Midi Note Changing For Beginners

When choosing a sound to assign to a pad on the Zendrum, it is important to keep in mind the midi default drum notes (see table here). If a pad is making a snare sounds, and you want a crash sound, rather than cycle through the sounds on your drum module, first adjust the pad (no) on the Zendrum to be either Midi Note 49 or 57. These are the default numbers for crash cymbals. After assigning the pad to one of those numbers, THEN alter the sound assigned to the note you chose (49 or 57 in this example) to the exact cymbal sample you want.

This way, if you plug into another drum module, or change preprogrammed kits on your existing module, where you are used to hearing a cymbal, you will still hear a cymbal, although it might not be the exact timbre you originally chose.

If assigning instruments not on the default MIDI table, such as Crash Cymbal 3 or Timpani, you can go about it two ways. Either a) go to a note number below 35 or above 59, knowing there is only a tiny chance of a similar sound being on that pad if you change modules, OR choose a similar sound - a timpani can fit at the number for Large Tom and Crash 3 could easily be substituted into China Cymbal.

You can download the Mokugyo pad assignment editor for PC to make assigning pads easier.