This information pertains to DrumKitz Versions 1.0c or greater.
DrumKitz was written in GFA Basic 3.6TT.
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing DrumKitz: THE Alesis D4 Editor/Librarian. DrumKitz was developed to make life with the Alesis D4
Drum Module easier -- no more bending over to flip knobs and stare
at a small LCD screen when you want to create that 'Ultimate
Drumkit'. DrumKitz will save you tim you tim you tim you tim you tim
⇩¯¯¯¯re "n" is a number from 0 to 9. The NEW bank will be completely empty.
Open:
Open allows you to recall entire D4 sysex banks from files in the midi sysex dump (MEX) format. The path and filename of the bank may be selected via the systems FileSelector. The FileSelector will automatically display only the files with an extension of *.D4B (D4 DrumBank).
Close:
The Close entry in the Files menu will close an open edit window without quitting the program.
Load Partial:
Load Partial allows you to recall individual drumsets into the currently selected drumset from midi sysex dump (MEX) formatted files. They should be given an extension of *.D4K (D4 DrumKit). If no valid drumkit is found in the file an alert box will inform you of this and cancel the operation.
Save:
Save allows you to store entire D4 sysex banks as files in the midi sysex dump (MEX) format. The path and filename of the bank to be used is shown in the Title Bar of the edit window. If there is not enough disk space to save the bank, an alert box will inform you of the problem and cancel the operation.
Save As:
Save As allows you to store entire D4 sysex banks as files in the midi sysex dump (MEX) format. The path and filename of the bank may be selected via the systems FileSelector. Bank data should be given an extension of *.D4B (D4 DrumBank). If there is not enough disk space to save the bank, an alert box will inform you of the problem and cancel the operation.
Save Partial:
Save Partial allows you to store individual drumsets as files in the midi sysex dump (MEX) format. They should be given an extension of *.D4K (D4 DrumKit). If there is insufficient disk space to save the kit, an alert box will inform you of the problem and cancel the operation.
Print:
Selection of the Print menu entry will cause an alert to pop up. If a printer is on-line, the alert will ask if you wish to print the currently selected drumset, the entire bank's data, or cancel. If no printer is on-line, an alert will inform you that the printer is not responding. The alert will allow you to retry or cancel the print operation.
Note: Printing may be interrupted at any time by pressing the <ESC> key. This will prevent on a long wait for the printer to finish (if you decide you don't want to continue) or to time out (if the printer dies).
Delete Files:
Files can be quickly deleted via use of the system's File Selector. An alert will confirm your choice before deleting any files.
Format Floppy:
Quit:
Edit:
Undo:
The Undo function will allow you to undo the last change made to the bank. Selecting Undo a second time will reverse the undone changes. Pressing the [UNDO] key has the same effect as selecting the menu entry.
Normalize:
Selecting the Normalize menu entry allows you to quickly optimize a drumset's volumes for the best signal to noise ratio. Upon selection, you will see an alert which will ask for confirmation or cancellation of the normalize operation. Pressing <ALT>-N will also invoke the Normalize function.
Transfer:
ST->D4
This menu entry enables transferring sysex information from the Atari ST to the Alesis D4. Selecting this entry will bring up the Transfer dialog. The transfer dialog will allow you to choose whether to send an entire bank, individual drumkits, trigger parameters, or the program change table to the D4. If you do not wish to send any data to the D4 then click on the Cancel Transfer button.
D4->ST
This menu entry enables transferring sysex information from the Alesis D4 to the Atari ST. Selecting this entry will bring up the Transfer dialog. The transfer dialog will allow you to choose whether to receive an entire bank, individual drumkits, trigger parameters, or the program change table into the ST. If you do not wish to receive any data from the D4 then click on the Cancel Transfer button.
Options:
Configuration:
The Configuration entry in the Options menu will store some default startup parameters for DrumKitz. Tracking, trigger positioning, and default midi channel are some of the parameters stored. To reload the last configuration saved, DRAG a trigger and press the RIGHT [SHIFT] key while holding down the RIGHT mouse button; then release the LEFT mouse button before releasing the [SHIFT] key or RIGHT button.
Tracking:
The Tracking feature allows you to choose whether any onscreen editing is immediately reflected in the D4's edit buffer. When Tracking is on, a check mark will appear beside its menu entry. When Tracking is off, the D4's edit buffer only reflects onscreen changes when a note or sound is previewed.
Main Edit Window Operations
Miscellaneous:
Notes on Operation and the Program's Midi Channel Setting:
If the program's midi channel is set to "ALL", previewing drumsounds/notes may result in spurious notes from any other sound modules or keyboards connected to the same midi out cable. This is because note on/off messages will be sent on all 16 midi channels. If this annoys you, set DrumKitz to the channel of the D4 which you wish to edit and preview. On start-up of the program, DrumKitz will poll for any active D4s and assign the program's midi channel to that of the first D4 to respond. If no D4 responds, the program will default to "ALL". Often in a midi setup things don't respond the first time it is connected (due to incorrect midi channel assignments) and people wonder what happened to their setup. With this arrangement, at least something responds if your midi in/out cables are properly connected.
Setting, Copying, and Exchanging Data:
DrumSets:
Drumsets may be copied or exchanged by Clicking on a drumset, Dragging it to a destination drumset and Dropping it. An alert box asking whether you want to Copy, Exchange, or Cancel will appear. Now choose the desired operation.
Note/Sound Assignments:
Note assignments may be copied or exchanged by Clicking on a key of the miniature keyboard, Dragging it to a destination key and Dropping it. An alert box asking whether you want to Copy, Exchange, or Cancel will appear. Now choose the desired operation.
Triggers:
Trigger Parameters (not trigger note assignments) may be copied or exchanged by Clicking on a Trigger Box (numbered 1 to 12), Dragging it to a destination Trigger Box and Dropping it. An alert box asking whether you want to Copy, Exchange, or Cancel will appear. Now choose the desired operation. Pressing the [CONTROL] key or RIGHT mouse button before releasing the LEFT mouse button will allow Copying or Exchanging the trigger's note and sound assignment in addition to the trigger parameters. The LEFT mouse button must be released before releasing the [CONTROL] key or RIGHT mouse button.
Moving the Trigger Box:
Click-Drag a trigger box to a new location while holding down the [RIGHT-SHIFT] key. Release the left mouse button when you have positioned the trigger where you want. Save the locations by selecting the "Save Configuration" menu entry in the Options menu. The previosly saved configuration may be reloaded by repeating the above operation, but holding down the RIGHT mouse button while releasing the LEFT mouse button.
Previewing a DrumSet which has been edited:
There are three methods of previewing the edited drumset. The first method is to "Single Click and Release" on a note of the 6 octave mini keyboard (located on the main edit window). This operation will send the currently selected drumset to the D4's edit buffer and then play the particular note that you clicked on. The second method is to double click on a note of the mini keyboard to bring up the "DrumSound Selector" dialog. From the "DrumSound Selector" you may click on the Preview button or double click on the desired sound name. Clicking on the Preview button, or double clicking on the sound name will send the currently selected drumset to the D4's edit buffer and then play the sound selected in the dialog.
Neither of these methods will send the Trigger Parameters (gain, velocity curve, etc.) to the D4. Trigger parameters are global to the D4 and NOT a part of an individual drum kit. If you wish to update the D4's trigger parameters, you must Transfer them to the D4 via the Transfer menu or use the Tracking function.
Install APPlication from the DeskTop or NeoDesk:
DrumKitz may be installed as a GEM application which accepts *.D4? files. Installing DrumKitz will enable you to double click on a drumbank from the desktop of your choice and autostart DrumKitz. With NeoDesk, you may optionally GRAB a group of files and drop them onto the DRUMKITZ.PRG icon to automatically load those files. Only the LAST bank file will be editable since DRUMKITZ does not allow multiple edit windows at this time. The multiple file feature was implemented as a quick way to load individual *.D4K drumsets. Please see your computer's operation manual for details on the Install Application menu entry.
