Author Topic: Alesis Nitro Max - low headphone volume at max  (Read 6357 times)

Alesis Nitro Max - low headphone volume at max
« on: November 25, 2023, 06:52:28 PM »
I recently bought an Alessis Nitro Max from Thomann (https://www.thomann.de/nl/alesis_nitro_max_kit_bundle.htm). The max volume coming from the module is at best "mid" volume to my ears and when I am playing, not every drum or cymbal can be heard properly, can be quite annoying. Tried with different jack adapters and headphones, same result. Anyone who has experience with this new kit on this matter, or any suggestions? I already created a ticket with Thomann in the meantime.

Offline Chaser

Re: Alesis Nitro Max - low headphone volume at max
« Reply #1 on: November 26, 2023, 12:54:28 AM »
I recently bought an Alessis Nitro Max from Thomann (https://www.thomann.de/nl/alesis_nitro_max_kit_bundle.htm). The max volume coming from the module is at best "mid" volume to my ears and when I am playing, not every drum or cymbal can be heard properly, can be quite annoying. Tried with different jack adapters and headphones, same result. Anyone who has experience with this new kit on this matter, or any suggestions? I already created a ticket with Thomann in the meantime.

Welcome to the Forum !

The Alesis Nitro Max hasn't been out very long so you are one of the first to post on this model.
I don't know at this time if it is a Re-Branded Medeli or not , so the only Manual is the Alesis User Guide and those are usually vague at best.

There are volume adjustments for each pad and the overall kit.
If you still can't get the volume up , go into the EQ's and raise them.
The majority of Drum Modules EQ's are Amplitude based not a frequency range so when you raise the level the overall volume goes up.
Typically they go to 12 and the highs are always set a bit higher with the Mid and Lows Flat (Zero-0).
A number of the Re-Branded Alesis modules (Medeli D512,DD650..Nitro/Surge...Command,Crimson/II,Forge etc) have the same type EQ's.
Try increasing the EQ levels evenly or set to maximum repectively while having the pad and Kit volumes at 1/2 to start so as not to hurt your ears etc...it will get loud.

To adjust the pad settings:
1. Make sure the module is in Normal mode (top Mode LED is lit).
2. Hit the pad whose settings you want to adjust.
3. Press the Voice button.
4. Press - / + buttons to change a sound.
5. Press the Voice button again to view and edit these settings on the display:
 NUM / H-C**: Pad voice (drum, cymbal, or percussion sound)
 VOL: Pad volume
 PAN: Pad panning
 PIT: Pad pitch
 REV: Pad reverb
 MID: MIDI note. See the (5.0) Appendix for a list of the default MIDI note
numbers for each pad.
 P-S: Pad song switch (selects whether or not a song will play when that pad
is struck)
 P-N***: Pad song number (selects which song will play when that pad is
struck, if P-S is set to ON)
6. Use the - and + buttons to adjust the value.


To adjust the kit settings:
1. Press the Kit button to cycle between these other editable kit parameters:
 VOL: Kit volume
 REV*: Kit reverb
 EQH*: Equalization, high frequencies
 EQM*: Equalization, mid frequencies
 EQL*: Equalization, low frequencies
2. Use the - and + buttons to adjust the value.
* The reverb and equalization affect the sound of the kit and song

EDIT:
Fixed punctuation (?) errors
« Last Edit: November 26, 2023, 08:57:01 AM by Chaser »

Re: Alesis Nitro Max - low headphone volume at max
« Reply #2 on: November 26, 2023, 12:05:58 PM »
Thanks a lot for your quick and through answer, adjusting the EQ helped! I did think about it before I posted here, but then also assumed they wouldn't require the user to adjust settings to get a normal volume level, and so hadn't tried. Thanks again!

Regarding the kit itself: I am very new to drumming and e-drums, but if I had to guess, I would say it's probably quite good given its price. Only the sounds aren't that great - I have a Yamaha DD-75 (desktop kit) that has better sounds :-)

Offline Chaser

Re: Alesis Nitro Max - low headphone volume at max
« Reply #3 on: November 26, 2023, 05:06:29 PM »
Thanks a lot for your quick and through answer, adjusting the EQ helped! I did think about it before I posted here, but then also assumed they wouldn't require the user to adjust settings to get a normal volume level, and so hadn't tried. Thanks again!

Regarding the kit itself: I am very new to drumming and e-drums, but if I had to guess, I would say it's probably quite good given its price. Only the sounds aren't that great - I have a Yamaha DD-75 (desktop kit) that has better sounds :-)

Drum Modules out of the box are setup for the most part..generic..settings..sounds ..etc.
Everyone plays differently and there are so many genre's these days.
This is the 1st Alesis module with BFD Drums as the embedded sound Library.
I have been using BFD Drums for over 20 years.BFD Drums are Dry,Raw,Pure.so to get the most out of them and the software , there is a learning curve and you need a good understanding of mixing/applying effects to drums.Toontrack (Superior,EZDrummer)..XLN (Addictive)...Slate (SSD) and numerous other developers are more processed.
I don't have one of the new modules yet but the Kit Piece list looks like a variety from a number of expansions.
Going by the MIDI Mapping it looks like Dual Zone Toms..but Single Zone Cymbals..including the Ride...which is kind of a bummer..but it is an entry level module and looks to be the replacement for the Medeli DD512.We will know if we see a new Surge Kit..


Re: Alesis Nitro Max - low headphone volume at max
« Reply #4 on: December 04, 2023, 09:19:39 AM »
I need to follow this one up:

TL, DR: Apparently I was using the wrong output (named "Audio Output") for headphones. When I switched to the correct ("PHONES") output, the level of sound did not change (still low without EQ adjustments), but the quality definitely improved!

Initially, instead of the PHONES output on the side, I was using the L (Mono) output of the Audio Output on the back of the module. Two reasons for this: 1) not reading the manual :-) 2) the PHONES output on the side isn't visible and 3) the bundle headphones come with a jack converter which I thought was intended for the 1/4 jack input of the Audio Output (the PHONES output has 1/8 input).


Offline Chaser

Re: Alesis Nitro Max - low headphone volume at max
« Reply #5 on: December 04, 2023, 10:48:07 AM »
I need to follow this one up:

TL, DR: Apparently I was using the wrong output (named "Audio Output") for headphones. When I switched to the correct ("PHONES") output, the level of sound did not change (still low without EQ adjustments), but the quality definitely improved!

Initially, instead of the PHONES output on the side, I was using the L (Mono) output of the Audio Output on the back of the module. Two reasons for this: 1) not reading the manual :-) 2) the PHONES output on the side isn't visible and 3) the bundle headphones come with a jack converter which I thought was intended for the 1/4 jack input of the Audio Output (the PHONES output has 1/8 input).

It happens...to be fair the connection diagram in the User Guide doesn't show Headphone input either..the sound quality should have improved quite a bit going from mono to stereo.

Question: Are the cables/connectors in the harness TRS or TS for the Toms?

I noticed in the User Guide there are MIDI assignments for the Tom Rims..but there isn't physical rims on the Toms or any articulations/samples for the Tom Rims listed.

Re: Alesis Nitro Max - low headphone volume at max
« Reply #6 on: December 10, 2023, 03:00:24 PM »
Sorry for my late response. They are TRS cables. Toms are single zone with no rims. The snare does have a rim and a rims-hot sound.

Offline Chaser

Re: Alesis Nitro Max - low headphone volume at max
« Reply #7 on: December 11, 2023, 11:28:58 AM »
Sorry for my late response. They are TRS cables. Toms are single zone with no rims. The snare does have a rim and a rims-hot sound.

Thanks for the response..
The reason for the question is to check for hardware or Firmware limitations.
The earlier modules for the Nitro/Surge are the same...having the same samples and trigger harness , but the hardware was different.
The Nitro has Single Zone Toms..the Surge has Dual Zone.
You could then add Dual Zone Toms to the Nitro and assign samples.

The NEW Nitro Max Module has MIDI assignments for the Tom Rims.. TRS cables..but NO Rim Articulations/Samples in the Data Base to be assigned.
Connect the snare to a Tom Input,hit the Rim and see if the Rim shows up on the screen as a Tom Rim under the Menu and can be assigned a articulation/sample (Snare Rims etc) ...Sometimes Triggers can be activated.
If the Rim doesn't show up , then the Nitro Max Module has a Firmware Limitation and since the connectors are TRS there is the possibility we'll see a Surge Kit (or other Kits) using the same Module but with Dual Zone Toms,without the Firmware limitation and Tom Rim Articulations/Samples in the Data Base.