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Summary of Contents for Delptronics Little Drummer Boy
- Page 1 LDB-1 ELPTRONICS Little Drummer Boy Analog Drum Machine User Manual The most up-to-date version of this manual can be found at: https://delptronics.com/documents/LDB1seUserManual.pdf Copyright © 2017, Delptronics. All rights reserved.
- Page 2 LDB-1se User Manual Introduction The LDB-1se is the second edition of Delptronics’ modern classic LDB-1 “Little Drummer Boy” Analog Drum Machine. Our goal was to recreate the warm analog sounds of the legendary 80's machines, like the Ro- land TR-606 and TR-808. The brain of the LDB-1se is a microcontroller that is more powerful that anything available in the 80’s, enabling us to provide all the features of a modern drum machine sequencer.
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Page 3: Quick Start
LDB-1se User Manual Quick Start This manual gives you all the information you need to use every one of the many features of the LDB-1se Analog Drum Machine. But, before diving into the details, here is a quick start so you can begin playing rhythms right away. - Page 4 LDB-1se User Manual Drum Machine Basics The LDB-1se has a very simple interface for playing and editing rhythms. If you have used a drum machine before, then the LDB-1se will be very familiar to you. If this is your first drum machine, then the infor- mation below will help you get started.
- Page 5 LDB-1se User Manual Drum Machine Basics (continued) Accents In drumming, an accent is when an instrument is hit a little harder and louder. In drum tabs, an accented instrument can be indicated with a capital X or O whereas the unaccented instrument will be indicated with a lowercase letter.
- Page 6 LDB-1se User Manual Controls Function Grid The grid on the control panel shows the possible modes and set functions. Tempo Knob The Tempo knob sets the tempo of the currently playing pattern or song. The numbers around the Tempo knob on the control panel show the beats per minute (BPM). The position of the Tempo knob is ignored if you are using an external clock source.
- Page 7 LDB-1se User Manual Controls (continued) Mode Mode Button The Mode button changes the basic mode of operation of the drum machine. You can press the Mode button at any time to see what the current mode is. When you hold down the Mode button, one of the number LEDs will be blinking, indicating the current mode.
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Page 8: Pattern Play Mode
LDB-1se User Manual Pattern Play Mode There are 48 patterns organized into four banks of sixteen patterns each. Num Patterns: Pressing one of the number buttons selects the pattern to play within the current bank. The LED corresponding to the currently playing pattern is illuminated. If a pattern is playing when a dif- ferent pattern is selected, the new pattern will not start playing until the current pattern finishes. - Page 9 LDB-1se User Manual Fill Play Mode A fill is a pattern that is played in the middle of a song. When a fill is queued, it will play after the currently playing pattern ends. When the fill ends, the normal pattern or song will continue. Num Play/Queue Fill: Pressing one of the number buttons selects the fill pattern to be played.
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Page 10: Pad Record Mode
LDB-1se User Manual Pad Play Mode In this mode, you can play instruments immediately by pressing the number buttons. Num Instruments: Pressing the number buttons will play the corresponding instrument. If a pat- tern/song is playing, the instrument will sound in time with the tempo (AKA quantized). Row Individual / Rolled: When the top Row LED is lit, pressing a number button will play the instrument once. -
Page 11: Step Edit Mode
LDB-1se User Manual Step Edit Mode This is one of two modes in which you create and edit rhythm patterns. In the Pad Record mode, instru- ments are added to the currently playing pattern when you press the number (instrument) buttons. In the Step Edit mode you select an instrument and then set the steps on which that instrument will play. - Page 12 LDB-1se User Manual Trigger Edit Mode The LDB-1se has a trigger output jack that can send trigger or gate signals to a synthesizer, sequencer, or other analog equipment. Triggers can be sent on any steps and/or instruments that you specify. See the Config Edit section to assign triggers to specific instruments.
- Page 13 When you first enter Config Edit mode, the number LEDs will indicate your firmware version number. For example: If you have V1.02, then LED 2 will flicker. If you have V1.18, then LEDs 2 and 16 will flicker. The online firmware updater can be found at https://delptronics.com/ldb1se-firmware-update. Editing Configuration Options Select Select Config Page: The configuration options are organized into five pages.
- Page 14 LDB-1se User Manual Config Edit Mode (continued) 1 Top – Startup Mode: This is the mode which the LDB-1se starts in when you power it on. Select one of the seven options. The default is Pad Play. 1 Bottom – Chaser LED On: You can decide in which modes the step chaser LED is on. In some modes, extra blinking might be distracting.
- Page 15 LDB-1se User Manual Config Edit Mode (continued) 3 Top – MIDI Mapping (continued) Sequential Notes: The instruments BD, SD, LT, HT, WB, CP, CH, and OH (in that order) are mapped to sequential MIDI note numbers, the first note of which is configurable. This mode is useful when control- ling the LDB-1se with a pad controller.
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Page 16: Set Functions
LDB-1se User Manual Set Functions To use any of the Set Functions, follow these steps: 1. Hold down the Set button. Do not release it until the setting process is finished. The top Row LED is blinking fast. This tells you that you are expected to make a selection. The top row of number LEDs will be illuminated to indicate which settings are available in the current mode. - Page 17 LDB-1se User Manual Set: Swing / Rand Row Switch between setting Swing level (top row) or Randomization level (bottom row). Num Press a number button to set the desired level. Swing Swing adds a shuffle or groove to a rhythm. This is accomplished by slightly delaying every other step in the pattern.
- Page 18 LDB-1se User Manual Set: Time / Mods Row Switch between setting time scale (top row) or performing pattern modifications (bottom row). Time Scale Sets the time scale of the pattern. The default is 16 notes. The LED corresponding to the current time scale blinks.
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Page 19: Set: Length
LDB-1se User Manual Set: Mods (continued) Select Modify all instruments. Normally, only the instrument being edited is modified. To modify all instruments in the pattern, hold the Select button while pressing a number button. This is not a toggle. You must hold Select each time you wish to modify all instruments, otherwise only the current instrument is modified. - Page 20 LDB-1se User Manual Set: Bank There are four banks. Each bank contains 16 patterns and 4 songs. Changing the bank changes the selected pattern to pattern one of that bank. If a pattern or song was playing, it will change to the newly selected pattern.
- Page 21 LDB-1se User Manual Set: Save Saves the current pattern or song to non-volatile memory. This feature works slightly differently in differ- ent modes, as described below. Pattern Play Mode: Num Press a number button to save the current song, even if that song is a single pattern. There are four songs per bank.
- Page 22 The LDB-1se runs on 9 to 10 volts. You can connect a 9 volt battery, and/or an AC adapter (AKA wall wart). The power jack on the LDB-1se is a center-negative, type-M power jack. At Delptronics, we are partial to the Boss PSA-120S, however, just about any standard 9V pedal power supply will work.
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Page 23: Midi Implementation
LDB-1se User Manual MIDI Implementation Notes: See the MIDI Mapping config option for details on how MIDI notes are mapped to LDB-1se instru- ments. When no patterns are running, incoming MIDI notes are played immediately, otherwise they are played at the selected tempo (quantized). MIDI note off messages, and zero velocity note on messages are ignored.
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