The Octapad is a dynamically sensitive compatible eight-pad controller with memory. It has eight drum pads that can be hit to trigger MIDI notes on its MIDI out port. It produces no internal sounds but is used as a controller to control other MIDI sound devices. MIDI sound sources from synthesizers to drum machines can be hooked up to its MIDI out port and assigned to any of the eight pads. Parameters such as channel and sensitivity are adjustable for each pad. Up to four different patches can be memorized with, the patch Preset function.
Program Change messages can also be sent from the PAD-8. In addition to the eight pads, six inputs are provided for expansion to using other external pad controllers.
This Simmons SDS7 review and tutorial will teach you how to use a Simmons SDS7 drum machine. You will learn about its features and how to program sounds.
Drum Channels
12 different drum channels
Each drum channel produces an analog and digital sound.
Each channel’s analog and digital sound parameters can be adjusted separately
Each drum channel also can have noise and a click sounds mixed into the analog and digital sound
Drum Kits
99 programmable drum kits
Drum kits are programmable memory slots for all the 12 drum channels
Controls
2 Knobs Per Drum Channel
The top knob controls the drum pad input trigger sensitivity
The bottom knob controls the sequence input trigger sensitivity
The Incrementor
The incrementor is a multi-function control that does various jobs
When first powered the incrementor selects the drum kit
The functions buttons and the program button (red button on the bottom right)
To change a sound
1) Press The Program button (the program light will flash)
2) Rotate the incrementor to select the desired drum kit
3) Press program to select that drum kit
4) Rotate the incrementor to select the desired drum channel (the red program light will flash on the top of the selected drum channel)
.
5) Press program to select that drum channel
6) Now all 16 lights will flash
7) Select one of the 16 desired parameters to edit
8) Once the parameter is selected, its light will stay on and its current value will be displayed
9) Rotate the incrementor to change its value
10) To change more parameters for that drum channel before saving, press the currently select parameter (its light will be steady on).
11) All 16 parameter lights will blink
12) Go through this process to change as many parameters as needed, until you are ready to save your edits
13) To save all your edits, press the program button
14) If you want to ignore your changes press any button that is not lit, and you will be returned to the select channel mode
15) If you want to exit the select channel mode press any button that is not lit, and you will be returned to the original play mode where you can select the drum kit
To copy drum channel sounds
1) Select drum kit No. 00
2) Press the program button (the prog jigsaw light will be on)
3) Rotate the incrementor to select the desired drum kit to copy sounds from
4) Press program to select that drum kit
5) Rotate the incrementor to select the desired drum channel
6) Press program to select that drum channel to copy sounds from
7) Repeat 5 and 6 to select as many drum channels from that kit you would like to copy
8) When all the drum channels are selected that you want to copy press button “E”
9) Select the kit number to copy the drum channels to
10) Press the “N” button to hear the copied drum channels along with the unselected channels in the new drum kit
11) Press program to overwrite the old channels with the new ones
Inputs and Outputs
Inputs
2 trigger inputs per channel
Sequencer Inputs
12 x ¼” trigger inputs
.2v – 15v 2ms positive pulse
maximum trigger occurs at approx 10v
Drum Pad Inputs
12 x XLR trigger inputs
30mv – 500mv positive pulse
maximum trigger occurs at approx. 450mv
High Hat Pedal
External Kit Select Input (connect a Simmons selector pad to select the drum kits)
Outputs
1 x Mono XLR output
1 x Stereo (1 x Left and 1 x Right) XLR output
12 x individual XLR drum channel outputs
Both
Memory Expansion In/Out Proprietary Cable Connection (you can dump the memory for back up to an optional RAM pack
