2box wish list
Sorry for the long post, but here we go let's dive in
I used to do sound design in a past life and have had experience with various samplers and drum modules, these are functions I have seen over the years utilized in the past in one form or another since the late 80's on one or another device, it would be nice to see this available from one device that is a dedicated rum module and not a computer running several different apps at once
Ideally I would like to use this module with other controllers such as the mandala pad, Zendrum, DrumKat or a TrapKat
What I would like for the DrumIT module software:
As a Ddrum4 user (I also use DrumKat, Wavedrum [both versions], and Mandala as well as acoustic drums and percussion) and the fact that this is basically the Ddrum5 with the same technology and almost the same development team that used to be with Clavia before they sold the Ddrum name I would like to see compatibility with the former Ddrum pads especially the cymbals and hihat with the after touch functions that were utilized in the Ddrum module.
Another function from Ddrum4 would be the after touch ability, it was used on the Dd4 for cymbal choking and on the pads for a mild pitchbend (I think it was a few cents but be able to make it up to a whole pitch, user assignable, and assign upwards or down wards bend to the after touch) this function can also be used on tom/snare pads (by applying pressure with the hand) as a mute or choke function on the drum sample varying the amount of choke (based on % of amplitude, sample length, or a division of BPM or metronome count) and amount of pitch bend by the pressure applied to the pad. Another use for this is that with a real drum the harder you hit the drum the more the head streached and thus it slightly lowers the pitch by a few cents and conversely if you press down on the head with a stick or your hand and then hit the drum the pitch rise slightly as the sound's wave length is now from rim to hand and not rim to rim and is also a choked version of said drum sound. This is of course assuming the module can tell the difference between a held signal and a hit signal from the piezo on the pad and able to process both at the same time
As has been mentioned before, the ability to load additional sounds on other MIDI notes away from the default pad input MIDI Notes that can be accessed from an external MIDI device (such as a TMI, DrumKat, or another Drum Module) for larger kit users, make it so the user can assign such notes as groups of toms, cymbals, hihat or single note
An assignable "B" kit function that is preloaded. For example kit 1 has kit 23 as it's B kit that I can instantly switch to via midi command or an assignable button on the module it self
A drop clutch function where, again via midi command and/or a button on the module, I can "drop" the hihat clutch at a predetermined layer ( closed, 25%, 50%, 75%), this opens up the possibility of the HH Pedal to give CC commands that I will bring up later, as well as the foot pedal.
A snare off function, same as before via midi command and/or assignable button on the module, many is a time where you need to switch between 2 snare sounds , snares on and snares off in the same tune, basically this would be a switch between layers (samples) of the assigned pad much like the hihat already does with 5 layers and the cc command from the pedal
Already mentioned by someone else (Nico?) after touch on the pedal as you press down beyond the closed point on the hihat for pitch bend or other functions
The ability to assign hihats to any pad and have the pedal still control the hihat sample, this can be active by user assigning on a drum pad input head=bow or edge, rim= bow or edge on cymbal pad edge=edge, bow=bow, bell=foot
The ability to assign any type of sample to any pad, realizing the limits of any given pad add the ability to assign what triggers what. For example for a cymbal sample assigned to a drum pad assign which of the three notes (edge, bow, bell or a combination of two) is triggered by the head and the rim, for a drum sample assigned to a cymbal pad, same thing, head or rim or combination is assigned to edge, bow and / or bell of the pad.
User assignable inputs, any type of pad can be plugged into any input, unless this a physical limitation, this would be useful to those that don't use cymbal pads or use fewer drums and want to add more cymbals or want to use two hihat triggers that are independently controlled by their respective pedals and drop clutch functions
Before I go onto sample manipulation (this is a sampler or at least a sample playback device) I'd like to bring up some clock functions. I wanted to add this as I had already mentioned choke length based on BPM
Have an internal clock (metronome) for various control functions available that is user set by BPM, assigned trigger or midi note input (such as the bass drum, this would allow the function to "move" with the music as the drummer is playing a said tune), or an external midi clock. The user can divide this up as needed stating with time signature and by note deviation. For example say I want the timing to be in 4/4 but I want the deviation for a said function to be in 1/8th note triplets and another function in dotted 1/4 notes
Sample functions assignable per MIDI note number this allows for the rim sample to play differently than the head, this would also apply to edge,bow, bell on cymbals and edge, bow foot on hihat
Since samples are basically digital recordings can we manipulate them as such? I'm assuming there is a start point and an end point as well as an amplitude (loudness) measurement of the sample it self this would determine some things from here on out ( and also mentioned in the cymbal choke paragraph). I would like to see these functions available without having to resample either internally or on a computer and reloading the sample back into the module. Also have the ability to apply any combination or all of these to any midi note number
Sample reverse, playback is from end point to start point.
Sample stretch or shrink, playback sample sped up or slowed down without affecting pitch the length is determined by % of sample length, % of sample amplitude or by BPM+deviation setting (from 20% to 3X)
Sample truncate, sample is cut off from playing all the way to the end point (similar to choke) by % of sample length or amplitude or BPM deviation
Sample bounce, sample plays either from start point to end back to start, or end point to start back to end, this can be combined with the stretch and truncate functions to make for interesting swells or choked echoes
Bit resolution, the ability to playback a sample at a lower resolution that what it is in the module as, for example a 24bit sample played back as though it were in a 8bit sampler
Sample stutter where sample during playback returns to it's start point based on % of length or amplitude or a BPM deviation for a user assignable number of times (1-8) before continuing onto its endpoint. Both length and amount can be also assigned to pedal or velocity a user range for the variable function can be set as a + and/or - % of said function
Assign the hihat foot function as a choke function to a midi note number and/or after touch as I mentioned before about drum aftertouch to any note number
For hihat pedal controlled samples (there are 5 layers; closed, 25%, 50%, 75%, and open) a pedal inverse function where up is down and down is up so that the layers are inverted as well as the CC message sent for the following functions
CC functions either controllable from the hihat pedal and/or an external CC command source:
The above mentioned sample stretch,compress and truncation where the pedal controls the length based on sample length or amplitude and the CC amount is the % of assigned by the user (10-90%) of the set length or amplitude amount
pitch shift up or down by cent up to 2 pitches in either direction or both where center (50%) is the base note with assignable open and close levels
Sample playback direction (open foward, closed reverse, hold at point at 50%) user assignable and configurable
Sample bit rate playback mix between selected playback and full resolution
Kit A Kit B mix assignable by pad or global (for example open is kit A instrument, closed is kit B instrument and there is a variation on the cross fading between the two dependent on pedal position or CC level)
Effects mix (depth) level assignable either globally, per pad, per MIDI note or Group
Output mix per pad or MIDI note (basically a pan function) left to right or a mixture of the two user programmable
BPM deviation variation with a user assignable range (from sextuplets all the way to whole note)
Now for some basic added effects
Firstly ability to assign effects amount, rate, depth and/or level to any controller function, pedal, after touch, CC, or velocity
Stereo Depth (possibly a delay effect or playback effect) where aurally the perceived stereo depth goes from center to the outer left and right field of hearing perception this can be a CC/pedal function or a fixed assigned value to the sample itself assign to sample Note or globally
Band pass filter with assignable frequency and frequency depth
High pass filter with assignable frequency
Low pass filter with assignable frequency
The filter frequency and depth is adjustable within a user assignable range by controller functions as well: CC, Pedal, Aftertouch or Velocity
Be able to assign effects either per pad, per note, globally or through an effects send like a mixer where the return can be assigned to any output on the module this way you can have a dry mix and a wet mix that one can send to the mixer for the sound guy to manipulate if need be
I know this is a lot and may be beyond the capabilities of the processor, but I think with the ability to increase the memory via the SD Card to 32gigs at this point these functions might reduce the amount of samples used by the user as the amount of sounds can be increased by sample manipulation. Also with some of the earlier Aftertouch functions there is more playability as an acoustic drum for those wanting to emulate real drum and finally for those of us that like pushing the boundaries of sound manipulation this can become a great tool for expression without having to rely on a computer.
Poll