have rim clicks and rimshots. Plus the snare has rim click in addition to rimshot and sidestick. And there is a side snare.

[monospace]

Yes, this is all new to me and I am trying to only modify one variable at a time. I also agree that making changes on the EDrumin makes the most sense. Its just I have three components here: EDrumin, EZDrummer 2 and another piece of software and I cannot make all 3 align.

Sounds to me like what you need is to make judicious use of the Note Bank feature. For each trigger, assign the MIDI notes you want for EZ2 in Bank 1, and the notes for your other software in Bank 2 (and so on and so forth, for a total of four banks, or different pieces of drum sample software). Then connect a hardware switch to your eDrumIn to change all your inputs from Bank 1 to Bank 2 at the press of a button.

(I believe Rob may be working on adding a global bank switch like that into the software as well which would eliminate the need for a hardware switch.)

[nickisonpar]

A brief follow-up: I went ahead and purchased Superior Drummer 3 and thanks to all the good info/help, I have EDrumin working correctly!
Also, I know understand how the Pedal (CC4) + HiHat are used to determine Open vs. Closed and generate the right sound / MIDI.

I also want to use Melodics, which expects different MIDI values for HiHat Open vs. Closed. Since SD3 is translating the CC4 value to determine the MIDI to play, I thought I could get SD3 to output its MIDI and then that would be the input to Melodics. Unfortunately, I cannot figure out how to do that.

If I could use Note Banks to generate 4 levels of Open/Closed, based on the CC4 value of the foot pedal, that would work fine. However, my interpretation of the documentation tells me this is not how Note Banks are supposed to be used, correct?

I saw the prior response about using a DAW, but I don't have experience with manipulating tracks.

Any suggestions?

Thank you!

[Rob]

This functionality is supported in version 1.5.

[nickisonpar]

This functionality is supported in version 1.5.

Downloaded and its working like a champ!

THANK YOU!