1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. trapKAT Manuals
  4. Drums
  5. 4
  6. Manual

trapKAT 4 Manual

Hide thumbs
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Quick Links

trapKAT 4
trapKAT 5KS
Manual
Rev. 0412
www.alternatemode.com

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading
Need help?

Need help?

Do you have a question about the 4 and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Summary of Contents for trapKAT 4

  • Page 1 4 trapKAT 5KS Manual Rev. 0412 www.alternatemode.com...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    What are the Pad Numbers ................13 Get My HiHAT to Work ................13 Get My Bass Drum Pedal to Work..............13 Get the trapKAT to Respond to My Playing Style........14 Reset The trapKAT..................14 Go Between Factory and User Kits..............15 Quick Click....................15 Save a Kit .....................15...
  • Page 4 Velocity Curves FOOT CONTROL CURVES...................23 SPECIAL CURVES....................23 Multi Modes Multi Notes Xfade 3 Note Layer Note Shift 4 Note Layer Alternate Modes...................... 24 Continuous Data...................... 25 Cntrl+3 Notes......................25 HiHAT CONTROL....................26 General MIDI HiHAT Continuous Control HatNote Selecting Pads to the HiHAT Pads...
  • Page 5 Program Change KURZWEIL SOUND CONTROL................29 Filter Pitch Drum Volumes FX/Reverb KIT NAMING......................30 ALL NOTES OFF....................30 PAD GATE TIME....................31 Milliseconds Roll Mode Infinite Mode Latch Mode HIDDEN FUNCTIONS..................31 HiHAT Training Results Idle Levels GLOBAL EDIT FUNCTIONS GLOBAL EDIT FUNCTION LISTINGS............... 33 USER /FACTORY KITS..................
  • Page 6 GROOVE VOLUME....................35 MEMORY DATA DUMPS..................35 PAD TRAINING..................... 36 PAD THRESHOLD....................37 PAD LOW AND HIGH DYNAMICS..............39 REINITIALIZE....................... 38 GENERAL MIDI NAMES..................38 TRAIN HiHAT PEDAL..................38 BASS DRUM TRIGGER GAIN................38 DISPLAY ANGLE....................39 BEEPER........................39 SAVE USER KIT....................39 PAD LINKING......................39 NOTE EDIT FUNCTIONS HEAR SOUND......................40 SPECIAL NOTE NUMBERS.................
  • Page 7 KIT SELECTION KIT SELECT FOOTSWITCH................41 APPENDIX GLOSSARY OF TERMS..................43 MIDI FOR PERCUSSION..................46 INSERTING NEW SOFTWARE CHIPS..............48 WARRANTY POLICIES..................49 CUSTOMER SERVICE..................50 TRAPKAT USER KITS..................50 KURZWEIL SOUND ENGINE INFORMATION..........51 SOUND LISTINGS ON THE KURZWEIL SOUND ENGINE......54...

  • Page 10: Introduction

    This new playing surface just feels great to play on. There are a 24 pads on the trapKAT, 10 large pads and 14 rim shot style pads that can be played with the shaft of your drumstick.

  • Page 11: Quick Start

    You can still use the KIT SELECT footswitch to change kits. You will need to plug a MIDI cable into the MIDI OUT jack on the trapKAT into the MIDI IN input on your drum machine.

  • Page 12: Connections

    CONNECTIONS Let's take a look at all of the connections on the back of the trapKAT. Looking at the trapKAT from the back, starting on the left you will see... POWER SWITCH Yes, this is your standard on/off switch. Please note that if you turn off the trapKAT KS, wait several seconds before turning it back on.
  • Page 13 GM), you will need to ignore these names. Its a blessing if you are using a drum machine like the Roland TD 30, or a curse if you are using a soft synth and thinking that is the sound. The trapKAT doesn't know what is plugged into its' MIDI Out port.

  • Page 14: The Manual

    MIDI IN JACK Plug a MIDI cable into this port if you want to send a SYS EX Data Dump to the trapKAT or if you want an external controller or sequencer to access the internal sounds.

  • Page 15: 20+ Questions Most Often Asked

    WHAT ARE THE PAD NUMBERS There are 10 big pads and 14 rim pads. The first 4 big pads left to right are 1 to 4. The next circle of pads from the left are pads 5-10. The little rim pads in front of the instrument are numbers 11-14.

  • Page 16: Get The Trapkat To Respond To My Playing Style

    After you do that, you will need to tap on the Global Edit Footswitch again to get out of this mode. You can look at the values that the trapKAT set for your training in the Global Screens (pads 13 and 14).

  • Page 17: Go Between Factory And User Kits

    5KS, you will need to go the the USER Kits. The User Kits have 24 presets ready to go to get started with the 5KS. After you reinitialize the trapKAT, the instrument automatically turns on MEMORY Protection. If you attempt to change any parameter on the trapKAT, you will hear a “bad”...
  • Page 18 137 or 138. Isn't that easier! If you need to get to a sound that is not in Bank 4 or 5, (the drum banks) or if you don't own a 5KS, you will need to assign a MIDI Channel, Bank Number (MSB-LSB), Program Change Number and Volume Number to the Kit.

  • Page 19: Managing Kit Names

    MANAGE KIT NAMES If you own the trapKAT 5KS, you probably do not need to create your own KIT names. By using the Program Advance, and Program Backward functions in the User Kit, the name of the kit automatically loads in.

  • Page 20: Control Individual Drum Volumes And Effects

    A TRAIN tells the trapKAT what you define as a soft and hard hit. Setting up a velocity range on the other hand tells the trapKAT how loud to play a pad when you play soft and hard.

  • Page 21: There Is A Big Delay When I Use My Computer

    Channel, and the sound source receives on one. Check to see what MIDI channel you are transmitting on in the trapKAT. Then check your sound source to make sure that it is receiving on the same channel. To see what MIDI channel you are transmitting on your trapKAT, step on the KIT EDIT Footswitch, and while held down, tap on pad 1.

  • Page 22: Back Up My User Kits

    BACK UP MY USER KITS The trapKAT is a like a computer, and can be subject to data loss. Backing up your kits should be a routine process. There are free programs for both MAC and PC that you can use to back up your data using a MIDI Interface.

  • Page 23: Kit Edit Functions

    KIT EDIT FUNCTIONS The following section will go over all of the KIT Edit Functions that are in the trapKAT. It is in these screens that all of the programming of the kits happen. Accessing these functions are always the same.

  • Page 24: Kit Velocity

    Maximum Velocity. After the range is set, the next factor to consider is the Velocity Curve. The curve tells the trapKAT how fast to change from soft to loud. Usually folks like a linear or smooth response, and use the default Curve #1.

  • Page 25: Foot Control Curves

    #14 (individual pad) settings. They appear after the “ 8 normal” curves. To select a multi-pad or alternate mode curve, step on the Kit Edit footswitch and hit either pad 4 for the entire kit or pad 14 (recommended) to find the special curve function. These Special Curve...

  • Page 26: Note Shift

    ALTERNATE MODE The trapKAT can play up to 16 alternating notes on any pad. It is also possible to use “silence” as a note value so that rhythms can sound simply playing even 16 notes on that pad.

  • Page 27: Continuous Data

    The same pad assigned to “Ctrl + 3” can also simultaneously send out up to 3 MIDI notes per pad. These are assigned in slots 2, 3 and 4. Any MIDI note assignments in the other slots (5-16) will have no effect.

  • Page 28: Hihat Control

    Continuous Control- For these sound modules, only one note number on the pad is required to get at all of the positions on the HiHAT. On the trapKAT, HiHAT pedal position is recorded and sent out via continuous controller messages. The HiHAT pad assignments do not need to be activated.

  • Page 29: Continuous Hihat Control

    On the trapKAT, CC4 setting represented the limited range, and CC4F (full) represented the full range. Today everyone that uses CC control uses the CC#04F version. It is also possible not to send out CC data on the trapKAT. Just scroll to the value of “NONE” on pad #18.

  • Page 30: Copy Kits

    Pad # 19 and 20 The trapKAT KS can send out 4 different Bank Changes, Program Changes and Volume Changes on 4 different MIDI channels. With the KIT Edit footswitch held down, tap on pad #19 (left of the display).

  • Page 31: Kurzweil Sound Control

    MIDI channel. If you have a trapKAT KS, you can look at the SOUND LIST in the Appendix Settings. On the top of every list, is the BANK NUMBER, which is called up by using two sets of numbers (MSB,LSB)

  • Page 32: Kit Naming

    The default value is NO. This doesn't mean that there is no effect or volume, it means that the trapKAT (the user) is not overriding the settings of the volumes, reverb and EFX that was preset at the factory. The value range goes from 00-127 Filter Putting a value here other than NO adds a Filter effect to the entire kit.

  • Page 33: Pad Gate Time

    MIDI Note Off. On many drum machines, Gate Time has no effect. Many drum machines ignore MIDI Gate Time and simply play the sound to its completion. However the Kurzweil Sound Card built into the trapKAT and most keyboard synthesizers need a Gate Time value to match the length of the sound you want played.
  • Page 34 Looking at these numbers, the top row displays the values of all 14 rim pads. The first 10 numbers are pads #15 to #24. The next four values of the top line are the 4 rim pads in front of you, pad #11-14 The bottom line has pads 1 through 10.

  • Page 35: Global Edit Functions

    #15-16 to save your Kit to a User Kit. A User Kit is a collection of your pad note numbers, MIDI channels, velocity and curve settings, gate times and Kit Name. The User Kits in the trapKAT can be altered and saved by you. It is a starting...

  • Page 36: Groove Enable

    By Default, the Grooves are now disabled on the trapKAT. To turn them on, step on and hold down the Global Edit Footswitch and hit pad #2. You can now toggle the Grooves on or off.

  • Page 37: Splash Adjust

    Pad 10, 23,24 Data Dumps are used to send out your trapKAT RAM settings to be saved on an external storage device like a data disk or computer so that you may receive them later. On our website, we have links for...

  • Page 38: Pad Training

    Depress the Global Edit footswitch and hit pad #11. The screen will ask you to hit pad #11 again. Now choose a pad that you want to Train and hit the pad softly..wait until the trapKAT asks you to hit the pad hard.

  • Page 39: Pad Threshold

    The training of your pads determines two values: your “low dynamic” and your “high dynamic”. These settings tell you where your soft and hard hits lie in the trapKAT's range. As well as training with the soft and hard hits, you can also manually changes these values yourself.

  • Page 40: Reinitialize

    User Kits, Pad Thresholds and Preferences. If you have a trapKAT 5KS, then you will need to go back to User Kits. But before you do that you must shut off Memory Protect.

  • Page 41: Display Angle

    PAD #19,20 On the trapKAT can change the viewing angle of the display and you can turn the Beeper on or off. When you tap on pad #19 in Global Edit, the screen toggles between the Display Setting and the Beeper Setting with each hit.

  • Page 42: Hear Sound

    HEAR SOUND When you are changing the note numbers using the NOTE EDIT FOOTSWITCH, the trapKAT automatically auditions the sound. This means that the note number that you are calling up is also being triggered, and is being sent out to the MIDI OUT jack and the internal sound card.

  • Page 43: Pitch Wheel

    NOTE SLOTS The trapKAT can play up to 16 sounds on one pad. Most of the time when you are changing note numbers, you will be working on slot number 1 (of 16). If you accidentally stepped on the NOTE EDIT Footswitch and the KIT EDIT FOOTSWITCH at the same time and then struck a pad, you then switched editing to slot number 2 of 16.
  • Page 44 If you step on the footswitch and hold it down, and then a hit a pad, the trapKAT jumps to that kit. You may recall that the trapKAT's pads numbered from 1-24 coincide with the 24 Kits that are available.

  • Page 45: Glossary Of Terms

    Gate Time The length of time that a note plays as sent by the trapKAT. It is the length of time that the trapKAT waits after it sends a Note On Command, before it sends a Note Off. Many drum machines ignore the Gate Time sent by the trapKAT and sound the note until its fully “played...
  • Page 46 MIDI information is only 1 millisecond! That's .001 of a second. MIDI IN A 5 pin DIN jack by which an instrument receives MIDI information from another musical instrument. Though its MIDI IN, the trapKAT can receive DATA Dumps, Kit changes and Note # Auto Train information. MIDI OUT A 5 pin DIN jack by which an instrument sends out MIDI information to another instrument.
  • Page 47 Normally these are foot triggers like the eKIC. USER KIT Kits that are changeable in your trapKAT. These are Kits that you an alter to meet your needs. VELOCITY A measure of how loud or soft a MIDI note will play on your sound source when playing on the...

  • Page 48: Midi For Percussion

    Sound out until it is done on its own anyway. Because of this, you can choose on the trapKAT not to send any Note Off Commands - because often, for drum Sounds, they are not needed and simply fill up space in sequencers and waste the time of the Receiving Sound Source.
  • Page 49 Because a drum sustains after you hit it for some time, quick hits or rolls have essentially two or more separate acoustic sounds playing at once. Drums need polyphony per drum to sound real. The trapKAT has 4 Note polyphony per pad so that you can capitalize on any sound sources that support polyphony per note.

  • Page 50: Inserting New Software Chips

    Turn your trapKAT back over, and reinsert the AC adaptor plug into the trapKAT. Now turn your trapKAT back on. If the display is working, you are OK. If the display is not working then: a) Remove the AC adaptor plug again.

  • Page 51: Warranty Policies

    - not from rolling down the stairs. Simply use good judgment and your trapKAT will provide you with years of enjoyment. Don’t pour or spill liquids on your trapKAT. Don’t leave in a very hot car for extended periods of time. Don’t leave in overly damp areas for extended periods of time.

  • Page 52: Customer Service

    Alternate Mode. SHIPPING: If you need to ship the trapKAT back in for a repair or an update, use care and good judgment. It is best to save the original packing material to make shipping easy and safe. If you do not have the original packing material, box the trapKAT in tight with packing noodles, paper, etc.

  • Page 53: Trapkat User Kits

    Kit Number 24 Is a Special Audition Kit that allows you to listen to all of the drum set kits in the trapKAT. Pads Number 23 and 24 scroll forward or backwards through the list. The drum sounds are on Banks 4 and 5. The display on the trapKAT tells you where you are on the list...
  • Page 54 But what happens if you want the Bass Drum from kit 1, and the snare drum from kit 7 and the tom from... etc. Because the trapKAT is a "KAT", you can do this. The trapKAT can call up 4 different kits (programs) in every User Kit.
  • Page 55 Drum & Percussion Banks 04-05 Drum & Percussion Banks 04-05...

  • Page 56: Sound Listings On The Kurzweil Sound Engine

    Drum & Percussion Banks 04-05 Drum & Percussion Banks 04-05...
  • Page 57 Melodic Sounds Banks 00-03, 06-07 Melodic Sounds Banks 00-03, 06-07...
  • Page 58 Melodic Sounds Banks 00-03, 06-07 Melodic Sounds Banks 00-03, 06-07...
  • Page 59 Melodic Sounds Banks 00-03, 06-07 Melodic Sounds Banks 00-03, 06-07...
  • Page 60 Melodic Sounds Banks 00-03, 06-07 Melodic Sounds Banks 00-03, 06-07...
  • Page 61 Melodic Sounds Banks 00-03, 06-07 Melodic Sounds Banks 00-03, 06-07...
  • Page 62 General MIDI Bank 32 General MIDI Bank 32...
  • Page 64 AlternateMode WWW. KAT Percussion Controllers and Accessories 102 First Ave., Chicopee, MA 01020 • tel. 413-594-5190 • fax. 413-592-7987...

This manual is also suitable for:

5ks

Table of Contents