IV.) Details of the separate electronic sections incl. setup, module rack and cabling:Update 18 sept 2012:
- PreSonus FireStudio Project as Firewire Interface and DSP mixer included
- New electronic setup, device & cable management, monitoring and emergency plans included1.) Electronic components:Laptop: CPU i7, 8 GB RAM, Win7 64bit
USB Interface: ESI MIDI MATE II (a simple USB cable with 2 MIDI in- or outputs)
Firewire Interface and DSP mixer: PreSonus FireStudio Project
DI Box: Behringer DI800 Ultra-DI Pro
Power conditioner: Furman M-10x E
Monitor Mixer: Behringer Xenyx 1222 USB
iPad 1: to play music or to control Addictive Drums via USB connection
Headphones: Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro (250 Ohms)
2x 15”active speakers: Behringer Eurolive 215D
The bottom rack case includes (and hides) all power cables and power adapters.
- Firewire Interface and DSP mixer: PreSonus FireStudio ProjectI’m using the DSP (Digital Signal Processing) mixer as the central station for combining and sending all of my drum sound sources. There are 8 mic input ports (XLR and TS analog combined) on the front and 10 TS analog output ports (MAIN OUT stereo and 1+2, 3+4, 5+6, 7+8) on the rear.
Channel 1+2 is assigned as DAW stereo channel for Addictive Drums, used with the firewire connection of the laptop.
The drum modules are pluged into the mic channels 3+4 (X Kit module) and 5+6 (Studio Kit module).
(shown at the picture, stereo twin cables are laid through the rack case)
The included PreSonus “Universal control” software is the mixer program for adjusting the mixer via the laptop.
Therewith you are routing the inputs (Mic ports or DAW via firewire) individual to the output ports.
On the right side are the buttons for activating the mixer outputs.
Adjustings inside mixer 1+2 are routed to the output ports 1+2 and MAIN OUT stereo ports.
Mixer 3+4, 5+6, 7+8 and SPDIF allow you individual and independent output routings.
I’m using the MAIN OUT stereo ports for sending the drum sound to the DI Box > Stagebox > PA mixer.
The output ports 1+2 are used for sending the drum sound to my Xenyx monitor mixer.
I resized the mixer window for having a neat organized overview.
Channel 1+2 is the stereo DAW channel for Addictive Drums.
Channel 3+4 is the first stereo drum module, channel 5+6 is the second stereo drum module.
I was able to bring them to the same loudness by adjusting the Gain input of the drum modules and the volume of the laptop (Addictive Drums).
Channel 7+8 is reserve if I’m running the band monitor mix through the mic input 8 (emergency plan).
The PreSonus is saving the last configuration inside the flash memory.
Therewith you are able to work without a laptop. (laptop malfunction)
Mixer 1+2 is activated by default. Mixer 3+4 and 7+8 are activated as emercency option, explained later.
- DI Box: Behringer DI800 Ultra-DI Pro:The active DI Box has 8 channels with in- and outputs for transforming TS unbalanced signals (mics, instruments) to XLR balanced signals (Multicore stagebox / PA mixer).
The included features are: Signal strenght + 20 dB or – 30 dB and ground lift (against humming noise).
The DI Box is included inside my rack case because as the drummer I’m always close to the multicore stagebox. 4 channels are used from the band, 2 channels are for the drums (stereo) and 2 channels are left as reserve. In addition there are different DI boxes (+ reserve) from the band in usage.
I’m routing the MAIN OUT stereo from the PreSonus into 2 channels of the DI Box for sending it to the stagebox / PA mixer. (stereo twin cable is laid between the rack cases)
Remark and tip:“The left / right stereo situation on stage and the resulting right / left situation for the audience and FOH”The drum set is sending a L/R stereo signal. If you do not switch the stereo signal then the audience and FOH would hear your drum set reversed.
I’m switching stereo left (black) to right and right (red) to left at the DI Box (shown at the picture).
Therewith our soundman is receiving it in the correct way for the PA mixer.
- Power conditioner: Furman M-10x E:It is the power distributor, AC noise filter and voltage protection (against spikes & surges) for all of my electronic components. That saves my whole electronic against power outages, lightning strikes and power fluctuations. Mobile power generators, mostly used at open air gigs and village/city parties, are causing a lot of power fluctuation. The included AC noise filter removes in addition the humming noise.
The keyboarder is using the same inside his rack. Depending on the location and distances between the musicians and their equipment we are flexible to power and protect the whole system by using both power conditioners. The power conditioner has 10 protected power connectors at the rear and 1 protected power connector on the front panel (IEC sockets).
I mounted a grating (with thin black foam behind) above the power conditioner.
- Monitor Mixer: Behringer Xenyx 1222 USB:I’m using the Xenyx with its EQ settings as monitor mixer to run both 15” active speakers and for connecting different external sound sources (e.g. iPad, CD player) to play music and to practice with headphones and music.
Therwith I’m able to simulate the band rehearsal situation at home while I’m sound checking my created drum presets. And it’s my monitoring system on stage.
Both active speakers are then placed front left and front right.
It feels like playing on an acoustic set because the drum set sound (in stereo !!!) comes from the front.
I’m adjusting volume and EQ of the monitor band mix and my own drum sound with the Xenyx mixer.
That way I’m receiving the complete band monitor mix, together with my stereo drum sound, optimized as powerful and sourrounding stereo environment.
And I’m using the mixer, together with the active speakers, at home as stereo system and sometimes as mini PA for parties (e.g. with mics for karaoke or musicians with instruments).
- Latency:PreSonus is attesting “ZERO LATENCY” for the firewire connection of the PreSonus FireStudio Project.
And they are right, the band and I do not recognize any latency. (Ok, latency is always there)
My drum presets are combined presets of the DM10 modules and Addictive Drums.
It is almost unbelievable, but all drum hits are absolutely at the same time.
Here are my used settings for the PreSonus:
- Addictive Drums with 2 instances and Midi mapping:The “main” module (X kit module) is using the standard assigned Midi notes and is combined with a created Map preset (X kit) of Addictive Drums.
The Midi notes of the “second” module (Studio kit module) are completely changed to avoid overlapping and are combined with another created Map preset (Studio kit) of Addictive Drums.
Therewith I never switch the Midi maps, only the DM10 presets with assigned Midi notes.
The VST program is called “VSTHost”, it is freeware, very slim, fast and easy to configure.
I’m using the Asio driver from PreSonus with VSTHost.
Here are my used settings:
I’m using the laptop with opened display for practicing at home and in the rehearsal room during the sound check. The laptop display is closed during the gig on stage.
My USB-connected iPad allows me to select the Addictive Drum presets via a finger touch.
It is described here:
http://www.dmdrummer.com/index.php?topic=2564.02.) Electronic setup and connections:+ Setup at home:It looks a bit confusing but it isn’t. Let’s look closer:
Drum sound sources routing:
- Both DM10 modules > PreSonus inputs 3+4 & 5+6
- Both DM10 modules > 2x MIDI OUT to 1x USB laptop
- Laptop < Firewire > PreSonus
>>> All drum sounds (AD + both DM10 modules) are combined inside the PreSonus
Drum sound output:
- PreSonus 1+2 out > Xenyx mixer
- iPad with music > Xenyx mixer
- Xenyx mixer > both 15” active speakers and headphones
>>> Drum sound and music output with EQ
1. My “clean” drum presets (Addictive Drums and DM10 with DMEditor) are created at my PC.
Afterwards they are copied to my laptop.
I’m using my headphones for listening closer and to adjust each instrument and how it sounds as a combined drum preset with EQ settings and effects from the Xenyx mixer.
2. After that I’m using the active speakers. That way I’m simulating the band rehearsal situation.
3. With all adjustments done I’m using my headphones for practicing.
+ Setup at the rehearsal room:The setup is nearly the same as at home.
The Xenyx mixer is not in usage. The drum sound is routed from the PreSonus with MAIN OUT stereo through my DI Box to the PA mixer.
Together with the soundman we are doing the final adjustments of new created drum sound presets.
Older presets are done in the past.
All of my drum presets are “clean presets” for matching the PA mixer adjustments.
The effect chain is: Clean drum sound > Compressor > EQ > Effects
+ Setup on stage:The setup is nearly the same as in the rehearsal room.
The sound check of the drum sound is done very quickly because it is prepaired from the rehearsal room.
My ipad is now connected to operate Addictive Drums from the laptop with closed display.
+ Monitoring on stage:The setup is nearly the same as at home.
The Xenyx mixer is now my monitor mixer. Together with the injected monitor band mix I’m able to adjust my own powerful monitor mix. Optional I’m able to send a monitor mix to another musician (our keyboarder likes that). I’m using my headphones for checking Xtalk of the drum set during the sound check. I’m not wearing them during the gig.
Emergency plans to bypass malfunctions inside my system:I exercised those procedures together with the band.
It was my goal of being prepaired for all situations.
And all possible malfunctions are solvable without the help from the band members and the soundman.
My spare parts (cables, pads, cymbals, third module etc.) are shown here:
http://www.dmdrummer.com/index.php?topic=3316.msg24025#msg24025There is no situation that can make me confuse and there is nothing that can “kick me out of the saddle”.
+ Laptop malfunction:That means that Addictive Drums is no longer available.
I have 5 emergency main drum presets inside the DM10 modules from 190 to 194 (retro, rock, electro, 2x pop) and 5 supporting effect drum presets from 195 to 199 (shaker, tambourine, handclap, cowbell, high tuned (raggea) toms, splash, china etc). Therewith I’m selecting a main drum preset with the main module and in addition a supporting effect drum preset with the second module.
The only things I have to do is switching off the laptop and iPad and selecting the emergency DM10 drum presets. The last made mixer settings with the PreSonus are stored inside the flash memory and works without laptop.
+ Monitoring without laptop:A laptop malfunction is not affecting the monitoring.
+ PreSonus malfunction:That means that the whole drum sound is gone.
In addition Addictive Drums is no longer available.
The usage of the laptop and iPad makes no more sence.
I unplug the drum modules from the PreSonus and combine them with Y-mono adapters.
I unplug the MAIN OUT of the PreSonus from the DI box and plug in the new Y-mono adapter combination into the same DI box channels. I can do this in front of the PreSonus and DI box.
This picture shows the easy and quick made Y-mono adapter combination:
Afterwards I’m playing with the emergency DM10 drum presets which I explained before.
+ Monitoring without PreSonus:Now I’m using the headphone outputs of both DM10 modules with two cabels (type: 1x stereo to 2x mono) and plug them into 2 stereo channels of the Xenyx mixer.
One stereo channel was used before with the PreSonus.
EQ and volume of both stereo channels are the same as being used with the PreSonus. That’s all.
+ Monitoring without Xenyx mixer / mixer malfunction:In that case I’m using the PreSonus as monitor mixer.
That’s the reason why mixer 3+4 and 7+8 are activated inside the PreSonus.
I can do everything in front of my equipment and I do not need any new cables.
All I have to do is to unplug the necessary cables from the Xenyx mixer and plug them new into the PreSonus and DI box.
- Twin cable 1+2 PreSonus out to Xenyx mixer in >>> 3+4 PreSonus out to 2x DI box in (the two reserve channels)
- 2x XLR from Xenyx mixer to active speakers >>> 2x XLR from DI Box to active speakers
- Monitor band mix into Xenyx mixer >>> Monitor band mix into Mic port 8 PreSonus
- Monitor send from Xenyx mixer to other musician >>> PreSonus output port 8 to other musician
EQ adjustments (High & Low) are only possible at the active speakers.
Individual volume adjustments are done with the “Universal control” program.
The picture shows my new monitoring volume adjustments with the activated 3+4 mixer settings and channel 8 as the incomming band monitor mix.
This are the activated mixer 7+8 settings for sending the band monitor mix (e.g.without my drum set) through the output 8 of the PreSonus to another musician.