Alesis DM8 PRO KIT User manual

DM8
HIGH-DEFINITION DRUM MODULE
WITH DYNAMIC ARTICULATION
OPERATOR'S MANUAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................................3
GETTING STARTED.......................................................................................................................................4
RESETTING THE MODULE TO FACTORY DEFAULTS ..........................................................................4
CHECK FOR UPDATES ...........................................................................................................................4
CALIBRATE YOUR HI-HAT PEDAL..........................................................................................................4
DEACTIVATE WRITE PROTECTION .......................................................................................................4
THE BASICS...................................................................................................................................................5
NAVIGATING MENUS & ADJUSTING SETTINGS ...................................................................................5
KITS ..........................................................................................................................................................5
VOICES: LAYERS & INSTRUMENTS.......................................................................................................6
VOLUME ...................................................................................................................................................6
SEQUENCES............................................................................................................................................6
STORING DATA .......................................................................................................................................7
UTILITY.....................................................................................................................................................7
REAR PANEL FEATURES .............................................................................................................................8
TOP PANEL FEATURES................................................................................................................................8
KITS, VOICES, ACCOMPANIMENT & INSTRUMENTS...............................................................................10
SELECTING A KIT ..................................................................................................................................10
EDITING INSTRUMENTS IN A KIT.........................................................................................................10
EDITING ACCOMPANIMENT IN A KIT...................................................................................................11
EDITING VOICE & ACCOMPANIMENT PARAMETERS.........................................................................12
EDITING MIDI PARAMETERS................................................................................................................14
EDITING EFFECTS PARAMETERS .......................................................................................................15
DRUM KIT SETUP ..................................................................................................................................18
SEQUENCES................................................................................................................................................19
PLAYING SEQUENCES .........................................................................................................................19
RECORDING SEQUENCES ...................................................................................................................20
EDITING SEQUENCES (DRUMS) ..........................................................................................................20
EDITING SEQUENCES (ACCOMPANIMENT)........................................................................................21
SETTING UP THE CLICK TRACK ..........................................................................................................22
EDITING QUANTIZATION SETTINGS....................................................................................................23
STORING & COPYING DATA ......................................................................................................................24
NAMING..................................................................................................................................................24
STORING & COPYING KITS ..................................................................................................................24
COPYING INSTRUMENTS .....................................................................................................................25
STORING SEQUENCES.........................................................................................................................25
STORING TRIGGER SETTINGS ............................................................................................................25
EXT. TRIG MENU .........................................................................................................................................26
TRIGGER INPUT PARAMETERS...........................................................................................................26
TRIGGERING PARAMETERS ................................................................................................................27
VELOCITY CURVE .................................................................................................................................28
MODE (RIDE BOW & BELL) ...................................................................................................................28
HI-HAT CALIBRATION............................................................................................................................29
STORING EXT. TRIG SETTINGS...........................................................................................................29
EXPLORING OPTIMAL SENSITIVITY AND THRESHOLD SETTINGS ..................................................29
UTILITY MENU .............................................................................................................................................30
GENERAL ...............................................................................................................................................30
METRONOME (F1) .................................................................................................................................30
MIDI (F2).................................................................................................................................................32
TRIG (F3) ................................................................................................................................................33
SYS (F4) .................................................................................................................................................33
UPDATING THE MODULE ...........................................................................................................................34
MIDI SETUP..................................................................................................................................................35
RESTORING BACKUP SYSEX FILES .........................................................................................................36
MIDI IMPLEMENTATION CHART ................................................................................................................37
DM8 KITS .....................................................................................................................................................38
DM8 SEQUENCES .......................................................................................................................................39
DM8 INSTRUMENTS ....................................................................................................................................40

3
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the Alesis DM8 drum module! The DM8 includes lots of high-fidelity drum, percussion, and accompaniment
sounds giving you the sonic realism of acoustic drums but with the convenience and flexibility of electronic drums.
This manual details all the DM8 module's features. If you want to learn fast so you can dive right into playing, refer to the
included Quickstart Guide. Or, for a brief overview of the module's features, see the BASICS chapter. Of course, we also
recommend reading through this manual so you can take full advantage of all the amazing functions of the DM8.
Happy drumming!
The Alesis Team
CONNECTION DIAGRAM
volume
m1
m2
pitch xyz
- +
octave
accomp store
tap
phrase latch
analog modeling synth
push
r
h
y
t
h
m
s
p
a
t
t
e
r
n
s
p
r
o
g
r
a
m
s
s
e
t
u
p
s
c
o
n
f
i
g
Headphones, iPod*, keyboard, amp, and computer not included.
* iTunes and iPod are trademarks of Apple, Inc., registered in the U.S.A. and other countries.
•Connect the 1/4" cables of your kit's cable snake to the drum pads and cymbal pads of your kit. Each cable is labeled
with its proper trigger.
•If you have additional drum pads, cymbal pads, or other triggers, you can use standard 1/4" cables to connect them to
the "RIDE 2/PERC1" or "PERC2" TRIGGER INPUTS on the module's rear panel. Dual-zone pads or cymbals (e.g., a
drum with head and rim triggers or a cymbal that can produce bow and bell sounds) will require TRS cables to trigger
both zones.
•Plug 1/4” TRS cables from the MAIN OUT to an amplifier, mixer, or speaker system. (For mono sound, connect a cable
to the Left output.)
•You can connect a set of 1/4” TRS headphones to the PHONES output.
•You can connect another audio device to the AUX IN using a standard 1/8" stereo cable.
IMPORTANT:
•Always turn down your volume level(s) to zero before plugging or unplugging your cables from your triggers or the
module.
•The DM8 module may be affected by static electricity. If this occurs, simply turn the module off and wait at least a
few seconds before turning it on again.
Refer to your electronic drum kit's assembly manual for more information on connecting it to the DM
8
module.
POWER
COMPUTER
HOUSE AMP
DRUM KIT MIDI KEYBOARD
WARNING
:
Use only the
included Alesis power supply
with the DM8 module.
HEADPHONES iPod*

4
GETTING STARTED
Please read the following instructions to set up your DM8 module for its first use!
RESETTING THE MODULE TO FACTORY DEFAULTS
If you ever need to return the module to its original default factory settings, press and hold the EXIT and STORE
buttons simultaneously while turning it on.
CHECK FOR UPDATES
Since the initial release of this module, we may have released new firmware or sound ROM files. To ensure your
DM8 module has the latest sounds and software features, we recommend checking the "Docs & Downloads" tab of
www.alesis.com/dm8 for available updates. See the UPDATING THE MODULE chapter for more information.
CALIBRATE YOUR HI-HAT PEDAL
The first time you connect a hi-hat pedal to the DM8 module, we recommend
calibrating it so the module can "read" the pedal's movement optimally. If you
use the same hi-hat each session (even if you have disconnected and
reconnected it), then you shouldn't need to calibrate each time as long as you
store your trigger settings after calibrating (see STORING TRIGGER SETTINGS
in the STORING & COPYING chapter for more information). However, anytime
you connect a different hi-hat from the previously connected one, you should calibrate it.
To calibrate the hi-hat pedal:
1. Connect the hi-hat pedal to the module but do not press it down.
2. On the module, press EXT TRIG.
3. Use the CURSOR UP / DOWN buttons to highlight the "Input" field at the
top of the screen then use the VALUE UP / DOWN buttons or VALUE
DIAL to select "HiHat."
4. Press CAL (F1).
5. With the hi-hat pedal completely raised ("open"),
press OPEN (F1) and wait for a message saying the
process is complete.
6. With the hi-hat pedal completely pressed ("closed"),
press CLOS (F2) and wait for a message saying the
process is complete.
7. If you want to fine-tune how the module detects your
pedal's "open" and "closed" positions, press TRIM
(F3). Use the CURSOR UP / DOWN buttons to select "Open" or "Closed" and use the VALUE UP / DOWN
buttons or VALUE DIAL to adjust the setting. (Tip: Increasing the "Closed" value makes it easier to close the
hi-hat or "choke" it.)
8. If you want to adjust the response curve of the pedal, press CURV (F4). Use the VALUE UP / DOWN buttons
or VALUE DIAL to select the curve that best suits your playing style. (Tip: We recommend using LINEAR,
LOG1 or LOG2 for conventional hi-hat performance.)
9. When you have adjusted the hi-hat settings to your preference, press EXIT to exit the calibration page (or press
DRUM KIT to return to the main screen).
DEACTIVATE WRITE PROTECTION
Out of the box, the DM8 module is write-protected, so you will be unable to save
any changes you make to the Kits, Instruments, Sequences, etc.
To turn write protection off:
1. Press UTILITY.
2. Press SYS (F4).
3. Press O/S (F3).
4. Press MEM (F4).
5. Press VALUE DOWN or move the VALUE DIAL counterclockwise until the
"WriteProt" field says "OFF."
6. Press DRUM KIT to return to the main page.
Note: The module's HI-HAT
CONTROL TRIGGER INPUT
does not support keyboard-
style expression pedals.
Pedal (side view)
Open
Closed

5
THE BASICS
This section of the manual outlines the basic features and concepts of the DM8. Each section below refers
to another part of this manual that will explain the features in greater depth.
NAVIGATING MENUS & ADJUSTING SETTINGS
We designed the DM8's user interface to be as simple and as easy to use as possible.
•DRUM KIT – Press this button to select the Main Screen, where you can select the current Kit.
(From this page, you can press CURSOR DOWN to enter the Drum Kit Setup Menu, where you
can adjust the overall Kit volume level, MIDI Program Change settings, or restore the current Kit's
factory settings.)
•SEQ – Press this button to enter the sequencer, where you can select a Sequence to play and
adjust overall settings for the module's sequencer.
•EDIT INST or EDIT ACCOMP – Press one of these buttons to reassign the sound for a trigger or
to edit the sound of the Accompaniment track. You can also adjust other settings such as effects,
velocity-related parameters, MIDI settings, and more.
•EXT TRIG – Press this button to adjust sensitivity, crosstalk, thresholds, velocity curves, and
other settings for the triggers.
•UTILITY – Press this button to enter the Utility Menu, where you can adjust metronome and MIDI
settings, update or reset the module, and more.
You can navigate the menus and adjust settings and parameters shown on the module's LCD with the
following controls:
•F-BUTTONS – Pressing the F1, F2, F3, and F4 buttons will select whatever "tab" is displayed
above it on the LCD.
•CURSOR UP / DOWN – Press either of these buttons to move up or down through the menu on
the screen. (Pressing the CURSOR DOWN button while on the Main Screen will call up the Kit
Setup screen where you can adjust the volume and MIDI settings of the current Kit.)
•VALUE DIAL – Turn the wheel clockwise or counterclockwise to adjust the selected menu item
(usually highlighted). This allows for quick adjustment of settings and parameters – the faster you
turn the wheel, the faster it will scroll through the options.
•VALUE UP / DOWN – Press the VALUE UP or VALUE DOWN buttons to adjust the selected
menu item (usually highlighted) one increment at a time. These buttons are better for more
precise adjustment of settings than the VALUE DIAL.
•EXIT – Press this to return to the previous menu.
See the TOP PANEL FEATURES chapter for more information about these and other controls.
KITS
The DM8 module includes 100 Preset Kits and 100 empty User Kits. A Kit
is a set of sounds that you can select in the module that will be triggered
by your drums when you play them. The Preset Kits come pre-
programmed so you can start playing with premium sounds right away.
The empty User Kits are for you to create your own by assigning individual
sounds to each trigger in the Kit. Furthermore, you can save over the
Preset Kits in user memory, allowing for even more creative space. (The
defaults can be easily restored by reinitializing the module).
To select a Kit, simply press DRUM KIT to enter the Main Screen,
then use the VALUE UP / DOWN buttons or VALUE DIAL to select a
new Kit number.
For more information on selecting and editing Kits, see the KITS, VOICES, ACCOMPANIMENT &
INSTRUMENTS chapter.
Important: At any given time, the DM8 module has a Kit selected and a Sequence selected. If you change
the Sequence, this will change your current Kit to the one that is associated with that Sequence. If you
change the Kit, this will NOT change the current Sequence. However, if you then play the current Sequence,
the chords or "hit groups" may sound unusual. In this case, we recommend muting Layer B of that Kit's
Accompaniment (see EDITING VOICE & ACCOMPANIMENT PARAMETERS for more information) or
muting the Accompaniment altogether by pressing MUTE ACCOMP.

6
VOICES: LAYERS & INSTRUMENTS
Whenever you strike a trigger on your electronic drum set (e.g., a
cymbal, a drum pad, etc.), it will trigger a Voice in the module. A
Voice is the sound assigned to that trigger. Each Voice consists of
two Layers, and each Layer has its own Instrument (a drum sound
such as a tom, snare, hi-hat, etc.) which can be selected or edited.
We created the dual-layer feature in the DM8 so you can play with
more powerful composite and layered sounds and timbres using your electronic drum kit. You can make
subtle or dramatic changes to the sound of your Kits by changing the Instruments in each Layer.
Furthermore, you can adjust certain parameters of the drum Voices (e.g., tuning, velocity, reverb, panning,
etc.) in the module.
For more information on selecting and editing Voices, see the KITS, VOICES, ACCOMPANIMENT &
INSTRUMENTS chapter.
VOLUME
You may have noticed that there are several ways to adjust the
volume of your performance when using the DM8. You can:
•Adjust the levels of the Voices in the Kit: Press
DRUM KIT to enter the main screen then EDIT INST.
Select the Voice to edit (top of the LCD) with the
VALUE UP / DOWN buttons or VALUE DIAL (or by
striking the trigger with NOTE CHASE on). Press LVL
(F2) to enter the Level page. (Remember that each
Voice has two Layers, A and B, which you can toggle
between by pressing the EDIT INST button.)
•Adjust the level of the entire Kit: Press DRUM KIT
to enter the main screen then CURSOR DOWN to
enter the Drum Kit Setup Menu, where you can set the
overall Kit level.
Please note the module's trigger sensitivity, threshold, velocity curve settings can also affect the dynamics of
your performance. See the EXT. TRIG MENU chapter for more information on adjusting these other settings.
SEQUENCES
The DM8's built-in sequencer lets you record, overdub, edit, play
back, and loop Sequences (drum patterns). You can adjust
settings like the tempo, time signature, and quantization for a
Sequence.
To access the sequencer, press the module's SEQ button and
navigate the menus or adjust the settings accordingly.
For more information on using the sequencer, see the SEQUENCES chapter.
Important: At any given time, the DM8 module has a Kit selected and a Sequence selected.
If you change the Sequence, this will change your current Kit to the one that is associated with that
Sequence.
If you change the Kit, this will NOT change the current Sequence. However, if you then play the current
Sequence, the chords or "hit groups" may sound unusual. In this case, we recommend muting Layer B of
that Kit's Accompaniment (see EDITING VOICE & ACCOMPANIMENT PARAMETERS for more information)
or muting the Accompaniment altogether by pressing MUTE ACCOMP.

7
STORING DATA
The DM8 module can store the information you enter for use in
future sessions. This includes Kits you edit or record, Sequences
you edit or record, Instrument or Kit parameters, and more.
Furthermore, while there are several slots for User Kits and
Sequences, you can also save over the Presets (the first 100 Kits
or the first 75 Sequences).
To store a Kit, Instrument, or Sequence, press the DRUM KIT
or SEQ button (respectively) to select the item you want to
store, then press the STORE button. (If you are storing a Kit or
Instrument, you will be asked to specify which.)
Use the CURSOR UP / DOWN buttons and VALUE UP / DOWN
buttons or VALUE DIAL to select the "From" Kit or Sequence (the
one you want to save) and the "To" Kit or Sequence (where you
want to save it to).
For more information on using storing data, see the STORING & COPYING DATA chapter.
UTILITY
The Utility Menu lets you control global settings such as the output
routing as well as metronome, MIDI, and tempo settings. You can
also transmit SysEx data in this menu as well as re-initialize the DM8
(i.e., return it to its factory settings).
To access the Utility Menu, press the module's UTILITY button
and navigate the menus or adjust the settings accordingly.
For more information, see the UTILITY MENU chapter.

8
REAR PANEL FEATURES
1. POWER SWITCH – Turns the module
on and off.
2. POWER IN – Connect the included AC
adapter to this input, then connect the
adapter to a power source.
3. MAIN OUT – Use 1/4" TRS cables to
connect these outputs to an amplifier or speaker system. The volume of these outputs is controlled by
the VOLUME knob on the top panel.
4. AUX IN – Connect an external sound source, such as a CD player, to this input using a stereo 1/8"
cable.
5. USB – Use a standard USB cable to connect the module to your computer via this USB port. This
connection allows the module to send MIDI messages via USB to an external drum software module.
You can also transmit SysEx files over this connection.
6. MIDI IN – Use a standard five-pin MIDI cable to connect this input to the MIDI OUT of an external MIDI
device.
7. CABLE SNAKE CONNECTION – Connect the included
cable snake to this connector, then connect the cables
to their respective triggers.
8. TRIGGER INPUTS – If you have additional drum pads,
cymbal pads, or other triggers, you can use standard 1/4" cables to connect them to the "RIDE
2/PERC1" or "PERC2" TRIGGER INPUTS. Dual-zone pads or cymbals (e.g., a drum with head and
rim triggers or a cymbal that can produce bow and bell sounds) will require TRS cables to trigger both
zones.
9. HEADPHONES OUTPUT – Connect your 1/4" headphones to this output. You can adjust the volume
of this output with the VOLUME knob on the module's top panel.
TOP PANEL FEATURES
1. VOLUME – Adjusts the volume level of
the MAIN OUT and HEADPHONES
OUTPUT.
2. METRONOME ON / OFF – Turns the
metronome on or off.
3. LCD – Displays system menus,
parameters, and other settings as you
use the DM8.
4. F-BUTTONS (1-4) – These buttons allow
you to navigate the menus shown in the
LCD. Press an F-BUTTON to select the
"virtual" button or tab shown above it in
the LCD.
5. CURSOR UP / DOWN – Use these
buttons to move (vertically) through the
available parameters shown in menus in
the LCD.
Note: Pressing CURSOR DOWN from
the Main Screen allows you to adjust
overall parameters for the current Kit.
6. VALUE DIAL – Turn this wheel to increase and decrease values and settings shown in the LCD.
7. VALUE UP / DOWN – Use these buttons to increase and decrease values and settings shown in the
LCD. These may be easier to use than the VALUE DIAL when making incremental adjustments to your
parameters.
8. EXIT – Press this button to return to the previous menu shown in the LCD.
WARNING: Use only the included
Alesis power supply with the DM8
module.
Note: The module's HI-HAT CONTROL
TRIGGER INPUT does not support
keyboard-style expression pedals.
1
2
3
444 4
5
6
77
8
9
10 11 12
13 14 15 16
17 18 19
20 21 22
23
5
1
2
3
3
45
6
7
8
8
9

9
9. DRUM KIT – Returns the LCD to the Main Screen. From here, you can select the current Kit with the
VALUE DIAL or VALUE UP / DOWN buttons.
10. UTILITY – Enters the Utility Menu, which allows you to set certain "global" parameters that affect the
DM8's overall operation (e.g., tempo, MIDI, output routing, trigger sensitivity, etc.). (See the Reference
Manual for more information.)
11. EXT TRIG – Allows you to adjust parameters related to triggering. Customizing these parameters
changes the feel and responsiveness of the Kit.
Note: Changes to these parameters will affect ALL Kits.
12. NOTE CHASE – Turns Note Chase on or off. When Note Chase is on, striking a trigger automatically
selects it for editing. Alternatively, you can select a trigger by highlighting the trigger field in the LCD
with the CURSOR UP / DOWN buttons then using the VALUE UP / DOWN buttons or VALUE DIAL.
13. EDIT INST – Press this button to edit the Instrument assigned to a trigger input. While editing, pressing
it toggles between the two Layers of the trigger. The current Layer (A or B) will be highlighted on the
top-right corner of the LCD.
14. EDIT ACCOMP – Press this button to adjust the settings for your Accompaniment. The adjustable
parameters will be shown in the LCD.
15. PREVIEW – Press this button to preview the sound of the current trigger. This can be useful when
programming the DM8 if it is not connected to your drum kit, if it is not convenient to strike the pads,
etc.
16. STORE – Press this button to save changes made to the current Kit, Sequence, trigger settings, or
global settings. Use the VALUE DIAL or VALUE UP / DOWN buttons to select a destination where the
current Kit or Sequence will be stored. When saving a Kit, its Instruments and all its parameters will
also be stored. When saving a Sequence, it will remember its corresponding Kit and Accompaniment.
17. SEQ – Press this button to access the module's Sequencer where you can create and edit drum and
accompaniment patterns.
18. MUTE DRUMS – Press this button to mute the drum track of a Sequence.
19. MUTE ACCOMP – Press this button to mute the Accompaniment track of a Sequence.
20. STOP – Stops playback of the current Sequence. Hold down STOP and turn the VALUE DIAL to
"scrub" forwards and backwards through the Sequence. Hold down STOP and press VALUE UP /
DOWN to "step" forwards or backwards through each "event" in the Sequence. While navigating the
Sequence in these ways, you will hear the Sequence play as you move through it.
21. PLAY / – Plays the current Sequence. You can also hold down STOP and press this button to move
back to the previous bar in the Sequence.
22. RECORD / – Records a new Sequence. You can also hold down STOP and press this button to
move to the next bar in the Sequence.
23. TAP TEMPO – Tap this button at the desired rate to enter a new tempo for the Sequence. You can
also change the tempo by holding down the TAP TEMPO button and using the VALUE DIAL or VALUE
UP / DOWN buttons.

10
KITS, VOICES, ACCOMPANIMENT & INSTRUMENTS
The DM8 Module has 100 Preset Kits and 100 User Kits, which you can select from the Main Screen. Each
Kit is a collection of Voices – or drum sounds – that are assigned to each trigger on the DM8. When a trigger
is struck, that Voice will sound.
Each Voice consists of two Layers, each with its own Instrument. Both Layers sound together, helping to
create powerful composite and layered sounds and timbres for a more dynamic performance.
You can change the sound of your performance by selecting different Kits or by editing the Kits by changing
the Instruments that make up each Voice. You can also edit various parameters of each Instrument
themselves (e.g., level, panning, decay, reverb, etc.) in each Kit.
IMPORTANT:At any given time, the DM8 module has a Kit selected and a Sequence selected. If you
change the Sequence, this will change your current Kit to the one that is associated with that Sequence. If
you change the Kit, this will NOT change the current Sequence. However, if you then play the current
Sequence, the chords or "hit groups" may sound unusual. In this case, we recommend muting Layer B of
that Kit's Accompaniment (see EDITING VOICE & ACCOMPANIMENT PARAMETERS for more information)
or muting the Accompaniment altogether by pressing MUTE ACCOMP.
SELECTING A KIT
1. Press the DRUM KIT button to bring up the Main Screen.
2. Use the VALUE UP / DOWN buttons or the VALUE DIAL to
select a Kit. The Kit number, name, and graphic will change as
you move through the different Kits.
3. Hit the triggers to try out the sounds of the Kit.
To set levels that can be recalled with the Kit, set the "Level"
parameters for the individual triggers (see EDITING VOICE &
ACCOMPANIMENT PARAMETERS in this chapter) and/or the entire Kit (see DRUM KIT SETUP in this
chapter).
EDITING INSTRUMENTS IN A KIT
1. Press DRUM KIT to go to the Main Screen.
2. Press EDIT INST. The top of the screen will show the number
and name of the Kit whose Instruments (drum voices) you will
be editing.
3. Select INST (F1). The new screen will show:
a. the trigger Voice you are editing (the Kit number and
name of the Voice will be shown)
b. the Layer (each Voice consists of two layers, each with
its own Instrument)
c. the Category (the type or "class" of drum sound currently
assigned to that Layer)
d. the Instrument (the drum sound for that Layer)
4. Select the Voice whose Instrument you want to change by
pressing NOTE CHASE then striking the desired trigger.
Alternatively, you can highlight the Voice (next to the Kit number)
using the CURSOR UP / DOWN buttons to highlight it and use
the VALUE UP / DOWN buttons or VALUE DIAL to change it.
5. Select which Layer of that Voice you will edit by pressing EDIT
INST. It will toggle between Layer A and B.
6. Select the Category you want to assign to that Voice by pressing
CURSOR UP / DOWN to highlight the Category field, then use
the VALUE UP / DOWN buttons or VALUE DIAL to change it.
7. Select the Instrument for that Layer by pressing CURSOR UP /
DOWN to highlight the Instrument field, then use the VALUE UP
/ DOWN buttons or VALUE DIAL to change it. To hear the
currently selected sound, strike the corresponding trigger or
press PREVIEW on the module.
Note: The available Instruments
for the hi-hat and ride cymbal
Categories are pre-defined sets
of sounds designed to work
together (e.g., the hi-hat can
produce open, closed, "chick" or
splash sounds). You can assign
any Category or Instrument you
like for the hi-hat and ride cymbal
triggers, but because other
Instruments are designed to
work differently, the results will
vary.
ab
c
d

11
EDITING ACCOMPANIMENT IN A KIT
1. When you are in the Kit whose Accompaniment you want
to edit, press EDIT ACCOMP. The screen will show:
a. the number of the Kit whose Accompaniment you
will be editing
b. the Layer (the Accompaniment consists of two
layers, each with its own Instrument)
c. the Category (the type or "class" of sound currently
assigned to that Layer)
d. the Instrument (the sound for that Layer)
2. Select which Layer of the Accompaniment you will edit by pressing EDIT ACCOMP. It will toggle
between Layer A and B.
3. Select the Category you want to assign to that Voice by pressing CURSOR UP / DOWN to highlight the
Category field, then use the VALUE UP / DOWN buttons or VALUE DIAL to change it.
4. Select the Instrument for that Layer by pressing CURSOR UP / DOWN to highlight the Instrument field,
then use the VALUE UP / DOWN buttons or VALUE DIAL to change it. To hear the currently selected
sound, strike the corresponding trigger or press PREVIEW on the module.
Useful informatio
n
a
bout Accompaniment:
The Accompaniment track includes the bass line and other synthesizer sounds that you hear when the
module is playing a Sequence. The drum track and Accompaniment track play simultaneously, and you
can mute either of the tracks as they play with the MUTE DRUMS or MUTE ACCOMP buttons.
Just as each drum Instrument of a Kit belongs to a Category (e.g., KICKS, SNARES, LATIN PERC, etc.)
Accompaniment Instruments are also grouped into several Categories: BASS, SYN BASS, FX, and HIT
GROUPS.
Also, just like drum Voices, the Accompaniment has two Layers of Instruments. Layer A is usually the
bass line. Layer B is often something different – another melodic line, chords, or "hits."
Instrument changes within or between the BASS and SYN BASS Categories may sometimes be
desirable – the bass will have a different tone or quailty while the bass line itself (the notes you hear)
remains the same. However, if you edit the Instruments in the FX or HIT GROUPS Categories, it may
dramatically change the way a Sequence sounds if it uses that Kit.
In this case, we recommend muting that Layer of that Kit's Accompaniment (see EDITING VOICE &
ACCOMPANIMENT PARAMETERS for more information) or muting the Accompaniment altogether by
pressing MUTE ACCOMP.
a
b
c
d

12
EDITING VOICE & ACCOMPANIMENT PARAMETERS
While editing your Kits by changing the Instruments in a
drum Voice or the Accompaniment, you can also edit
various parameters that affect each Layer and, therefore,
the Instrument on that Layer. You can do this for the drum
Voices or the Accompaniment, though some parameters below may only be editable for one of these.
1. Press DRUM KIT to go to the Main Screen.
2. Press EDIT INST to edit drum Voice parameters or EDIT
ACCOMP to edit Accompaniment parameters. The top of
the screen will show the number and name of the Kit
whose Instruments (drum Voices or Accompaniment) you
will be editing.
3. Select INST (F1). The new screen will show:
a. the trigger Voice you are editing (the Kit number and
name of the Voice will be shown). If you are editing
the Accompaniment, this will read "Accomp."
b. the Layer (each trigger sound or Accompaniment
track consists of two Layers, each with its own
Instrument)
c. the Category (the type or "class" of drum sound or
Accompaniment currently assigned to that Layer)
d. the Instrument (the drum or Accompaniment sound
for that Layer)
4. If you are editing a Voice, select the Voice whose Instrument you want to change by pressing NOTE
CHASE then striking the desired trigger. Alternatively, you can highlight the Voice (next to the Kit
number) using the CURSOR UP / DOWN buttons to highlight it and use the VALUE UP / DOWN
buttons or VALUE DIAL to change it. (This step is not necessary when editing Accompaniment.)
Note: You can also change the current Voice in this fashion in any of the subsequent menus. You can
also toggle between Layers by pressing EDIT INST whenever the "Layer: A B" selector is shown on the
upper right corner of the LCD.
5. Select any of the options at the bottom of the LCD using the
F-BUTTONS. Use CURSOR UP / DOWN to move through
the menu items and VALUE UP / DOWN or the VALUE
DIAL to adjust the settings.
•LVL (F2, 1st page):
Level: The volume level for the selected Layer (01-
99 or "OFF").
Pan: The panning for the selected Layer ("L50" to "MID" to "R50").
Attack: The volume level of the initial attack of the note (00-99). This parameter is only
available when editing Accompaniment.
Decay: How long the sound can be heard before decaying to silence (00-99 or "OFF").
Note: Setting this parameter to "OFF" disables the Decay parameter and the sound will be
heard for its entire duration with no "shaping."
•FX (F3, 1st page):
Reverb: The amount of reverb on the Voice (00-
99).
Effects: The Voice volume level sent to the DM8's
effects processor (00-99).
EQ/Comp: This sends the Voice to the DM8's
equalizer and compressor ("ON" or "OFF").
•TONE (F1, 2nd page):
Semitone: Tunes the Instrument ±12 semitones.
Fine Tune: Tunes the Instrument ±50 cents.
Filter: The cutoff frequency for the type of filter (see
below) (00-99).
Type: The type of filter ("LOPASS" or "HIPASS").
Note: The DM8 will retain any changes you
make to the Instruments or parameters as
you move between the various Kits.
a
b
c
d

13
•DYN (F2, 2nd page):
Vel>Decay: The velocity of a note will control
the decay time of its sound (±00-99). With a
positive value, higher-velocity notes will have a
longer decay time. With a negative value,
higher-velocity notes will have a shorter decay
time.
Vel>Filtr: The velocity of a note will control the
filter cutoff (±00-99).
Vel>Level: This lets you set how velocity-sensitive the Instrument is (00-99). The higher the
setting, the greater the dynamic range you'll have while playing. At "00," there will be no
dynamic variation at all.
Vel>Pitch: The velocity with which you strike the trigger will control the sound's pitch (±00-99).
With a positive value, stronger hits will increase the pitch. With a negative value, stronger hits
will decrease the pitch. (This parameter is not available for anything in the BASS or SYN
BASS Categories when editing the Accompaniment.)
•OTHR (F3, 2nd page):
Output: The output through which the Voice or
Accompaniment will be sent. When "MAIN" is
selected, the Voice or Accompaniment will be
sent out of the MAIN OUT. When "AUX" is
selected, the Voice or Accompaniment will be
sent out of the AUX OUT.
Note: If your Utility Menu setting for the "Output"
is set to "Main>Aux," the "AUX" option here will
show up as "AUX (N/A)." This is because the AUX OUT signal is "mirroring" the MAIN OUT
signal. See the GENERAL menu part of the UTILITY MENU section for more information.
Priority: How high the Voice's or Accompaniment's "polyphony priority" is – "LOW,"
"MEDIUM," or "HIGH." "Polyphony" is the simultaneous sounding of Instruments (e.g., if you
strike multiple triggers at the same time, like the hi-hat, snare, and kick drum). The DM8 has
64-voice polyphony, meaning up to 64 voices can sound at the same time. After exceeding
that limit, Voices or Accompaniment with lower polyphony priority may be silenced so the ones
with higher priority can sound.
MuteGroup: The MuteGroup the Voice is
assigned to, if any (01-09 or "OFF"). When
two or more triggers are assigned to a
MuteGroup, a Voice that is currently sounding
will be silenced when another Voice from that
MuteGroup begins. There are nine available
MuteGroups.
Example: If your "Kick1" (kick drum) and
"SnrHd" (snare drum head) are assigned to
the same MuteGroup, the decay of your snare
drum will be cut off when you hit the kick drum
and vice versa.
Playback: Indicates whether repeated strikes of the same trigger will be considered
polyphonic (POLY) or monophonic (MONO). When set to "POLY" (the default), successive
strikes of the same trigger will be allowed to sound simultaneously as polyphony (see
"Priority" above). When set to "MONO," successive strikes of the same trigger will silence
previous ones.
Note: The MuteGroup function is
especially useful for setting up multiple
sounds shared by the same instruments,
like "open" vs. "closed" triangle sounds or
struck vs. stroked güiros.
Note: The default Playback setting is
POLY, which is more natural for acoustic
drums. MONO is a useful setting for synth
drums or for emulating older drum
machines.

14
EDITING MIDI PARAMETERS
This page allows you to edit various MIDI-related settings for
each trigger. To edit them,
1. Press DRUM KIT to go to the Main Screen.
2. Press EDIT INST. The top of the screen will show the
number and name of the Kit whose Instruments (drum
voices) you will be editing.
3. Select MIDI (F2). The top of the new screen will show the
trigger Voice you are editing. You can select another
trigger by pressing NOTE CHASE then striking the desired
trigger. Alternatively, you can highlight the Voice (next to
the Kit number) using the CURSOR UP / DOWN buttons
to highlight it and use the VALUE UP / DOWN buttons or
VALUE DIAL to change it.
Note: You can also change the current Voice in this
fashion in any of the subsequent menus.
4. When you have selected the Voice you want to edit, select either of the options at the bottom of the
LCD using the F-BUTTONS. Use CURSOR UP / DOWN to move through the menu items and VALUE
UP / DOWN or the VALUE DIAL to adjust the settings:
a. MIDI
MIDI Chan: The MIDI channel over which the trigger will transmit MIDI messages.
MIDI Note: The MIDI note that will be transmitted. The number is the MIDI Note number; the
corresponding musical note is shown next to it. (Note: The MIDI note for the hi-hat and ride
cymbals is fixed and can not be reassigned.)
Gate Time: The duration of the note sent from the trigger when struck. The available range is
from 00-99 ms, then note values (1/32, 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, and 1/2 – with regular and triplet
divisions for each value), or "OFF."
Note Off: How the MIDI Note Off message is sent. When "NOT SENT" is selected, a MIDI
Note Off will not be transmitted. When "SENT" is selected, a MIDI Note Off will be sent after
the length of time specified by the Gate Time (above). When "ALTERNATE" is selected,
striking a trigger once will cause it to send its MIDI Note; striking it a second time will cause it
to send a MIDI Note Off.
b. CHORD / ARP: Select "OFF," "CHORD," or "ARPEGGIO." (Note: The CHORD / ARP function
is not available for the hi-hat and ride cymbals.)
OFF: The trigger will transmit only the MIDI note assigned to it.
CHORD: The trigger will transmit up to four MIDI notes simultaneously whenever it is struck.
You can select the additional three notes here. The number is the MIDI Note number; the
corresponding musical note is shown next to it in parentheses.
ARPEGGIO: The trigger will transmit up to four MIDI notes but will "rotate" through them with
each strike (e.g., the first time the trigger is struck, it will send its first MIDI note; the next time,
it will send Note #2; the next time, it will send Note #3). You can select the three additional
notes here. The number is the MIDI Note number; the corresponding musical note is shown
next to it in parentheses.

15
EDITING EFFECTS PARAMETERS
On this page, you can apply a variety of effects such as reverb,
chorus, or delay to the entire Kit:
1. Press DRUM KIT to go to the Main Screen.
2. Press EDIT INST. The top of the screen will show the
number and name of the Kit whose effects you will be
editing.
3. Select FX (F4).
4. Select any of the options at the bottom of the LCD using the F-BUTTONS. Use CURSOR UP / DOWN
to move through the menu items and VALUE UP / DOWN
or the VALUE DIAL to adjust the settings:
a. RVB (reverb)
Type: The kind of reverb applied (most often,
types of reverb are named after the kind of room
whose reverb is being emulated). To disable
effects on the Kit, select "OFF."
Size: The size of the virtual "room" as designated
by the reverb Type.
Color: The amount of high-frequency dampening of the reverb, which affects its tone.
Level: The level of the reverb.
b. FX (other effects)
Type: The kind of effect applied. To disable effects on the Kit, select "OFF." The effects –
and their editable parameters – are as follows:
FLANGER: Flanging is a kind of phasing or
phase-shifting. The DM8's flangers have the
same editable parameters.
Mono Flanger: Traditional flanging effect.
Stereo Flanger: Flanger with a simulated
stereo effect, creating a "wider" sound.
XOver Flanger: The flanging effect
"moves" around the stereo field.
Rate: The speed at which the sound will "flange."
Depth: How much of the delayed (or phase-shifted) signal is added to the
original.
Feedback: How much of the flanging signal will be routed back into the flanger
again, which intensifies the effect.
Level: The volume level of the flanging signal.
CHORUS: A chorus effect is produced by
adding a slightly delayed and slightly pitch-
shifted "wet" signal to the original ("dry") signal,
producing a sound with a depth similar to that of
a string section or choir. The DM8's chorus
effects have the same editable parameters.
Mono Chorus 1: Traditional chorus effect.
Mono Chorus 2: A variation of the traditional chorus effect.
Stereo Chorus: Chorus with a simulated stereo effect, creating a "wider" sound.
XOver Chorus: The chorus effect "moves" around the stereo field.
Rate: The speed of the modulation of the chorus (or how much the signal is
delayed).
Depth: How much the chorus's delay varies.
Feedback: How much of the delayed signal will be routed back into the
processor again, which creates a thicker chorus effect.
Level: The volume level of the chorus signal.

16
VIBRATO: Vibrato is produced by causing the
pitch of a note to "waver" slightly back and forth,
creating a subtle pulsing effect. This effect is
often created by players of string instruments and
horns. The DM8's vibrato effects have the same
editable parameters.
Mono Vibrato: Traditional vibrato effect.
Vibrato: Vibrato with a simulated stereo
effect, creating a "wider" sound.
Rate: The speed of the vibrato (how quickly the pitch wavers).
Depth: How much the pitch wavers from the center/original pitch.
Level: The volume level of the vibrato.
DELAYS: A delay effect is a kind of echo, which varies depending on the size of the room it
emulates and the rate, volume, and decay of the echo. The DM8's delay effects have some
common parameters with some notable
differences.
Mono Doubler: A very quick delay that
creates a "double-hit" effect.
Doubler: A very quick delay that creates a
"double-hit" effect in a stereo field.
Delay: The speed of the delay/echo.
Level: The volume level of the
delayed signal.
Mono Slapback: A quick – almost
immediate – delay.
Slapback: Quick delay with a simulated
stereo effect, creating a "wider" sound.
Delay: The speed of the delay/echo.
Level: The volume level of the
delayed signal.
Mono Delay: A traditional delay effect.
Delay: The speed of the delay/echo.
Feedback: How much of the echo will
be routed back into the processor
again, which creates a longer-lasting,
intensified echo effect.
Damp (dampening): The amount of
low- and high-frequency dampening of the echo. At negative values, the sound
of the echo gets progressively duller, which is the most "natural" echo effect.
This is also useful for simulating tape echo. At positive values, the sound of the
echo gets progressively thinner.
Level: The volume level of the delayed signal.
Delay: A traditional delay with two
independent delay lines.
LDly / RDly (left/right delay): The speed
of the delay/echo. This can be set
independently for the left and right
channels to create an even wider, more
varied sound.
LFBk / RFBk (left/right feedback): How much of the echo will be routed back into
the processor again, which creates a longer-lasting, intensified echo effect.
This can be set independently for the left and right channels to create an even
wider, more varied sound.

17
Damp (damping): The amount of low- and high-frequency dampening of the
echo. At negative values, the sound of the echo gets progressively duller. At
positive values, the sound of the echo gets progressively thinner.
Level: The volume level of the delayed signal.
XOver Delay: This delay has a stereo
effect. The echo pans around the stereo
field.
LDly / RDly (left/right delay): The
speed of the delay/echo. This can be
set differently for the left and right
channels to create an even wider,
more varied sound.
Feedback: How much of the echo will be routed back into the processor again,
which creates a longer-lasting, intensified echo effect.
Damp (damping): The amount of low- and high-frequency dampening of the
echo. At negative values, the sound of the echo gets progressively duller. At
positive values, the sound of the echo gets progressively thinner.
Level: The volume level of the delayed signal.
PingPong: This delay has a stereo effect,
but instead of echoing in both lft and right
channels simultaneously, the echo
alternates between them.
Delay: The speed of the delay/echo.
Feedback: How much of the echo will
be routed back into the processor
again, which creates a longer-lasting,
intensified echo effect.
Damp (damping): The amount of low- and high-frequency dampening of the
echo. At negative values, the sound of the echo gets progressively duller. At
positive values, the sound of the echo gets progressively thinner.
Level: The volume level of the delayed signal.
c. COMP (compression)
Type: The kind of compression applied. To disable
the dynamic processor on the Kit, select "OFF."
Compress (compression):The compression ratio
applied to the signal from the Kit.
Out Level (output level): The output level of the
compressor. This is parameter is useful for boosting
the Kit's signal if its volume has decreased due to the
compression.
d. EQ (equalization)
LF Gain (low-frequency gain):The amount of boost
or cut of the low frequency band (as determined by
the LF Freq setting).
LF Freq (low frequency):The frequency the LF Gain
will boost or cut.
HF Gain (high-frequency gain):The amount of boost
or cut of the high frequency band (as determined by
the HF Freq setting).
HF Freq (high frequency):The frequency the HF Gain will boost or cut.

18
DRUM KIT SETUP
While selecting Kits, you can enter the Drum Kit Setup Menu
to access a few useful parameters pertaining to the current
Kit.
1. Press DRUM KIT to go to the Main Screen.
2. Use the VALUE UP / DOWN buttons or VALUE DIAL to select a Kit.
3. Press CURSOR DOWN to enter the Drum Kit Setup Menu for that Kit.
4. Select any of the options at the bottom of the LCD using the F-BUTTONS. Use CURSOR UP / DOWN
to move through the menu items and VALUE UP / DOWN or the VALUE DIAL to adjust the settings.
•MAIN (F1):
oKit Level: The overall volume level for the Kit
(00-99)
oGraphic: The image used to identify the Kit on
the main screen.
•MIDI (F2):
oMIDI Chan: The MIDI channel over which the
module will send out Program Change
messages (01-16 or "OFF"). (When set to
"OFF," the other parameters below will not be
displayed.) You will need to set this properly
when using the DM8 module to play sounds on
another module.
oExt Prog#: The Program Change number the module will send out (00-99).
oMSB: Sets the Most Significant Byte when using sounds on an external module that
requires bank changes (00-127 or "OFF").
oLSB: Sets the Least Significant Byte when using sounds on an external module that
requires bank changes (00-127 or "OFF").
•RESTORE (F3 or F4):
oRestore: Returns the Kit to its original factory
settings. Any edits you made to its Instruments,
Accompaniment, etc. will be discarded. To
restore the original settings, press RESTORE
(F1 or F2). To cancel, press EXIT.
Note: The DM8 will retain any changes you
make to the Instruments or parameters as
you move between the various Kits.

19
SEQUENCES
A Sequence is a recorded pattern stored in the DM8 module that includes drums
and Accompaniment. The drum part of the Sequence includes the Kit sounds
(Instruments) as well the recorded pattern itself. The Accompaniment is the music
that plays along with the drum part.
Sequences can be recorded, edited, looped, and stored. You can also mute the
drum part and/or Accompaniment while playing a Sequence.
To hear a demo Sequence, simply hold down SEQ and press PLAY.
Important: At any given time, the DM8 module has a Kit selected and a Sequence selected.
•If you change the Sequence, this will change your current Kit to the one that is associated with that
Sequence.
•If you change the Kit, this will NOT change the current Sequence. However, if you then play the current
Sequence, the chords or "hit groups" may sound unusual. In this case, we recommend muting Layer B
of that Kit's Accompaniment (see EDITING VOICE & ACCOMPANIMENT PARAMETERS for more
information) or muting the Accompaniment altogether by pressing MUTE ACCOMP.
Note: Whenever you edit a Sequence or make changes to any
paraeters, an "E" will appear in the upper-right corner of the
main screen of the Sequencer to indicate this. In order to retain
these settings for future sessions, you must store the Sequence
(see STORING SEQUENCES under the STORING &
COPYING DATA chapter).
PLAYING SEQUENCES
1. Press SEQ to enter the main screen of the Sequencer.
2. Use the CURSOR UP / DOWN buttons to highlight the
"Seq" field at the top of the LCD.
3. Use the VALUE UP / DOWN buttons or VALUE DIAL to
select a Sequence.
4. You can press PLAY to play the Sequence, or you can use
the CURSOR UP / DOWN buttons to select settings to edit
for that Sequence. Use the VALUE UP / DOWN buttons
or the VALUE DIAL to change the settings:
•Tempo: The speed (in BPM or beats per minute) of the sequence. You can set the tempo here,
or you can press the TAP TEMPO button several times at the desired tempo to enter a new one.
The range is 30 – 300 BPM.
Note: If the Tempo field of the Utility Menu's main page is set to "GLOBAL," the letter "G" will be
shown. If the Clock In field of the Utility Menu's MIDI page is set to "RECEIVE," the letter "E" will
be shown.
•Time Sig (Time Signature):The time signature of the sequence. The first number indicates how
many beats there are in a measure; the second number indicates the note value of those beats.
(Example: "3/4" means one measure is three quarter notes long. "12/8" means one measure is
twelve eighth notes long.)
•#Bars: The number of bars in the Sequence, which you can set from 1 to 99.
•Loop: You can set the Sequence to loop or to play only once.
5. Press PLAY to play the Sequence. A "" will appear on
the upper right-hand corner of the LCD.
To mute the drums or Accompaniment in the Sequence,
press the MUTE DRUMS or MUTE ACCOMP button,
respectively. The upper right-hand corner of the LCD
indicates whether the drums ("D") and Accompaniment
("A") are muted. When unmuted, the letter is highlighted.
(This is a useful tool when you want to play your own drum
patterns to the Accompaniment or vice versa.)
SEQ DRUMS ACCOMP
TAP
TEMPO
REC

20
RECORDING SEQUENCES
1. Press SEQ to enter the main screen of the Sequencer.
2. Press the REC tab (F1).
3. Use the CURSOR UP / DOWN buttons to select
settings to edit for that Sequence. Use the VALUE UP
/ DOWN buttons or the VALUE DIAL to change the
settings:
•Track: The track of the Sequence over which you
will be recording – "DRUMS" or "ACCOMP."
•Rec Type: How the performance will be recorded. When "RECORD" is selected, the
performance you record will replace the recording on that Track of the Sequence. When
"OVERDUB" is selected, the performance you record will be added to the existing recording on
that Track of the Sequence.
•Quantize: The quantization level of the recording. When on, this function will "snap" all recorded
notes to the nearest interval of that measure, which you select. (For instance, if you select "1/8,"
any notes you record that do not fall on an eighth-note pulse will be shifted automatically to the
nearest one.) The range is 1/4 – 1/64 (regular or triplet) and "OFF."
•Swing: The amount of swing applied to the recording – 54%, 58%, 62%, or "OFF."
6. Press the module's REC button and record your performance.
7. When you are finished recording, press STOP.
EDITING SEQUENCES (DRUMS)
The editing screen for a Sequence's drum part allows you to see a visual representation of the drum pattern.
1. Press SEQ to enter the main screen of the Sequencer.
2. Use the CURSOR UP / DOWN buttons to select the
"Seq" field at the top of the LCD, then use the VALUE
UP / DOWN buttons or the VALUE DIAL to select the
Sequence you want to edit.
3. Press REC (F1). Use the CURSOR UP / DOWN
buttons to select the "Track" field, then use the VALUE
UP / DOWN buttons or the VALUE DIAL to select
"DRUMS."
4. Press EDIT (F2). You will see a grid on the screen. The diamonds indicate MIDI notes or "events"; the
black diamond is the currently selected event. Each column represents an interval/subdivision of the
bar. Each row of the grid represents a drum Voice:
•K= kick drum
•S= snare drum
•HH = hi-hat
•T1 = 1st tom
•T2 = 2nd tom
•T3 = floor tom
•C= crash cymbal
•R= ride cymbal
•P1 = Ride2 / Perc1
•P2 = Perc2
•The numbered rows correspond to available MIDI note numbers.