Alesis DM6 Drum Module User Guide

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Features

Top Panel

1. Volume: Adjusts the module's master volume level.
2. Value +/–: Decreases or increases the value of each parameter.
3. Tempo/Tap: Enters Tempo Adjustment Mode.
4. Pad Indicators: Displays the pads currently being played.
5. Click: Turns the metronome on or off.
6. Drum Off: Mutes or unmutes the drum part of the song (pattern) being played.
7. Start/Stop: Starts or stops the current pattern.
8. Pattern: Enters Pattern Select Mode where you can select the pattern and the MIDI output format.
9. Voice: Enters Voice Select Mode.
10. Kit: Enters Kit Select Mode.
11. LCD: Displays the current parameter values and indicator lights for kit, voice, and pattern.
12. Volume: Enters Volume Adjustment Mode to adjust the volumes of kits, voices, patterns, and the metronome separately.
13. Save/Rec: Press once to save the current kit to a user kit. Press and hold to enter Record Mode.

Rear Panel

1. Power In: Connect the power adapter here, then connect the adapter to a power outlet.
2. Power Switch: Turns the module on or off.
   Note: To save energy, the drum module will shut down automatically after 30 minutes of no activity. If you do not need this feature, press and hold the Start/Stop button each time you power the drum module on. This will disable the automatic shutdown feature.
3. Headphones: You can connect a set of 1/8" (3.5 mm) headphones to this output.
4. Stereo Output: You can connect an optional speaker system, recording input, etc. to this 1/8" (3.5 mm) output.
5. Mix Input: Connect the output of an external audio source, such as a CD player, to this stereo 1/8" (3.5 mm) input.
6. USB Port: Connect this port to a computer or other USB device with a standard USB cable (sold separately)
7. Kick Type Switch: Set this switch to select the type of kick drum you are using with the module. Select Switch if the kick pedal is a simple footswitch. Select Pad if the kick pedal is a velocity-sensitive pad (with a standard kick drum pedal).
8. Trigger Input Connection: Connect the included cable snake to this connector, then connect the cables to their respective triggers. See the included separate Assembly Guide for setup instructions.

Operation

MIDI/USB

The DM6 module has its own internal sounds, but you can also use it as a trigger-to-MIDI interface with drum module software by connecting its USB port to that of a computer. In this case, triggering the pads and pedals of the kit will send MIDI messages to your computer, so you can trigger drum sounds from your software's sound library. You will need to select the proper MIDI output format to use the DM6 module this way (see below).

MIDI Output Formats

The DM6 module can send MIDI information in two different formats: the internal format (default) or the GM format. (Note: If you record a performance using one format, it will only be playable on other devices that support that format.)

The internal format is used for the module to function as a sound source.

Program change and Note On/Off messages will be transmitted in this mode. This is the default mode

The GM format is used when the module is connected to a computer. In this format, you can use DM6 as a trigger-to-MIDI interface, triggering sounds from your favorite drum module software. Only Note On/Off messages will be transmitted in this mode. (Also, the metronome and music that accompanies patterns will not be sent, since it is not MIDI information.)

To select the MIDI output format:

1. Press Pattern to enter Pattern Select Mode.
2. Press Value +/– to select P–N (internal format, the default setting) or ––N (GM format).

Kits

Selecting a Kit

The DM6 module comes with 10 preset kits (001–010) and 5 user kits (011–015).

To select a kit:

1. Press Kit to enter Kit Select Mode. The LCD will display the current kit number and the Kit Indicator will light up.
2. Use Value +/– to select a kit.
3. To adjust the kit's volume (which is different from the module's master volume level), press Volume to enter Volume Adjustment Mode. The Volume Indicator will light up and the LCD will display the kit's current volume. Use Value +/– to adjust it.
4. When you are finished, press Kit to re-enter Kit Selection Mode or press another button.
   Note: When the module is recording-armed, the LCD will display the current kit's volume, but you will not be able to adjust it.

Selecting Trigger Voices

There are 108 built-in voices that you can assign to each trigger.

To select a voice:

1. Press Voice to enter Voice Select Mode. The LCD will display the current voice number and the Voice Indicator will light up.
2. Use Value +/– to select a voice.
3. To adjust a trigger's volume (which is different from the master or kit volume levels), press Volume to enter Volume Adjustment Mode. The Volume Indicator will light up and the LCD will display the trigger's current volume. Use Value +/– to adjust it.
4. When you are finished, press Voice to reenter Voice Selection Mode or press another button.

Saving Kits

You can save a kit to any of the five user kits (11–15).

To save a kit:

1. Press Save to enter Kit Save Mode. The LCD will display the current kit number and the Kit Indicator will light up.
2. Use Value +/– to select a user kit (11–15). User kit numbers will flash on the LCD.
3. Press Save to save the kit to that user kit number. (This includes all trigger voices and volumes.)

Metronome

The DM6 module has a built-in metronome feature, for which you can adjust the tempo, time signature, volume, and "click" sound.

Adjusting the Tempo

To adjust the tempo of a pattern:

1. Select a pattern (see Patterns section).
2. Press Tempo to enter Tempo Adjustment Mode. The LCD will display the current tempo value for that pattern. The metronome's range is 30–280 BPM ("beats per minute").
3. Use Value +/– to adjust the tempo of that pattern. You can press Value + and Value – simultaneously to return to the pattern's default tempo.

Selecting the Time Signature & Adjusting the Volume

To select the time signature the metronome will follow:

1. Press Click to activate the metronome. The LCD will display the current time signature. There are nine different time signatures to choose from: 1/4,2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 7/4, 3/8, and 6/8.
2. Use Value +/– to select a time signature.
   Note: The Click Indicator will flash in time with the beat of your selected pattern, whether or not the metronome is activated (i.e., audible).

Selecting a Metronome Sound

To select the "click" sound the metronome will make:

1. Press and hold Click then press Value +/–. The LCD will display CL1, CL2, CL3, or CL4.
2. Use Value +/– to select the click sound. You can choose from a standard metronome "click" (the default), a "beep," a cowbell, or a voice.

Adjusting the Metronome Volume

To select the "click" sound the metronome will make:

1. Press Click to activate the metronome. The LCD will display the current time signature.
2. Press Volume. The Volume Indicator will light up, and the LCD will display the current volume level.
3. Use Value +/– to adjust the volume.
4. Press Click when finished.

Patterns

The DM6 module comes with 40 preset patterns (40 presets and one user pattern).

To select a pattern:

1. Press Pattern to enter Pattern Select Mode. The LCD will display the current pattern number and the Pattern Indicator will light up.
2. Use Value +/– to select a pattern. (If the user pattern, #41, is empty, the LCD will read N–P.)
3. Press Start/Stop to play or stop the pattern. While the pattern is playing, the Click button will flash in time with the beat and the pad indicators will light according to what pads' sounds are playing (a useful learning and practice tool).
4. To adjust the pattern's volume (which is different from the module's master volume level), press Volume to enter Volume Adjustment Mode. The Volume Indicator will light up and the LCD will display the current volume value for that pattern. Use Value +/– to adjust the volume of that pattern.
5. To adjust the pattern's tempo, press Tempo to enter Tempo Adjustment Mode. The LCD will display the current tempo value for that pattern (30–280 BPM or "beats per minute"). Use Value +/– to adjust the tempo of that pattern. Press + and – simultaneously to return to the pattern's default tempo.
6. When you are finished, press Pattern to re-enter Pattern Select Mode or press another button.
   Note: The patterns and the MIDI In (over a USB connection) use the same 16 MIDI channels, which may affect pattern playback. If this occurs, turn the module off then on again to reset it.
   Note: When the module is recording-armed, the LCD will display the current pattern's volume, but you will not be able to adjust it.

Recording

Record-Armed Mode

Press and hold Save/Rec for more than two seconds to arm the module to record a new user pattern. The LCD will display the kit number and the Rec light will flash.

In this mode, you can adjust the pattern that will accompany you, the tempo, or the kit number. You can also mute the accompanying pattern (see Drum Off) or turn the metronome on or off. If no pattern is selected, the metronome's time signature can be used. Otherwise, if a pattern is selected, the time signature you select may not be used (because each pattern has an assigned time signature— the time signature will change if the pattern is changed).

Recording Mode

To record the user pattern (Pattern 41):

1. Record-arm the module by pressing and holding Save/Rec for more than 2 seconds.
2. Press Start/Stop or hit the pads. The Rec light will illuminate and the LCD will count down from 4 before it begins recording.
3. Record your pattern with the kit. The LCD will display what measure you are on.
4. When you have finished, press Start/Stop to stop the recording. (If the recording reaches full capacity—approximately 5,000 notes— the LCD will read FUL. Press Start/Stop to return to Pattern Selection Mode.)

Recording will erase any previously recorded user pattern you had. You will not be able to adjust any of the module's parameters while recording. To stop the recording and return to Pattern Select Mode, press Start/Stop.

Note: To turn the metronome on or off before or during the recording, press Click. Either way, the metronome sound will not be recorded.

Drum Off

You can press Drum Off to mute the drum sounds of the accompanying pattern. (This can be a useful practice tool when playing along with patterns.) The Drum Off Indicator will light up, and you will still be able to trigger all pads, cymbals, and pedals in this mode. To unmute the pattern, simply press Drum Off again and the Drum Off Indicator will be unlit.

Factory Reset

To return the DM6 module to its original settings, hold down Value + and Value – simultaneously while turning on the module. This will restore its factory settings, erasing any recorded data or changed settings, including user kits, the user pattern, and any volume, metronome, or voice settings, which will return to their defaults.

Auto-Shutdown

To save energy, the drum module will shut down automatically after 30 minutes of no activity. If you do not need this feature, press and hold the Start/Stop button each time you power the drum module on. This will disable the automatic shutdown feature.