Hey man, Im a guitarist so I am clueless about drumming but one thing that has always made me think is how does triggering work?

I know it makes the kicks sound cleaner and better (IMHO) but if you could tell me more about it that would rule!

Thanks
Hog

http://www.drumtriggers.com/

I wouldn't explain it too well because I've had a couple too many hotties.

http://www.drumtriggers.com/

I wouldn't explain it too well because I've had a couple too many hotties.

Yup........go to this site that "Mo" linked. It describes how triggers work beautifully........plus Mo's had a few too many hotties, to explain it, by the sounds of it ?!?!

I started using triggers when I joined the DTB. I never used them before DTB and never thought I would. Dev loves them, especially for live use, so I started using them. I have to admit that I dig using triggers for Live shows now. Tons of punch and every kick drum in a live situation is clear and precise, not blurred or fluttered sounding, like an acoustic kick drum can sound live.

Ryan, your bass drum sound it's only trigger or it's trigger + microphone?

Ryan, your bass drum sound it's only trigger or it's trigger + microphone?

Trigger and Mic.

I have an awesome 24" Birch Pearl Studio Series Kick Drum !!! It tunes very low and has a big punchy sound. I use the trigger to add consistency live. When I record, I just use my Kick drum, no triggers !

Hey Ryan, What drum module do you use for the triggers? I'm guessing its the Alesis DM5, but I heard the sounds aren't so great on this version. Do you always use the same preset? If so, which one?

Thanks

Hey Ryan, What drum module do you use for the triggers? I'm guessing its the Alesis DM5, but I heard the sounds aren't so great on this version. Do you always use the same preset? If so, which one?

Thanks

You nailed it bro ! I use the Alesis DM5. Gene Hoglan uses the same one. The presets are'nt that great, except for one sound is really good for live use, I forget the preset name I'll get back to you on this one.... but I'm currently setting up a sampler that I'm going to run thru my DM5. I'll be using the DTB "Accelerated Evolution" Kick drum sound as a sample. I'm sampling it onto the sampler then triggering the sound via the DM5 for a HUGE Kick drum sound live. It will kick ass !

You nailed it bro ! I use the Alesis DM5. Gene Hoglan uses the same one. The presets are'nt that great, except for one sound is really good for live use, I forget the preset name I'll get back to you on this one.... but I'm currently setting up a sampler that I'm going to run thru my DM5. I'll be using the DTB "Accelerated Evolution" Kick drum sound as a sample. I'm sampling it onto the sampler then triggering the sound via the DM5 for a HUGE Kick drum sound live. It will kick ass !

Cheers for the speedy reply, Ryan. Its a shame the DM5 isn't expandable, I know you can load up your own samples on the now discontinued DM-Pro. Which sampler will you be using for the kick drum sample, and why will you have to go via the DM5 to trigger it? I ask because with my experience of having equipment chained up I usually get a little bit of latency (bloody MIDI! )which obviously isn't ideal for a live situation. I think the sampler I use can trigger samples directly through its 1/4" jack inputs.

Thanks again

...but I'm currently setting up a sampler that I'm going to run thru my DM5. I'll be using the DTB "Accelerated Evolution" Kick drum sound as a sample.

Yeah, GREAT!

The AE kick drum sound RULES!!!
You're going to have a killer kick on the next gigs!!

Which sampler will you be using for the kick drum sample, and why will you have to go via the DM5 to trigger it? I ask because with my experience of having equipment chained up I usually get a little bit of latency (bloody MIDI! )which obviously isn't ideal for a live situation. I think the sampler I use can trigger samples directly through its 1/4" jack inputs.

Thanks again

I can't remember the company or model # of the sampler I'll be using...Dev gave it to me to use for sampling some cool kick sounds. This sampler does'nt allow you to trigger from what i know, that's why I'll hook it into the midi of my Alesis DM5 and trigger it from there. My brother is going to download the samples into it and get it working for me. I'm clueless as to how to use this stuff, i just play drums !

I can't remember the company or model # of the sampler I'll be using...Dev gave it to me to use for sampling some cool kick sounds. This sampler does'nt allow you to trigger from what i know, that's why I'll hook it into the midi of my Alesis DM5 and trigger it from there. My brother is going to download the samples into it and get it working for me. I'm clueless as to how to use this stuff, i just play drums !

If its the Devin sampler I'm thinking of its a Emu - ESI4000, although I'm not too familiar with this model my Emu will do triggers with an expansion card. It's probably cheaper to stick with the Alesis DM5 idea though. Does Gene use the preset you use for live on his recordings?

Thanks again Ryan.

Does Gene use the preset you use for live on his recordings?

Thanks again Ryan.

When I bought the DM5 I actually asked Gene what setting he used cuz Devin really dug that setting. When we did the "Keep it in the Family Tour" it was easy for us drummers cuz we used the same pre-sets for each band, there were 3 DM5's on tour. So we used Gene's and had mine and Steve's (Zimmers Hole) as back-ups.

For Gene's recording's I don't know if they use the Alesis at all. I'm guessing they did'nt cuz there are way better samples out there then the Alesis DM5 samples for studio use. Actually....you got me interested now...I'm going to ask Gene the next time I see him. I drum teched the "Alien" album for Gene. I did tune his Bass drums. So I think they used 50% real kick drum sound and 50% sample layered underneath. Don't quote me on that, but I think that's how it worked.

Our drummer for live dates uses roland triggers and roland v-drum sound generators. What about them?

I love the devasting sound of the bass drum in Terria. It really rocks!!!!!

In studio, we use v-drums to record midi tracks and then we resample all the tracks with audio samples...it's not expensive and the result for demo recordings are not that shit...so what do you think about it?

As long as the triggers are used for the sound they make and not cheating then its ok. I am kind of partial to triggers, as they seem to make it easier to play the complicated bass parts.

Sorry, but i feel like it is kind of cheater. If you can convince me otherwise, great, but until then, i dont necessarily like them.

As long as the triggers are used for the sound they make and not cheating then its ok. I am kind of partial to triggers, as they seem to make it easier to play the complicated bass parts.

Sorry, but i feel like it is kind of cheater. If you can convince me otherwise, great, but until then, i dont necessarily like them.

Yeah, I know where you're coming from. I never ever thought I would use triggers at all cuz I was totally against them. Then I got the gig with DTB and Dev told me he loved using triggers on the kicks so he would have no problem hearing the kicks live thru the monitors or at rehearsal (we're very loud at rehearsal !). It made sense, so I went out and bought my Alesis DM5 and have used them ever since. The only time I have used triggers in the studio is when the producer wants to record the 'blip' so he can mix in a sample with my original kick drum sound later on in the mixing stage. I just use a trigger on my kick...that's it ! Theres my 2 cents....