Author Topic: Over 40 years later..  (Read 927 times)

Offline Daddums

Over 40 years later..
« on: August 08, 2024, 07:29:49 PM »
Just got a (used) Crimson Mesh to relive my glory days of 40-something years ago. 
I figured, "how hard can it be"?  Muscle memory and all that- right?

...Nope.  I suck. 
Hard.   

Gonna be hitting the basics and try to work my way back up to fast and accurate before I'm dead.  A lot has happened since then.  I hope you folks can help me catch up on the tech. 

It's only day one, so I'm hoping I just need to mess with settings, but an example of my newbie woes would be my 3 zone ride triggers the bell only occasionally (with a tiny sweet spot I couldn't hit reliably with a laser finder). 
Also, the high hat doesn't want to "open" after a strike.  I was told the pedal recognized variable position (including the half-open splash sound that was no trouble at all with my old acoustic HH).  Seems only fully open and hard closed are the only sounds it wants to make. 
I reset the 50 default kits and settings just in case.  No change.

Thoughts, opinions, emotional outbursts?

Offline Chaser

Re: Over 40 years later..
« Reply #1 on: August 08, 2024, 11:44:36 PM »
Just got a (used) Crimson Mesh to relive my glory days of 40-something years ago. 
I figured, "how hard can it be"?  Muscle memory and all that- right?

...Nope.  I suck. 
Hard.   

Gonna be hitting the basics and try to work my way back up to fast and accurate before I'm dead.  A lot has happened since then.  I hope you folks can help me catch up on the tech. 

It's only day one, so I'm hoping I just need to mess with settings, but an example of my newbie woes would be my 3 zone ride triggers the bell only occasionally (with a tiny sweet spot I couldn't hit reliably with a laser finder). 
Also, the high hat doesn't want to "open" after a strike.  I was told the pedal recognized variable position (including the half-open splash sound that was no trouble at all with my old acoustic HH).  Seems only fully open and hard closed are the only sounds it wants to make. 
I reset the 50 default kits and settings just in case.  No change.

Thoughts, opinions, emotional outbursts?

Welcome to the Forum !

I presume the Kit is the Factory Kit which was one of the last to have DMPad Cymbals..Realhat Pedal..

Here is the original Cut Sheet..
The Image and description are correct..with 1 error listed twice.
I posted in the Alesis Get Satisfaction Forum when it was still up , however they didn't pickup on the error.



Electronic Drums..E-Drumming is different than Acoustic..
You'll need to do is learn what the settings mean and how to properly set the trigger settings.
Out of the Box the settings are generic to cover the basics as the kit is designed/sold to a wide range of users..just enough to get you going.Those that don't learn how to properly or bother spending time reading the manual and learning this start down the rabbit hole and buying new triggers etc etc before actually putting in the time to adjust properly..there is no way around it , you get out of it what you put into it.
There is No.."One works for all" setting or settings.
You have to adjust according to playing style..sticks used..a Jazz Player settings will be entirely different compared to a Metal Player.

The 1st thing to do is take out the travel on the Realhat pedal.. 5 Min Fix.
otherwise the RealHat Pedal seems to be continuous only when nearly pressed as there is a gap before the actuator makes contact..adjust the EQ if you feel the Module is too quiet then start adjusting the trigger settings and become familiar with how they all work...you want the lowest sensitivity with the highest threshold...there is a balance that is based on your playing style.
Many start off doing the opposite...high sensitivity..low threshold and you have nothing but problems as it won't take much effort to trigger the kit pieces.Threshold determines the Input Strength..Sensitivity determines the Output Strength.
Too high Sensitivity and a soft hit will sound Loud,..No Dynamics...Low Threshold and you'll have mistriggering..Crosstalk etc.
Velocity Curves also affect the Dynamic Performance..

Check the Head Tension and make sure not too loose...the Original Crimson Kit has been out for over 8 years...discontinued only a year or so after release and the heads may have stretched out.

The Crimson is/was the 1st in the Medeli DD650 Rebrands (Crimson..Crimson II..Command..DM10 Studio MKII..Forge) which all used the same Module/Harness...but different hardware Firmware.
I consider the Original Crimson the best version as the MIDI Mapping is straight forward GM so it's mapping works with the Majority of software/Vst without a Custom MIDI Map..you can also activate the 2nd Zone for the Hi Hat ..making it a Dual Zone.
(You'll need to upgrade to a Dual Zone Cymbal as the factory Hi Hat is Single Zone.)

Alesis Crimson DUAL ZONE Hi Hat


EDIT:
Added Links..Image..User Guide
« Last Edit: August 09, 2024, 12:34:25 AM by Chaser »

Offline Daddums

Re: Over 40 years later..
« Reply #2 on: August 09, 2024, 11:17:03 AM »
Wow!
Monster response with tons of useful info.  It will take me a while just to digest and homework all of it. 
Thank you Chaser!

I haven't charged too deep into the settings yet.  Need to spend some time with that user manual you provided.  Thanks for that too!

I can't tell if changing trigger settings and such is a system wide adjustment, or just for the kit that's loaded up at the time.  I'll get there.  Like my rudiments, it will take some time, but worth the effort  ;)
« Last Edit: August 09, 2024, 11:19:16 AM by Daddums »
Why be normal?