Sustain Button for Cymbal Chokes / Open-closed Hi Hat on DMPro

Contributed by Jeremy Slead

Here's how you do each function: (read the manual if you don't know where these parameters are)

CYMBAL CHOKE:

Get into Drum Edit mode (play the cymbal you want to choke, then hit "drum", then "edit").

For EACH sound (there can be up to 4) Program one of the modulations (MODs) like this: (I use MOD2, but whichever MOD number you use, it will be the same setup)

Source: Sust Pedal
Destination: AENV SusDc
Level: -45 (varying this parameter will alter how fast the choke is)

If you do this correctly, when you hold the Sustain switch/pedal down and play the cymbal, the cymbal will be "choked".

HI HAT CONTROL:

This one is trickier. Get that manual handy! ; )

This is set up so that if your sustain switch/pedal is in the "normal" position (you are not touching it) the hi-hat will be closed, and if you push the pedal/switch, it will be open. This makes more sense to me, since we probably play MUCH more closed hi-hat than open hi-hat.

If you want it set the other way (open is normal, push pedal/button for closed, which is of course like a real hi-hat) then set all parameters listed below for the OPPOSITE sound numbers (make all settings listed for sound 1 on sound 3, and settings listed on sound 3 for sound 1).

First, make a Hi-Hat "Drum" (saved in User Drum bank) that has your Closed Hi-Hat sample as sound 1 (I use a 2-way velocity crossfaded sound, so mine are sounds 1 & 2), and your Open Hi-Hat sample as sound 3 (For crossfading, sounds 3 & 4). Make sure Sound Enable for all the sounds you plan to use are set to "On". Name the drum appropriately so you can find it again, then save it. Set your kit to use this new Drum on whichever note number you use on your Zendrum as the Hi-Hat. When you play it, both closed AND open sounds will play.

Remember that often the DM-Pro will have "mute group" set ON for hi-hats, which you do not want in this case. Turn it off in Kit Edit mode, under Mix. (press Kit, hit the pad, press Mix, scroll to Mute Group, turn counterclockwise until it says Off).

Call up this new hi-hat "Drum" in Drum Edit mode (play it, push "drum", push "edit") and set the AMP Envelope (AENV) Level like this: (if you do 2-way crossfading, all steps in Sound 1 will be redone for Sound 2, and steps for Sound 3 will be done for Sound 4 as well). This setting can be found in the Amplitude Envelope edit pages.

Sound 1 (and possibly 2):
AENV: 00

Sound 3 (and possibly 4):
AENV: 99

Then set a MOD up like this:

Sound 1 (and possibly 2):

Source: Sust Pedal
Destination: AENV Amp
Level: 99

Sound 3 (and possibly 4):

Source: Sust Pedal
Destination: Amplitude
Level: -99

Realize that this method can be used to switch between ANY sounds using the sustain switch (snares on/off, snare/cross stick, ride/bell, triangle mute/open, guiro long/short, the list goes on and on...)