From: doug%medley@arizona.edu (Doug Wellington)
Newsgroups: rec.music.makers
Subject: MIDI Drums - Software or machines - RY30 vs ?
Keywords: MIDI drums
Date: 12 Oct 92 00:23:00 GMT
Distribution: world,local
Organization: University of Arizona

Hello world,

I would like to add some kind of MIDI controlled drums to my home
studio, with the possibility of taking them (it?) with me to practice
and/or to gigs.  I have a DOS computer, and have ordered an MQX-32M
board for it (32 channel MIDI), so I am considering both software and
hardware for this.  (I don't have any sequencing software yet.)

I like the simplicity of the software sequencing, yet wonder if the
stand alone drum machine wouldn't allow more flexibility in that I
wouldn't have to lug around the PC every time I want to set up
somewhere.

I have thought of two main scenarios, with a couple "sub-ideas":

I.  Get a stand alone drum machine and use it both stand alone
    and MIDI'd.

II. Get a tone generator for the drum sounds and use the PC for
    sequencing.

Sub idea 1. Get a Yamaha MDF2 or one of the Brother devices to store
            sequences and drag both it and the tone generator or drum
            machine to practice/gigs.
Sub idea 2. Get both a drum machine AND a tone generator.
Sub idea 3. Just get a bunch of cassette recordings of different drum
            patterns...
Sub idea 4. Hire, or try to hang out with, someone who has all this already.
            (Anyone wanna be my friend???) ;-)

What do you all see as the advantages/disadvantages to having a dedicated
drum machine?

What about the separate sequencer/tone generator option?

How about adding drum triggers into this whole mess?  I was looking at
the Alesis D4 which has many sounds and 12 pad inputs.  That would give
me both a tone generator and a "drum brain" to convert the triggers to MIDI.
(My wife would like me to have those triggers and a set of headphones,
especially since my studio is right next to the bedroom!  Maybe I should
also mention that I am primarily a bass player, not a drum player.)

How does the D4 compare to one of the other tone generators, such as the
Procussion?

What is the best way to control it MIDI-wise?  Should I get Cakewalk
or use a hardware sequencer/drum machine?  I remember hearing about
something called, "Drummer".  What is that?

I would also like something small that I can take places with me.  The stand
alone drum machine seems to fit this bill, but how flexible is it really?
(I have a Yamaha QY10 already, which I use to put together basic ideas,
and to plug into my headphone amp and practice with, so I'm looking for
something more powerful, that doesn't necessarily have to run on batteries.)
I have played with the Yamaha RY30, and I like it a lot.  The only
potential limitation is that it only subdivides into 1/24 of a quarter
note.  That won't usually be a problem for me.  If I want to get to
something smaller than that, I'll use Cakewalk to drive the RY30 or
a D4 or something like that.  Ideas?

One thing that sounds interesting is that the RY30 is supposed to be a
synthesizer, so I can change the sounds.  (Is that correct?)  Do any
other drum machines do that?  (I'm not including things like reverb or
chorus with that...)

The RY30 can assign one sound to a MIDI channel and play different
pitches of that sound when triggered on that channel.  It can use
all 16 channels that way if wanted.  Can other drum machines do that?

Apparently the RY30 can be used as a 16 channel sequencer as well, to
control other tone generators, such as the Procussion or D4.  Can other
drum machines do that as well?

Well, should I get an RY30 (or other drum machine) AND the D4 (or other
tone generator)?  This would give me tone generation, drum trigger
interface and stand alone drum machine.  Is that overkill, and/or have
I left something else out?  If I don't get the D4, how would I add drum
triggers later?  What about sequence control - I can use the QY10 now,
should I add in software?  Cakewalk, etc...)

So, what experience has anyone else had with this kind of setup?  If I
get enough info, I'll summarize. (I read the newsgroup and my email too.)

What about some kind of FAQ?  If I get enough info I'll maintain one of
those too.

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Doug Wellington			doug%medley@arizona.edu

Vote for Arnold the pig and Tommy the cat!

"General MIDI is God's way of saying, "Duh"." - Metlay
(Hope I quoted that right, Mike -Doug)
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