I don't know if it would facilitated kit creation at this point in the life of the module. If it was two years ago maybe. Going the pay route isn't going to be easy. How many users do you think you can get to create "good" new kits for the DM10? You're going to need a way for people to preview the kits before they buy. Who's going to upload the mp3 file for those previews? How much will be charged for each kit and who determines that and how does payout work? I really think the hardest part of the idea is finding the users that can make kits people will want.
I don't know, just thought I'd throw the idea out there. None of those problems are insurmountable, by any means. Getting the actual content is definitely the toughest part, although if there were some sort of a revenue stream, that might get a few people interested.
Was just a thought.
Please keep in mind that I'm not criticizing DMEditor. I personally think it's perfect the way it is. I would prefer you not really change it much other than being able to use your program on a MAC, but I don't push that because I know the majority of people use a PC.
I might have a solution for this, but it won't be soon (hoping to get some other features in before I see about porting the software to Mac). If I can get them working the way I'm thinking right now, it should work on Linux, too.
Most (not all but a good portion) of the drummers that come here don't have the technical skills (or desire) to use a program like DMEditor. Heck, many of them cringe when they have to "edit" an instrument voice on the module itself. It's going to be hard to find users that understand the level of detail necessary to create good new kits when a majority of the users don't even open the manual to understand the way the DM10 works past the jog wheel to change the current kit. Most find it very difficult to alter the internal kit programs. That's why many new users find out about DMEditor, download it, and say "Where are all the FREE kits?". I'm sorry say but the vast majority of the users are in this category.
I see where you're coming from, but personally, I see it a different way. If people are unable to work on things like kits due to whatever reason (as opposed to unwilling), I see that as a challenge to find a way to make it possible for them. If that's because they don't know how to make ones that sound good, maybe some written tutorials where you walk them through making a halfway decent kit (or even just some instruments), with some suggestions as to how to personalize it / make it a bit better could be invaluable. If it's an interface issue, something like DMEditor where they can get a better grip on the settings could work. Things like this can go a long way if users want to do this, but only if there's something standing in their way. If they just want things to be done for them, then there's not much we can do.
Awkward confession time: I suck at making kits, like "my machine-gunning ancient TD-5 would be better than this kit" level. This was a major part of the reason I wrote DMEditor in the first place. I thought that if I came up with an easier way to share kits as opposed to full dumps of user's modules, that it might spur other users to share some kits I could use to get started. Fortunately, all I really do is noodle around at home, so having a decent kit isn't as important as those of us who actually gig, but it'd still be nice to have something better than the (somewhat poor) builtin kits.
A look over at Vdrums.com will find the same pattern for Roland drum modules users. A Roland module is much easier to program kits for, but the vast majority don't do it because of the level of detail that's needed. VEX is a group of guys (I believe 3 or 4 guys) that got together to start their own company. The guys over at VEX spend a ton of time making those custom kits and charge accordingly for their efforts.Their site is well done and there are samples to listen to before you purchase. They are so well respected that they don't have much of an issue with users bootlegging their kits.
I just took a look at their "Masters" pack. 13 high-quality kits for $50 is a pretty good deal; not only do you get the kits themselves, but you also get the knowledge of how the kits work and can then apply that to whatever you want to do. I'd buy a fair number of those, if they branched out into Alesis territory.
I just can't see many users in the DM community willing to pay for custom kits. Sure, some would say they are willing, but they are assuming they will be cheap like a ring tones. It's a shame really, because when you decide to do DMeditor I thought the idea of VEXing on the DM line could happen. Now, after seeing the type of questions that are asked and the number of users who talk about there custom kits, I just don't see it happening. Had Alesis went a head with O.S. 2.0 things might have been different. That's just my two cents at this point.
You seem more jaded than I am when it comes to this. Then again, I haven't dealt with this sort of thing here for years like you have (mine is just at work).
Time is valuable, yes. On the other hand, if we could kickstart a subsection of the community that was willing to donate their time to direct education on this section of the module, it could take off. Won't know unless you try (unless you already have and I've managed to miss it for the last two years).
Something else to think about... and I am sure I'm not the only oddball... If you shared a kit, wouldn't all of your triggers need to be plugged into the same ports on the DM10? Sure the base set up would be covered. But the Toms might be 3,2,1 instead of 1,2,3 (probably not), but some people have 3 zone vs 2 zone rides, perc 1-4 too.
Granted, for your typical stock kit to typical stock kit, this would work fine. Anyone that has any more customization (lots of us), it won't work at all.
I shared a kit a while ago. However, it probably wouldn't work for 99.9% of the other users as I use 2 DM10 modules and a I/O (like I said, I'm an oddball).
That depends on where the kits are created. If they're in DMEditor, the instruments can be exported and saved individually, or you could provide the whole module file and let people shuffle things around to match their own kit.