connecting a drum machine to an interface

[dg27]

I recently got an Alesis SR-16 drum machine. I use an M-Audio MobilePre interface with Pro Tools SE.

What the best way to connect a machine like this to the interface so I can bring drum tracks into Pro Tools?

The interface has two of these on the front (I've always used these for mics, my bass, and guitars):

Microphone/Instrument Inputs: These connectors accept either a standard XLR microphone cable, or high-impedance 1/4-inch TS instrument cable.

plus two of these on the back (have never used them):

Line Inputs: These sockets allow you to connect line-level instruments to MobilePre using 1/4-inch (balanced or unbalanced) cables.

I tried the inputs on the front and though Pro Tools could record the tracks, they sounded like the line level was incorrect somehow (the tracks were noisy and very low volume).

Should I try the line inputs? Do I need TRS as opposed to TS?
dg

 

[ginormous]

Re: connecting a drum machine to an interface

Net grabs:

Alesis SR-16 -- back view

top view, 3/4 profile

M-Audio MobilePre USB, front & back

Are these accurate pics for your gear?

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: connecting a drum machine to an interface

I'd go left-right 1/4 from the drum machine to one of these:

then into the stereo 1/8 mic in.

Or one of these, which I use for this purpose.

 

[dg27]

Re: connecting a drum machine to an interface

Are these accurate pics for your gear?

The Alesis are correct; the MobilePre are not. Here's mine:





dg

 

[dg27]

Re: connecting a drum machine to an interface

I'd go left-right 1/4 from the drum machine to one of these:
View attachment 52823
then into the stereo 1/8 mic in.

Or one of these, which I use for this purpose.
View attachment 52824

Thanks, Jon.

So I'd use a mini to 1/4 adapter to go into the interface? It doesn't accept 1/8 (mini).

What I'm still unsure of is whether to go into the front or rear on the interface.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: connecting a drum machine to an interface

ah, then just go line to line from the back of the Alesis to #12s.

I'd get one of those paperwork sorter trays, put the drum machine on it and it on the interface, then connect line outs to rear line ins with little pedal board 1/4 jacks if it were me. Might as well just leave the drums plugged into them so you know what input the interface should be listening to for drums at all times.

Just my opinion though.

these little things. mono left into the mono left rear input, mono right into the mono right input.

 

[dg27]

Re: connecting a drum machine to an interface

ah, then just go line to line from the back of the Alesis to #12s.

OK--that clears up that issue. I was afraid to think I'd need a pre-amp.

I'd get one of those paperwork sorter trays, put the drum machine on it and it on the interface, then connect line outs to rear line ins with little pedal board 1/4 jacks if it were me. Might as well just leave the drums plugged into them so you know what input the interface should be listening to for drums at all times.

Great idea!

these little things. mono left into the mono left rear input, mono right into the mono right input.

It's funny: I bought a three pack of these when I got a Hardwire RV-7 recently.

Thanks for all your help.

dg

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: connecting a drum machine to an interface

Another cable type that should come in useful is one for MIDI. (Possibly, two of them!)

The clocking in Pro Tools is sure to be infinitely more precise than the internal clock of the venerable Alesis SR-16. If the SR-16 is slaved to the DAW clock, it will not wander off tempo. Indeed, if the Tempo Track of your composition intentionally varies, the SR-16 will follow.

In view of the sequencing capabilities of the DAW, it would make far more sense to record the MIDI data for your drum parts in the software. Either let the MIDI track(s) trigger the SR-16 in real time or sample the individual drum hits and position them in an audio track.

In the longer term, a software plug-in drum/percussion instrument might prove more practical and controllable.

 

[dg27]

Re: connecting a drum machine to an interface

Another cable type that should come in useful is one for MIDI. (Possibly, two of them!)

I did get a MIDI in/out to USB when I bought the Alesis.

The clocking in Pro Tools is sure to be infinitely more precise than the internal clock of the venerable Alesis SR-16. If the SR-16 is slaved to the DAW clock, it will not wander off tempo. Indeed, if the Tempo Track of your composition intentionally varies, the SR-16 will follow.

Thanks--I was aware that this could be done, but haven't figured out how to do it yet; just got the Alesis a few days ago and wanted to resolve the connection issues first,

In view of the sequencing capabilities of the DAW, it would make far more sense to record the MIDI data for your drum parts in the software... let the MIDI track(s) trigger the SR-16 in real time

I used an Alesis HR-16 for many years and loved it. I looked at the SR-18, but preferred the 16 because though it's less midi capable than the 18 it has more of the feel of a traditional drum machine than the 18.

or sample the individual drum hits and position them in an audio track. In the longer term, a software plug-in drum/percussion instrument might prove more practical and controllable.

All I'm using the Alesis for is to rough out ideas for songs that will be played later by a live drummer. I wanted the simplest out-of-the box solution. I really don't envision sampling individual hits: I don't think it's worth it in this context, but thanks for the heads-up...much appreciated.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: connecting a drum machine to an interface

this helps me too. I still am thrown off by global midi clocks and all that, but this makes a lot of sense.

 

[dg27]

Re: connecting a drum machine to an interface

this helps me too. I still am thrown off by global midi clocks and all that, but this makes a lot of sense.

Thanks for making feel less alone!

 

[dg27]

Re: connecting a drum machine to an interface

Due to the limited real estate in my "work area," there was really no way of situating the drum machine too close to the interface. Picked up a couple of 10 foot instrument cables and routed them so I can leave the Alesis plugged into the back of the interface all the time.

So far so good--just getting acquainted with the Alesis and will definitely have to play around with the levels on that, the interface, and in Pro Tools to get a good sound (it was initially a bit noisy with what sounds like a line buzz--not sure why).

I'll check out funkfinger's suggestion about syncing the clock via MIDI once I'm more familiar with the whole setup and report back. Maybe others may benefit.

But it does look like this will accomplish what I set out to do.

Thanks, all for the replies.

dg

 

[dystrust]

Re: connecting a drum machine to an interface

In view of the sequencing capabilities of the DAW, it would make far more sense to record the MIDI data for your drum parts in the software. Either let the MIDI track(s) trigger the SR-16 in real time or sample the individual drum hits and position them in an audio track.
In the longer term, a software plug-in drum/percussion instrument might prove more practical and controllable.

To begin with, I absolutely agree. I've done both, and it's a lot easier to program your midi in a sequencer, send that midi to your drum machine, and record the resulting audio than it is to just hit 'record' and then have to fix any timing issues. Also agreed that it's easier still to skip the external device and just use a drum / percussion plugin. It's not the most feature-rich, but EZ Drummer is dead easy to use. I've heard that Kontakt is good as well, but haven't worked with it.

this helps me too. I still am thrown off by global midi clocks and all that, but this makes a lot of sense.

The clocking in Pro Tools is sure to be infinitely more precise than the internal clock of the venerable Alesis SR-16. If the SR-16 is slaved to the DAW clock, it will not wander off tempo. Indeed, if the Tempo Track of your composition intentionally varies, the SR-16 will follow.

Clocking and synchronization are entirely different and much more complicated issues. First of all, it's probably accurate to guess that your interface (where Pro Tools derives its timing) has a more accurate clock than the SR-16, but clocking in terms of tempo and recording gear are two totally different things. Clocking in relation to recording gear refers to the clock that determines the interval between samples; in the case of the MobilePre this operates at either 44.1 or 48Khz. This matters ONLY when making digital connections between devices since samples from multiple devices need to be synchronized. This does not apply in the situation above because the connection is analog; the SR16 converts its digital samples into an analog line-level signal which the MobilePre then converts back to digital. Lastly there are a few ways to synchronize digital devices, but MIDI will not work because its resolution isn't fine enough to handle 44.1Khz. The best way to synchronize multiple devices is via word clock, but that's a complicated can of worms that most home recordists don't need to worry about.

 

[dg27]

Re: connecting a drum machine to an interface

Thanks--great information.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: connecting a drum machine to an interface

If you are recording real time audio, simply recording the audio signals of a drum machine will be fine. In the event that the drum machine's internal clocking drifts, the other instruments just have to go with the flow.

 

[dg27]

Re: connecting a drum machine to an interface

If you are recording real time audio, simply recording the audio signals of a drum machine will be fine.

Thanks for pointing this out--this is what I'll be doing.

For my purposes, it's really not worth the time to be sampling hits and programming elaborate midi drum parts. I just wanted something that would provide a beat out of the box: The old Alesis HR-16 served that purpose (I'd probably still be using it but it died).

In the event that the drum machine's internal clocking drifts, the other instruments just have to go with the flow.

Yep. We could rewrite this statement:

In the event that the drummers's timing drifts, the other players just have to go with him.

Thanks.

 

[dg27]

Re: connecting a drum machine to an interface

I'm learning how to use the Alesis after a delay (too many other projects).

I have the Alesis connected to the MobilePre and can easily record drum parts in ProTools, so that's a start.

However, I have not used the MIDI capabilities at all. One issue I can't resolve is what I believe is a ground loop hum. When I plug the MIDI cable/USB in a get a serious buzzing/hum. I have googled this and tried a variety of suggestions like switching USB ports but no matter what I do the buzz is there. Any fix for this? I'm using an Alesis MIDI cable (not a cheap item).

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: connecting a drum machine to an interface

MIDI to USB is a pretty common cable.
Are you going straight into your computer? You cannot go through a hub.

 

[dg27]

Re: connecting a drum machine to an interface

I initially had it in a hub, then switched to a USB port on the computer itself: no change.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: connecting a drum machine to an interface

I'm afraid the only way you're going to narrow it down is by trying a different cable.