DrumKid - aleatoric (random) drum machine

[Umcorps]

Would it be possible in future firmware versions to allocate midi CCs to the 16 parameters? I can think of a whole bunch of things I'd like to use to control this with - particularly the group A and D parameters.

[Liddlepud]

You’re making me regret selling my Nord Drum, they seem like a perfect fit.

[Umcorps]

They will be once I get a tutorial in how to reprogramme the firmware to send different midi note numbers.

Currently I'm having to remap via MidiPipe which is fine but it would be better to go direct from one to the other.

[Umcorps]

Although I think it would be better to control the DrumKid directly, in the meantime there is always TouchOsc to control mutes on the Nord Drum

[PLNB]

How is iPad controlling ND2? I see no wires

[Umcorps]

Core Midi network session. Using Midipipe to merge that with the DrumKid midi out.

I've switched back to wired now. I have an iConnect midi interface that pulls all this stuff together but while I was playing with the TouchOsc editor things worked better if I kept it all wireless for reasons that weren't very clear. Still need MidiPipe to remap DrumKid notes out to the Nord Drum defaults.

[PLNB]

Excellent. We were looking at the new Midihub box that was just released. DRM1, 01/IV and ND3 look like candidates for custom templates for a hardwired setup.

[mattybrad]

Hey everyone, sorry I haven't replied on here for a while - thought I was getting emails every time there was a reply so I hadn't been checking!

Thanks for all the encouragement on here, and obviously big thanks to everyone who bought a DrumKid so far

[mattybrad]

Would it be possible in future firmware versions to allocate midi CCs to the 16 parameters? I can think of a whole bunch of things I'd like to use to control this with - particularly the group A and D parameters.

Good idea - will try and add that to the next update. Any idea what CC numbers I should use/avoid? Or does it not really matter?

[mattybrad]

A stupid person's guide for how to reassign midi note output values would be really appreciated by this stupid person.

Okay, I was half way through writing a stupid person's guide on how to do this and then realised it was actually insanely complex. I'm going to add note/channel output settings into the next firmware update. Making good progress with this, aiming for next week.

[Umcorps]

Good idea - will try and add that to the next update. Any idea what CC numbers I should use/avoid? Or does it not really matter?

I'm not sure it matters too much. Though it might be sensible to avoid the most common ones. Anywhere between 12 and 31 should be safe enough

[mattybrad]

Anywhere between 12 and 31 should be safe enough

Cool, thanks. Should I also send CC data..? Or is that a bit niche/overkill?

[Umcorps]

The problem with sending stuff other than note and realtime messages is you don't know how the receiving device will respond (if at all). Might be a lot more trouble than its worth. The Nord Drum is a good/bad example. You can programme it just using CCs which makes it easy to set up with a control surface but leaves it really vulnerable to unintentional edits.

[mattybrad]

The problem with sending stuff other than note and realtime messages is you don't know how the receiving device will respond (if at all). Might be a lot more trouble than its worth. The Nord Drum is a good/bad example. You can programme it just using CCs which makes it easy to set up with a control surface but leaves it really vulnerable to unintentional edits.

Cool, good point, will leave that for now.

[mckenic]

The problem with sending stuff other than note and realtime messages is you don't know how the receiving device will respond (if at all). Might be a lot more trouble than its worth. The Nord Drum is a good/bad example. You can programme it just using CCs which makes it easy to set up with a control surface but leaves it really vulnerable to unintentional edits.

Cool, good point, will leave that for now.

Actually, thank you!
The ND will be the 'other' thing besides internal sounds and Battery I would use mine for.
So

[mattybrad]

Okay, I've just updated DrumKid's firmware (V1.1). Here are the main changes/fixes:
- MIDI output note and channel can now be changed for each drum (see manual for details)
- All parameters now respond to MIDI CC messages (CC numbers 16 to 31)
- Drone now responds to MIDI note information (only over one repeated octave for now)
- Better handling of button presses, i.e. saving a beat no longer puts you into param group C for no reason!
- Tempo doesn't change if you load a beat while another beat is playing
- Tap tempo more stable
- Much bigger range of time signatures now available - from 1 to 13 beats per bar, plus a bonus "random time signature" setting
- The "drop" control is now reversed (kick on left, hat on right), and is now silent when turned fully left OR right
- New reset function (reload default beat)
- New "random beat" function (randomises all parameters)
- BPM range vastly increased (goes up to stupid BPM values to create a sort of pseudo-oscillator effect)
- Updated manual

Please note a couple of caveats:
- Unfortunately any presets you have saved using the previous firmware may need to be edited. The tempo, time signature, and "drop" values are likely to be affected. I did want to update them automatically to be compatible with the new firmware but I've now filled over 99% of DrumKid's storage so it just wasn't possible. This is likely to be the last firmware update where this is a problem
- I haven't yet detailed how to load new samples into DrumKid, but once I figure out whether the firmware update process itself seems to work for people, it should be possible pretty soon

If any brave souls would like to try updating their firmware and let me know if it all works okay, I'd be very grateful and interested to hear how it goes! The manual now includes a guide on how to update the firmware: https://github.com/mattybrad/drumkid/bl ... manual.pdf

[mattybrad]

There has been at least one successful upgrade reported, so that's encouraging!

[mckenic]

Looking forward to giving this a try - hopefully this evening.

Thank you for the update! Much appreciated!

[Mr. Sound Boy King]

Piece of kit seems super sweet and I have dropped an order this morning. Will it come w/ the updated firmware?

[mattybrad]

Piece of kit seems super sweet and I have dropped an order this morning. Will it come w/ the updated firmware?

It will

[Umcorps]

Firmware 1.1 up and running with midi control




Now to get some automation going..

[mattybrad]

Fantastic! Had a few messages about the Nord Drum so am really glad that works directly now

[Noodle Twister]

Just uploaded 1.1 firmware with no problems. My controller wasn't set up for comms on channel 10, so hopefully when I change that midi cc should work also.

[Umcorps]

Drumkid uses omni mode for receiving CCs so any channel should work. I'm using 9 for the touchosc template to avoid conflicts with the Nord Drum which uses 10 to 16

[Noodle Twister]

Ah ok. Maybe I did something wrong then. Tried a novation circuit and 16n faderbank and got no response from drumkid. I didn't upload the 'blink' code to drumkid as a test though so maybe I messed up. The switch was definitely in arduino mode I remember.