Helpful ReplyGeneral MIDI 2 drum kits...how to use?

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DaveG74
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2014/03/16 09:51:51 (permalink)

General MIDI 2 drum kits...how to use?

Yesterday, I discovered that there are 9 drum kits included in the GM2 specification. But I haven't been able to access them through MC6's TTS synth.
 
Before I posted this, I researched this for two hours with little result. I'm aware that GM2 is outdated, but I still prefer to learn about it to expand my knowledge.
 
The nine drum kits are outlined here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_MIDI_Level_2#Drum_sounds
 
In my TTS track, I set the Bank parameters and designated Patch # as instructed, but I'm still getting the instrument rather than drum kit set. Am I supposed to be using these on Channel 10 (per the standard Drum patch), or any channel? What am I doing wrong? I would like to be able to use these.
 
How do I go about accessing these GM2 drum kits? I'm afraid no instructions I've found were clear enough.
Any guidance is appreciated! Thanks. :)
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pigwart12
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Re: General MIDI 2 drum kits...how to use? 2014/03/16 10:11:49 (permalink)
Grundberg
Have you looked at the Cakewalk Sound Center/Studio Drums that are included in your MC6. They're a much better sounding drum kit than the GM kits---take a look at them-----Keith

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scook
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Re: General MIDI 2 drum kits...how to use? 2014/03/16 12:05:02 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby Grundberg 2014/03/16 19:57:47
Channel 10 is the standard for MIDI drums but it is not necessary for TTS-1. Drums will play on any channel. To access the drums (or any instrument) click the edit button at the top of the channel then click over the instrument name. Select Preset > Drum Set from the popup menu, then select a kit. The instrument popup is also available with a click in the channel just to the right of the fader. On my install, it takes a very slow and deliberate click to bring up the menu.
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DaveG74
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Re: General MIDI 2 drum kits...how to use? 2014/03/16 20:01:19 (permalink)
scook
........The instrument popup is also available with a click in the channel just to the right of the fader. On my install, it takes a very slow and deliberate click to bring up the menu.



Wow! Thank you. I would've never found this.
 
However, could you also explain the part quoted above? It's a little foggy.
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scook
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Re: General MIDI 2 drum kits...how to use? 2014/03/16 20:15:22 (permalink)
The instrument selection menu will popup by clicking on instrument name area just to the right of the volume fader on each channel of the TTS-1 mixer.
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RobertB
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Re: General MIDI 2 drum kits...how to use? 2014/03/16 23:13:17 (permalink)
Grundberg
In my TTS track, I set the Bank parameters and designated Patch # as instructed, but I'm still getting the instrument rather than drum kit set. 

How, exactly, are you setting bank and patch? Are you typing in values from the GM2 table? Don't do that.
The patch numbers in TTS-1 are off by 1, because TTS-1 counts patches from 0, not 1. 
For instance kit #41 in the table (Brush Kit) is actually # 40 in TTS-1.
The banks do correspond with the table.
Bank 0 in the Table is the Preset Normal 0 bank for TTS-1.
Use the drop down arrow in the bank/patch boxes.
For Bank, select the 15360-Preset Rhythm bank to get drums.
For your patch, select only the named patches.
Patches represented by numbers are empty. If you select one of these, TTS-1 does not see that it has anything to change to, so it continues to play the last valid instrument patch selected.
 
Setting bank/patch in the TTS-1 MIDI track also automatically maps the drums in your PRV, so you see drum names instead of notes.
TTS-1 drums aren't the glossiest around, but with a little TLC, you can get them to sound surprisingly good.
I'm partial to the Power Set.
hth.
post edited by RobertB - 2014/03/16 23:25:09

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Guitarhacker
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Re: General MIDI 2 drum kits...how to use? 2014/03/17 08:38:26 (permalink)
While the kits are there in GM.... check them out if you desire since that is how you learn.
 
I would use the ones in the Sound center because they do sound better.

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