KD7 to Alesis IO to a SP404?

sawmdude · Post by **sawmdude** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 2:55 am

I was hoping to use a Roland KD7 kick drum/midi trigger to trigger samples from my sp-404. zzounds told me I would need an Alesis Trigger IO to do this. So I picked one up and borrowed a KD7 from a friend to see if it might work. I checked out both product manuals and the forum for midi help(I'm a noob), but was still unable to produce a sound from the sp-404. Does anyone have any experience with using this Alesis Trigger IO and a SP404? Gonna send back the IO if I cant get it to work. The KD7 has a 1/4 inch going in to input 1 on the Alesis which is then plugged in to the SP-404 via midi cable. Maybe I'm missing something simple. Here is what I've done manualwise:

First, I set the SP-404 to midi channel 1 by holding down Pad 1 when being turned on. Now for the Alesis Trigger IO:

TRIG MIDI CHANNEL on IO to 1
TRIG MIDI NOTE# to 47(b3)
Gain is high
Threshhold is at its lowest setting.
Tried several TRIGGER TYPES to no success. Not sure what a KD7 would be considered.

I do believe this should trigger bank a/pad1 per the documentation.

At no point does the activity led light up on the Alesis when using the KD7.

Although crude, I would love to trigger sampled bass drum sounds from the SP-404 with the KD7. Velocity or not.

Anyone who could lend me hand, It would greatly appreciated, maybe I could help some folks out with computer hardware issues as that it my area of expertise.

BTW, I'm in a group that makes almost all of our music exclusively with SP303s and SP404s. Love 'em.

Chris
http://www.myspace.com/rawblowpgh

ColeRockLee · Post by **ColeRockLee** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 3:15 am

Sounds like either 1. The trigger isn't working. or 2. the trigger to midi converter isn't working.

Try and check each piece separately, maybe you can narrow it down.

sawmdude · Post by **sawmdude** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 3:29 am

Thanks. Went back to check on the no activity led. Turns out when I plug the 1/4" from the KD7 half way in to the Alesis, It does work. It's the cable my friend provided me with the KD7. Doesn't appear to be stereo but whatever, I'm glad it works.

ColeRockLee · Post by **ColeRockLee** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 4:14 am

Glad you got it figured it out. Now go make some beats.