How to Replace Bass Onstage With Electric Drums
Electric drum kits allow drummers to program dozens of instruments and play along with them in real time. Drummers can record bass lines using the electric drum pads, which means the bass can be replaced onstage through the use of pre-recorded lines. While this happens, the drummer plays along with the drum pads.
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Instructions
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Programming Bass with Electric Drums
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1
Assign a bass instrument to the kick drum pad using the control module. A bass sound from the instrument list must be chosen before recording is permitted. Press the "Instrument" button on the module. Hit the kick drum pad once with the foot pedal to bring up the instrument settings for that pad. Use the up and down arrows on the module until you've highlighted "Instrument List." Use the left/right arrows to move through instrument groups until you've found the bass section. Use the up/down arrows to highlight a bass instrument.
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2
Choose a root note for the bass lines. You'll need to know the key of the song before recording the bass lines. The song's key acts as the root note for bass lines. Use the left/right arrows to highlight the "Note" tab in the screen. Use the up/down arrows to select the note. Press the "Exit" button to return to the instrument menu.
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3
Assign notes to the remaining drum pads. While in the instrument menu, hit the low tom once with a drum stick. Highlight the instrument list again and use the up/down arrows to find the same bass instrument you selected before. Use the up/down arrows to select a musical note for drum pad. This note should be different than the root note and within the key of the song. You can check if the note fits into the key with an Internet search for a term like "notes in the key of (your chosen key)." Repeat this step until you've assigned different notes to each drum pad in the kit.
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4
Record the bass line as a new drum pattern. Electric drum kits organize all recordings into "patterns." Press the "Pattern" button on the kit with all drum pads assigned to bass notes. Use the left/right arrows to highlight the "New" tab and press the "Enter" button. Set the number of measures and tempo for the drum pattern by using the up/down arrows.
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5
Press the "Play" button to start recording. A metronome will automatically begin playing to signify the start of the recording. Play the bass line you wish to record on the drum pads. Press the "Stop" button when you want to end the recording. Press the "Save" button on the module, and name the pattern by using the up/down arrows to move through alphabet letters.
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6
Connect the electric drum kit to the stage mixer. Insert a 1/4 inch cable from the drum kit's master output. The output will be labeled "(Mono)." Connect the other end of the 1/4 inch cable into one of the stage mixer's unused tracks. Make sure the master volume knobs have been turned up on the drum module and the stage mixer track.
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7
Play the bass line pattern along with the electric drums. Press the "Instrument" button and then navigate the menu to select the drum kit style you want to use. Press the "Pattern" button on the brain module. Use the left/right arrows to highlight the "List" tab. Use the up/down arrows to find and select the pattern you saved in the list. Press the "Play" button on the module. Play along with the bass using your electric drums pads.
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Tips & Warnings
It's best to play through all programmed tracks before the show begins. This allows you to work out errors and keep the performance running smoothly.
When connecting audio hardware, look for exposed wires, which can lead to shocks. Exposed wires threaten the safety of the sound crew and should be disconnected immediately.
References
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