Controllers for Session Drums?

[jamers]

Hi there,
Just wondering, for those of you using Session drums, what are you using to trigger/control them with? I have the apc40, which is great for the macros and effects, but does not trigger the drums with the pads??? Do I have to re-map it somehow, or do I need a whole other controller? If so, what would be a good, cheap controller for this?

Thanx,
Jamers

[McQ714]

check out NativeKontrol. they've got custom mapping for the APC40 that allows you to do what you want. If you map it without some sort of midi translator, you will lose some function of the APC40.

[dinaiz]

Nah APC40 isn't made for this .

You can use Korg PadKontrol (my personal favourite), M-audio trigger finger, AKAI MPD familly and so on ...

[jamers]

thanks for your input guys. Native kontrol presets sure seem to open up the capabilities of the apc40, but for me I don't think the navigating functions are all that necessary, and get to be a bit much... and on further thought, idk about using the apc pads to trigger drum hits anyway, I find them kind of sticky. It would be hard to do rolls and quick consecutive hits I think.

The Padkontrol looks good for this, or the trigger finger, as long as I can assign the pads to the drum rack hits... the pads 'seem' way more flat and responsive. Haven't looked at the mpd's yet, but I really just want something to trigger the drum rack clips with, I would edit fx, etc in Live or with the apc.

And then there's the whole drumkat dk10 approach, or other simulation kits you could play with sticks, etc.... but none of these options are very cheap, are they?

I think I'm starting to understand gearlust.

[dinaiz]

The padkontrol has an X-Y controler which can be assigned to roll and flam functions . It has also squared sensors under the pads which means that all the pad surface is sentisitve
The trigger fingger has a transpose button which is missing from the padkontrol IMHO.
I still bought the padkontrol

[darkenedsoul]

Don't forget about the Akai LPD8 which has 8 pads + 8 knobs you can assign cc's to in it's editor so you can then midi map the knobs (set midi notes for pads too in editor).

Mike

[squelcht]

The trigger fingger has a transpose button which is missing from the padkontrol IMHO.

Damn, does it not? After considering my options for awhile now I've decided I'm going to get a PadKontrol---But DAMN transposing is gonna be essential for my use---I didn't even think about, I just naturally assumed it would. So do tell---How do YOU move abouts the scale? With the Midi pitch effect?

[dinaiz]

The trigger fingger has a transpose button which is missing from the padkontrol IMHO.

Damn, does it not? After considering my options for awhile now I've decided I'm going to get a PadKontrol---But DAMN transposing is gonna be essential for my use---I didn't even think about, I just naturally assumed it would. So do tell---How do YOU move abouts the scale? With the Midi pitch effect?

Yeah I was disapointed by this fact too, and IMHO, it's the only think missing to this otherwise awesome controler.
However you've got a few workarounds :

• As you mentioned, you can add a midi pitch effect and map it to one of the knobs (problem is that you'll have to be accurate with your knob to se the transpose value to exactly 12 semitones above )
• You can use covert operator's free PK[Squared] MAX/MSP patch which adds a lot of cool features to the pad kontrol for Ableton live (see this thread). You don't need the max/msp runtime, but you need midi yoke if you're under windows (
• Or even simpler : you can setup one scene per drum rack "page" (switching scenes is really easy on the PK). This a bit boring to setup but once it's done it works with any drum rack of any live set

So yeah as you can see, there are plenty of solutions for this problem !

You've got a comparative review of PadKontrol VS TriggerFinger here : http://www.futureproducers.com/forums/s ... p?t=162500

I never used a trigger finger but here are some things I really love with the PK :

• The X-Y pas is just amazing ! You can midi map it to anything, but it has also built-in roll and flam functions directly into the PK
• Very easy to use
• The pad response is very natural and realistic
• There's an awesome editor included which allows you to customize everything in depth for each pad very easily (note value, velocity curve, roll and flam speed, well everything)

So yeah, I'm really happy with this pk !

[bosonHavoc]

the padkontroller has 5 user assignable function pads that you could map to your transport controls.. so you could put you transport functions their
and just push message while pressing the appropriate pad

i personally prefer the MPD 32 but since you have an apc 40 already and do not necessarily need the extra controls of the mpd 32
the korg is nice and small, has an xy pad, plus their are monome patches for it too.

[darkenedsoul]

The trigger fingger has a transpose button which is missing from the padkontrol IMHO.

Damn, does it not? After considering my options for awhile now I've decided I'm going to get a PadKontrol---But DAMN transposing is gonna be essential for my use---I didn't even think about, I just naturally assumed it would. So do tell---How do YOU move abouts the scale? With the Midi pitch effect?

The padKontrol maps properly to the default cell in a drum rack when you load the padKontrol editor and load Preset #1. I found that out accidentally and someone mentioned it in another thread I had posted/posted in.
As for the transpose there is using the pitch effect inside the rack. I created a rack with pitch in front then drum rack and when I grouped it, it turned into an instrument rack.
Mike

[jamers]

sounds like the PK is a runaway winner for me. Thanks for your help, peeps. Great insights on the pitch control, etc.

[BoxDJ]

I'm planning on buying a PK after reviewing all my choices. Looks like a great product.

[darkenedsoul]

For the padKontrol, I believe I had to load the Factory Preset (load scene data) from top level where other folders/directories are for it to map properly. Or I think even GURU will map properly for the pads anyways. As for the LPD8 you could set up a preset that has the bottom 8 pads mapped to the drum rack cell, set up a 2nd preset and use top 8 cells for the pads on the LPD8 and so on for maybe up to 2 cells worth. Don't quote me on it as I haven't tried this out yet but it sounds plausible.

PK's going for between $150 and $200 I think and LPD8's going for ~$60 at GC (cost me $70 at local Daddy's, should have had them do a price match lol....

Mike