Alesis DM Pro checks out, but. . .

[JLee]

I recently won an Alesis DMPro on Ebay.

It arrived a few days back and today was the first day I had the chance to test it out. I went through all the trigger inputs and everything seems fine. A few of the
sounds weren't really all that realistic (the ride especially) but I think with tuning, it should be just fine. One of the bright spots, however, is that the module seems to recognize buzz rolls and the like. I was a little worried about that.

Just a couple of concerns:

1) Even with volume all the way up, it does not seem very loud. Any opinions as to why this might be? I know that after 30 years of playing loud music, my hearing is probably not what it once was, but I am pretty sure most of it is still intact.

2) The Alesis cymbal trigger I bought a while back to use for a hi hat seems to "choke" itself. What I mean is that with faster tempos, every once in a while the trigger will shut itself off, almost like the power is going off, even though it is not. Does this mean the cymbal trigger has just seen better days? I would have suspected something with the module, but the kick does not do that at all.

[rhjanes]

Loud? Well, out the head phone jack, they are not very loud. And, (this makes no sense to me) when you spread out the outputs, like Kiks all out Aux 1 (paned) and Snares out Aux2 (also panned), and toms out left and highs out right (This gives your sound man some control over the mix), but doing this, the main volume does NOT control the volume out the Aux?!?!?!? makes no sense.
Anyway, out the head phone jack, there is enough, but not hearing damage. Out the mains or the aux, then you need into a mixer or a mixer amp. I've played mine into a 2000 watt set up. LOUDER than my acoustics....

Check the trigger settings for the cymbal. There are some threasholds that are used in electronics to keep false triggering from happening. You can adjust that. However, you can also cause other things!!!

I think you bought this unit used? I recomend looking up "initialize" and to do that. Start with factory settings. Also, Alesis publishes a one page sheet of recomendations for trigger settings based on your brand. I mean, Roland, Yamaha, Pintech etc, all have different suggested settings for "stuff". Find that sheet also.
Ray

[JLee]

Ray

Thanks for the suggestions. I have the manual and obviously I need to study a little more.

Earlier today I plugged it into a Danelectro guitar amp I have (a really small one) and it wasn't too much louder. Guess I better check those settings.

[Drumreaper]

I used to play an Alesis live a few years back, and always had problems with volume, especially the mix between drums. When I needed a little extra "oomph" on the snare or kick, it just wasn't there until I put my own mixer right next to me and could give it the headroom I needed on the fly. It just didn't seem to have a lot of output on its own.

[boobus]

I used to play an Alesis live a few years back, and always had problems with volume, especially the mix between drums. When I needed a little extra "oomph" on the snare or kick, it just wasn't there until I put my own mixer right next to me and could give it the headroom I needed on the fly. It just didn't seem to have a lot of output on its own.

Interesting... I just got a used DMPro and it's LOUD! I mean, I can't turn the volume up even half way. If it matters, I'm using the Extreme Isolation headphones (you can get them at Musician's Friend). They have -29dB isolation, so I wonder about that.