Tag: MIDI
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GEAR : Akai “MPC1000”
Akai MPC 1000: a compact flagship This became my (first) serious relationship with a piece of gear, bringing new levels of learning to be creative within limitations, and I found not only how their “Programs” could create drum kits or chromatic voices (leads, vocals), but also experiment in between. As understand of, and ability to…
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Novation Circuit pad/ui glitch teardown and FIXed !
History / Motivation I got a the Circuit by Novation back in Fall of 2018. I was blown away by how simple and flexible the UI was, both for sequencing internal sounds, and as a MIDI note-controller for external gear. Then, suddenly, it started glitching, at the pads. It seemed fine if I held it…
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the amazing electronic drum kit of Jim “Mouth” Parole
A SoCal performer/comedian shows me his a kit somewhere between overkill and engineering marvel.
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exciting progress and prototype- demos of MIDI gear from German innovators Future Artist
Motivation The more I use and study MIDI (usually in that order), the more I enjoy it. A decade or so ago, it was THE way to streamline synthesis/processing/recording of music; not just because computers were too slow to do all that as raw audio, but also because working in symbolic performance data/notation allowed you new and…
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Alesis DM Pro surgery 3; donor face-transplants
Motivation After my efforts to repair the (old) Alesis DM Pro drum-trigger module by solder-rework had Comparison my “old” unit had firmware V 1.06 Trigger inputs (all tested) Screen in good shape Buttons in good shape Audio Outputs all bad my “new” unit Firmware V 2.0, which fixes some bugs, allow for newer (Roland)…
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Alesis DM Pro surgery 2; solder rework for outputs
Motivation: After I repaired the memory backup battery on my Alesis DM Pro, it’s time to (try to) fix the faulty audio outputs. Each voice in a kit can be assigned among the DM pro has 6 outputs, in addition to being routed to EITHER of its for Reverb (room, hall plate) OR MultiFx (distortion…
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Surgery on Korg Kaoss Pad 3 slider
Distinction The Korg Kaoss Pad series. Simple stereo audio effectors/samplers/loopers that allow you to control (preset) effects with medium XY touch field. Made for DJs to control filters, delays, whatever with one finger ( as these are not multi-touch controllers…yet). I absolutely LOVE these things, and it’s because I’m NOT a DJ. I’m a DRUMMER.…
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Alesis DM Pro surgery 1; internal memory battery
Distinction: I have a long and complex history with the Alesis DM Pro. It’s a uniquely powerful and expressive device, specifically in how one can custom-program both natural and novel drumming expression between modulation Sources hit velocity hit rate (think “swells”) random variation many others… …and the resultant sound controls. pitch amplitude gain and envelope…
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custom PureData suite for improvised computer-music, built for J. Pfeffer
Philadelphia musician and writer Jonathan Pfeffer recruited me to build some tools for custom musical control between his Laptop and his various musical hardware toys. I build him two “patches” in code-free visual language PureData (extended). The “myWhammyJammy” The Whammy effect by Digitech is a foot-controlled pitch-shifter, allowing you to sweep a foot-treadle to bend…
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REPAIR: Alesis ION keys, 11/2015
Thoughts, photos, and tutorial for my repair of of busted keys on an Alesis ION virtual analog synthesizer.