Alesis DM5 18-bit Drum Module

by Alesis

Product Features

• 540 sounds
• 21 programmable drum sets recorded in 48kHz, true stereo, with ambient effects
• Dynamic Articulation(TM) feature allows drum sounds to change volume, tone, and pitch depending on how hard they're hit - just like real drums
• Ultra-fast trigger-to-MIDI converter with 12 trigger inputs, 5 programmable parameters for each trigger

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 19 x 5 x 1.8 inches ; 3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 5.5 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B000C1RRE4
• Item model number: DM5
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,123 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

A classic drum-sound module for drummers, programmers, and producers, the Alesis DM5 18-bit drum module contains 540 stereo, 18-bit drum sounds that can be assigned to any of the 21 programmable drumsets. And 12 trigger inputs enable DM5 to be used with all Alesis drum and cymbal pads, SURGE Cymbals, and the triggering devices from most other major manufacturers.

This drum module also has full MIDI I/O so it can be used as a sound source for composing, programming, and sequencing with a wide variety of controllers including keyboards, pad triggers, MPCs, and more. Built-in Alesis studio effects including reverb and ambiance ensure that you can send a complete, finished sound to the PA, recording system, and your headphones with no additional processing. And the DMF offers Alesis' exclusive Dynamic Articulation technology, which modifies sample sounds so they change as you play them.

The Alesis DM5 drum module (see also a larger schematic of front controls and rear ports.

Key Features

• 540 drum, percussion, and cymbal sounds
• Dynamic Articulation modulates tone and pitch of sounds for realism
• Stereo samples with reverb and ambiance
• Seven-position, user programmable panning
• 128 dynamic levels via MIDI or trigger inputs
• 21 drumset-memory locations with defaults stored permanently

Dynamic Articulation
Discerning ears will notice that each sound is actually a series of different samples; multiple dynamic-level samples and articulations are all built in so as you play harder and softer, the drum or cymbal changes its timbre, not just its volume. This engineered realism is known as Dynamic Articulation, an Alesis exclusive.

This results in sounds that respond accurately not only to dynamic changes, but also with the appropriate timbral and color changes you'd expect from their acoustic counterparts. You can play with or without reverb for different room sounds and enjoy a wide variety of rimshots, rim clicks and different stick-placement sounds on the cymbals. The Random Sample feature also ensures you don't get the same sound twice for further creative realism.

Specifications

• Inputs: (12) 1/4-inch (each with 5 user adjustable trigger parameters)
• Outputs: Two 1/4-inch stereo pairs
• Headphone: 1/4-inch TRS with variable gain
• MIDI: In, Out/Thru
• 18-bit sample resolution
• 48kHz Sample rate
• Footswitch: 1/4-inch, assignable to hi-hat control or program advance
• 16-voice polyphony
• Panning: 7 position, user programmable
• Kits: 21 Memory locations w/defaults permanently stored in ROM
• Tuning Scheme: Coarse (chromatic) and Fine (cents)
• Data Input: Data knob, front panel keypad (sound auditioning via velocity sensitive
• Preview button on front panel)
• Expanded Dynamic Articulation: Modulates tone and pitch
• Power: 9V AC external transformer, UL and CSA approved
• Dimensions: 19 x 1.75 x 6 inches (WxHxD)
• Weight: 4.5 pounds

Product Description

Versatile, Affordable Drum/Percussion Sound Module For drummers and MIDI composers on a budget, the Alesis DM5™ offers professional performance features and an excellent selection of drum, percussion and special effect samples. The DM5 puts over 540 sounds into a single rack space, many recorded in true stereo and with ambient effects. Both classic Alesis studio drum sounds and new cutting-edge sounds for the latest musical styles are well represented. You'll find a great selection of kicks, snares, toms, hi-hats, percussion instruments, special effect samples and more. Plus, the DM5's Expanded Dynamic Articulation™ feature allows drum sounds to change volume, tone, and pitch depending on how hard they're hit – just like real drums. Plus, the DM5's Random Sample feature brings new life to static tracks by realistically varying the sound of the drum as you play. The DM5 includes an ultra-fast trigger-to-MIDI converter with 12 trigger inputs, 5 programmable parameters for each trigger, 21 programmable drumsets, and four audio outputs for discrete processing and control. Whether you're looking for a MIDI-controlled percussion module, a drum replacement tool for mixing, or an affordable answer for triggering sounds from electronic drum pads, the DM5 is the affordable solution.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great oriduct, June 19, 2009

By 

Nash "CI's Blacksmith" (SJ, Costa Rica) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alesis DM5 18-bit Drum Module (Electronics)

This is a great machine!!
You do can adjust pretty much everything, the pitch, the gain, noise, pan...etc
Very realistc, you can play super fast or slow and still recognizes the weak hits and the strong hits. The perfect mate is the Ddrum acoutic pro triggers :)
I use all this for metal. Awesome help for home and professional use.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Triggering is fun., October 5, 2009

By 

M. Spring - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alesis DM5 18-bit Drum Module (Electronics)

I just recently got into triggering my drums. For a while i researched a few drum modules and eventually came to the Alesis DM5. So far it's been fun. On my acoustic kit, i normally just trigger my bass drums. When it comes to electric, I use the Alesis with a cheap ION drum set. I use Ddrum Red shot triggers and together they work pretty well. The Module contains a good variety of sounds. I noticed on some other reviews about using the module. I don't think the module itself is hard to use. It just takes some time to getting use too. I kind of wish the DM5 had a feature so you could record your own sounds and use those, but that's ok. Overall, i recommend it.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Alesis is OK, May 8, 2009

By 

Matt Lyssy "eztrigger" (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Alesis DM5 18-bit Drum Module (Electronics)

You get what you pay for. I like the sound reproduction and this generally performs well in practice type situations. However, it does seem to have some trouble triggering if you play too fast, and I dont like that the Bass pedal has to be triggered and not switched. My rock band bass pedal is switched which means i have to plug it into the high hat slot and then tweak the sound to get a working bass pedal out of this. All in all, it was worth the ~$300, but not any more than that.