The Versatile, Surprisingly useful Alesis SamplePad 4

[@robotbarbarian]

Welcome back and thank you for the very thoughtful plug, cuz! Yet another useful and to-the-point video here - The kind of content that I love!

[@Wilkaholic]

Can I adjust the bpm of a loop playing from SD card?

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

Not on the device - you'd have to export the loop in wav format in the speed you need.

[@joseicute1400]

It would be nice to see a full drum cover with this set up

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

Can you think of a tune that would be suitable? I tend towards some pretty complicated stuff (hence all the drums!) but if you have any suggestions, maybe I can try!

[@LoserDub]

Hey I just got one and the sensitivity's horrible. How do I save the sensitivity settings so it stays that way whenever I turn it on?

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

It’s not as dynamic as say a Nitro Mesh for sure, but you should be able to save any parameters for defaults. It’s a 2 button press to save. You also could try to add the sd card option - that greatly adds functionality for a minimum price.

[@sepsissband]

Great job Neighbor!!

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

Thank you!

[@MrEagleeye58]

I found that for samplepad 4 it is not possible to fix the velocity of each pad for MIDI use. I wanted to reduce the noise of the pad when I strike it so that any light strike will send out max velocity to the midi output to Addictive Drums.. Am I right on this? I am only using this a a MIDI controller.

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

You can set the sensitivity which in turn does affect how quickly you go from 0-127 on the midi velocity.

[@MrEagleeye58]

I just bought a used one. Firmware is 1.03 what is the latest version? I cannot get any info from searching

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

I’ve never updated mine. If it’s not on the support page there probably isn’t one available.

[@cachofett]

Hi there! I’m using a TRS splitter to add a Roland PD-8A and a Roland KD-7 but I keep getting the same sound on both external triggers. Do you know why would that happen?

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

2 possibilities - it’s not actually a splitter but instead a duplicator, or the brain has the same sound programmed for the pad and rim. Look at the button lights on the brain when you hit the pad. They can tell you what combo is being triggered.

[@sesa2984]

I did the same thing for my apartment-sized kit, but I bought loose drum pads at music go round and went to the hardware store to build the mounts lol.

[@sesa2984]

Its weird that they don’t advertise it this way. Its really the best function of it.

[@sesa2984]

I had originally bought it just to use the 4 as a little drum kit but when I realized I could add 2 more pads, the solution became immediately obvious to me. Cheers.

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

Awesome!

[@Glitchfaction]

Can this be played live plugged into an amp or PA?

[@laurenceellis8311]

Hi Kevin, thanks for the tutorial , I have a question...I know I can change the drum sounds to make a usable 4 piec micro gigging kit, but I don't know how to store my kit preferences ..the machine reverts to factory settings once turned off..I have an empty SD card in the card slot but really can't figure out how to just store what's already available...any help would be greatly appreciated...

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

You can store the kits by first pressing cursor down and right at same time for 2 seconds. Page 9 - 7132afa424c2f1a2ab6d-54d68a14e2e7c1f76563a2d8c3e9fd82.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/1489/documents/SamplePad%204%20-%20User%20Guide%20-%20v1.2.pdf

[@ZHDRUMS]

I have a question I’m starting to implement electronics to my acoustic drum set. And just wondering on how I would connect the sample pad to the board so it could come out the PA system

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

If using the on board samples there are 2 1/4” outputs you can use.

[@ReneAlexisPenalozaMunoz]

I bought the 8 pad version but it’s still in the box because I’m travelling and had no time to mess around either it yet. I’m planning to get rid of all those horrendous sounds and load new decent ones or use Ableton Live as a source.

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

Some of the built ins are decent, and the free downloads are decent too, but midi or your own samples give you everything you’d want.

[@mikeydreadmastalski4345]

Thank u for the video im thinking about getting the sample pad 4 to add to nt Td 17,im a bit of a technophobe tho,is it easy to use and easy to load samples on? Thanks again just subbed

[@Jonnydrums413]

Can you import a backing and click track to separate pads, trigger them at the same time, and route the output so backing comes out of the mains and click out of the headphone out?

[@cjmiller511]

No, but unless you need your backing track to be stereo you could have the sample saved with the backing track to panned to one side, click to the other, and send each mono to their respective destinations.

[@maxibarok8355]

Hola como mejoraste la sensibilidad, se ve muy bien Gran video gracias

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

It has some options to play with on the SamplePad - not as good as the Nitro Mesh but you can get close!

[@jorgepenafiel8923]

Great review!!... and cool shoes! What type of Nike are those?!

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

Haha - Nike Gato React indoor soccer shoes! Awesome for playing futsal OR drums!

[@kamilalexander8874]

Finaly back

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

Seriously. Thanks for your patience!

[@jamesfulmer7080]

Hi Kevin! I'm glad I found your channel. It's been a big help for me. I bought the Alesis Nitro kit and just got the Simmons DA2112 amp. Do you know the cord that I need to be able to plug in my Nitro kit to the amp? Thank you 😊

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

Probably just a 1/4” instrument cable or 2 will work just fine!

[@SoFallsWichitaFalls]

Does this have tuneable timpani sounds?

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

No, but any sample library/wav file can be used. Love your screen name... I get it!

[@phurniture]

Would it be possible to use the Alesis SamplePad 4 to trigger a drum machine via MIDI? You'd obviously need to use the USB out on the SamplePad and probably some kind of USB hub perhaps. I'm thinking specifically with the Elektron Digitakt which does have a USB port.

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

It’s just midi out via usb, so if you have any device that takes midi in, you’d be in business!

[@STEVEFINNERTY]

How long can a sample be ?..

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

I can't find documentation on a limit - I'll try loading up a song and see soon!

[@soyamchinglemba4326]

Wud you please explain the best way to use double pedal with the alesis drums

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

I have a whole video on that subject on my channel.

[@soyamchinglemba4326]

@@BustingsticksWithKW it wud be my pleasure if you please reply which video is that… thanks

[@soyamchinglemba4326]

@@BustingsticksWithKW is that the one in which you used normal mess heads as foot head

[@Skyraptor_1]

Hi, Thanks a lot for sharing this video really helpful without a doubt, I have the sample pad 4 as well and in my case I use the "trig in" to use a kick drum trigger (with Roland RT30K) but I would like to split that to have kick drum and a "bass drop" on a different pad, can you show me how to split on the sample pad? Thanks a lot :)

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

Same splitter I use on the Nitro Mesh. Link on my website!

[@Skyraptor_1]

Thanks a lot for your response : (I bought one stereo splitter but both, external kick and the the pad brings the same sound... can you help me ?@@BustingsticksWithKW

[@Skyraptor_1]

@@BustingsticksWithKW issue sorted thanks a lot for your help ;)

[@sandor194]

Good day sir, is that the Gibraltar 6706? I am looking for the right stand for the same product. TY

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

No - it’s some random stand I had with a multi clamp. There is a mount that you screw into the bottom - amzn.to/47jZZxI

[@a-1151]

How to use kick pedal with this?

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

Using the expansion port out the back will allow another pad (or 2 with a splitter as I demonstrate) to be connected.

[@a-1151]

@@BustingsticksWithKW Alesis turbo mesh kit kick won’t work right?

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

@a-1151 As long as it's a regular trigger pad, I don't see why not. I'm not aware of any fancy positional sensing bass drum pads out there - they tend to be pretty simple in practice!

[@robertzimmerman1807]

@@BustingsticksWithKW and this would work using a kick controller (or a foot switch) instead of a kick pad?

[@michaelfeatherstone6046]

How long does it take to load the next kit when using samples on the SD card?

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

About a second or two.

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

Depending on the size of the samples.

[@lumberjact]

Great video, Kevin. How are you using the SamplePad in conjuction with the electronic drum kit? Is the SamplePad connected to the module of the drum kit?

[@neighborbruce]

There is an extra input on the samplepad that he is separating into the ride and bass drum sounds

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

The audio software on the Mac can listen for more than 1 midi source, so both the Nitro brain and the SamplePad are plugged in to the Mac via usb and sending independent midi signals.

[@lumberjact]

@@BustingsticksWithKW Hey, Kevin. Thanks for the response. I'm a Windows guy, but I'm sure it works in a similar fashion. I've got a Yamaha DTX502 drum kit. I know that I could input my 502 module and SamplePad into my Desktop with no issue. Or input both into a monitor speaker system or PA for Live situations. I'm trying to find out if I can basically attach the mono output of the SamplePad and go into one of the inputs of the 502. Treat it like a drum pad and be able to use the sounds that are included with the Samplepad.

[@jakub_slubik_drums]

Do you have buzz sound on it?

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

If you mean if it’s noisy on the output? No. If you hear anything on my video it’s likely from my portable mixer that I use to record. I had a power supply issue I didn’t notice until it was too late…

[@bdebcnbdebcn4638]

which kick drum pedal are you using?

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

In this video it’s a used Tama I picked up recently. My double pedal is an older Pearl.

[@bdebcnbdebcn4638]

@@BustingsticksWithKW i mean the trigger for the kick

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

That's the tower that came with the Alesis Nitro Mesh. Any bass tower or pad would work, however.

[@chriszitta]

You cant bring claps to a gig, lol 😂

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

😂

[@dmgsoultogetherness6667]

they need to stop putting timbale sounds on these units iv never heard a good one yet

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

Haha! Difficult sound to model. Samples work better for most (if done right!$$$$)

[@mnbluestube]

👍🏼👍👍🏼👍👍🏼👍

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

🤘🏻

[@markd7013]

The top two pads are annoyingly insensitive. You really need to give them a whack to get a sound. Consequently, not really suitable for a lot of the percussion noises because you get “ missed” responses

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

The sensitivity settings make it a bit more responsive - I really don’t recall having missed triggers once I set the options.

[@radek1cihak]

Sympathetic, but I still don't know how good or bad the sounds are. I don't need to be a super drummer, I'm "just" into home recording. I have no ambition to impress with playing technique, just to support the melody, but the sound used should be bearable for a critical listener...

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

For the price you are not going to get top quality sounds, but they are passible in a mix, and you can find or make your own samples quite easily and load them up. The downloadable collection is pretty decent as well.

[@JS3music]

Why is everyone of these clips I watch always playing bongos everytime I watch one. Does it play snare and bass drum? All you guys go straight to bongos. Ugh

[@BustingsticksWithKW]

It’s what’s loaded on the default patches because it assumes you are looking for auxiliary instruments.