Thanks a lot for this and sharing the manual. Just picked this kit up on prime day and am excited to see how much more it can be expanded/configured. Appreciate your time sharing this!
I have that kit and I got the expansion pack with it. the Tom that comes in the expansion pack is another snare. I actually noticed what you said the rim works on the toms as well. so thank you so much for explaining this because it wasn't making any sense but now I know how to expand my kit a lot bigger.
Yeah, mine arrived two days ago from Sweetwater and so far it's a blast! We have a house so no neighbors underneath or anything but like you, I too have a family so this kit affords me to be able to play whenever I want and my wife really appreciates that it's not an acoustic set.
I really like what you did here. I went the easy way and found 2 kits on Craigslist for about $400 for both. They were each less than a year old. Then hooked the audio out (not headphones) of one to the aux in of the other. Then just built user kits. Thanks for the user manual as it made customization so much easier.
It would be awesome if you could do a separate video explaining step by step setting the dual trigger pad as a ride. Some of us woukd follow it better if it was more in depth on that one area. Thank you for everything. The video was very informative.
Legend!! I just got a 2nd additional cymbal and it wasn't working on the tom input. This is EXACLY what i needed. I'm buying myself a stereo to mono cable today! Thank you for sharing
When you made this video you thought it was crazy that a couple of your videos had 20k views. As I am watching this I see the count on it is 47,827! Way to go. Good content. Keep it up.
I really love how you made use of the wasted stereo jacks, I would've done the same thing. Looking forward to playing it now. Had a mixture of skeptic and concern with the expanded price being so inexpensive
This video is great for multiple reasons. I just bought this kit, well, the expanded pack and struggled to get it together and somewhat oriented the way the instructions show. After watching your video and screen shotting the overview, Ive come to realize this arrangement you have is way better. One tip i would pass along is the tom mounts can be configured multiple ways. The mount themselves can be inverted and the bars can either go toward the drummer or away, play with the hardware and see what works best.
@Kevin Williams I am about to reconfigure my toms based off your set up as well with the three across the center rack. It appears the cymbals have been located a little differently as well. At this point I really like the set, I'm debating getting another expansion kit and some second hand mounts to further expand the kit. Splitting the TRS connections was a brilliant idea!!
I have 2 of those kits put together as one. 2 midi usb cables into my Mac and logic x using ez drummer in the daw. Im glad I stayed till the end and watched the sounds you had for it. Im gonna check some of your other videos out because whatever you use in the daw sounds amazing 👍
this was exactly the answer i was hoping/looking for! i figured its just like most any other edrum set and could be changed up a bit with some diffrent cords and a different brain. endless possibilities
Hello I've got an Alesis custom kit that will blow you away 15 drum pads 20 cymbal pads and they all work. And I've got an Peavey PA system, with V118 18 inch speakers for my bottom end, SP2G for my midrange. And two T300's for my high end.all powered by a Peavey XZ600C amplifier with a secondary XZ2 amplifier. A 12 channel Peavey mixer.
Hi. thks for posting this. Bought 2 Alesis Nitro Mesh kits and I'm about to sort a way to combine them, so what you've posted is right up my alley. I'm using the hardware of my acoustic kit to help me arrange all of this. Perhaps, as Im going through I can consult you if I hit a wall BTW, those 2 albums back there look exactly like mine. We probably bought them around the same time. My first was Exit, Stage, Left then I went backwards and forward.
Dude! Thank you so much! I was going to not buy this drumkit because I really need two crash cymbals but I honestly don't see the point in spending 5 grand on an electric kit if you could get practically the same thing, especially with a laptop armed with EZ Drummer.
Ez drummer 2 is nice but you don't learn to play drums that way but if you have no interest in learning to play the drums then yeah ez drummer is good and cheaper.
@@reficul1984 I've been playing drums for a long time and I just need a drum kit for midi. I agree that it's better to practice on an acoustic kit but electric drums are still cool too and EZ drummer is a major sound upgrade for any setup. When you spend more on something, it's usually because of built-in sounds. You greatly reduce the price by introducing a middleman that performs so well, it's almost like not having a middleman in the first place. Another example of this is the Malletkat vs Pearl Malletstation. One requires a computer but it's also $1500 cheaper. But other than that, they're both identical.
We are using EZ Drummer as the sound source - we are not programming drum parts - simply triggering the sounds in EZ Drummer by hitting the pads on the Alesis kit.
Very well done sir!!! I don't know if you would want to put the time into it (because I know tutorials are time consuming to produce) but a good step by step video on this set up and mapping ez-drummer to it might get a lot of views. Nothing in depth is on RU-vid yet as far as I can tell.
I have outlines for those videos… just need the time! I agree - I had to figure a lot out on my own, but I am an IT guy in real life… who just happens to have a music degree!
@@BustingsticksWithKW You could even break it up into a couple of parts if one video would be to long. Like one part on just setting up the kit with the splitters, extra pads/symbols and clamps. Then the other for the mapping.
Today I bought an extra cymbal and tom for my Nitro mesh kit and I enjoy this new kit a lot, if I can understand properly how to split the cables in order to add another tom and cymbal I might order another expansion ^^
Great vid. How has your kit held up? Has the snare position head held up, or have you had slipping issues. I'd love to see an after-market stand for the snare.
I'm yet to get started drumming and currently learning to DJ with harder dance and tock music, and wanted to know if this kit could be expanded, so I'm pleased to hear your additional expansion trick and see you're a fan of my favourite 3 albums. Thanks.
Not sure how expandable Alesis drums have but I've managed to build an awesome electronic drum set, using a surge and command module to give me 30 trigger pads, cymbals and foot controllers; it's amazing!
Anyone that wants to do this to the Nitro Max must use splitters with resistors. In the US Reverb has a bunch of different Y cables with resistors to suit any application. You can't beat this kit for the money. The shity part is the unstable rack. I recommend buying another rack and use the pieces to brace the original. I added a leg to the end of the snare tube and triangulated the rack and now it doesn't wobble.
Thank you. I just bought Alesis Nitro, and this manual will help. I have a problem with the bass drum. The sensitivity is set to one and I will like to set it higher. Every time I try to do it when I shut down the system and turn it on it goes back to one.
I am fairly new to drumming. I have just recently purchased this Alesis kit. I’m not exactly sure how to accomplish this expansion. Is there anyway that you could do a more comprehensive walkthrough of how exactly you have put this all together, what connections (cables) needed, and the process for triggering the sounds through the software on your Mac. This video covers exactly what I have been trying to find. Now I just need to figure out how to put it all together. Thank you!!!
You connect it to your computer via a standard USB A to USB B cable (like a printer cable). Programs like GarageBand/Mainstage/Logic Pro will instantly just see it and Boom! To connect the extra pads you just need a stereo 1/4” (6.25mm) TRS socket to two mono 1/4” (6.25mm) TS plugs (TRS = tip-ring-sleeve). I’m not sure if they’re easy to find or if you’d need to make them or get them made.
I have a command mesh kit combined with a nitro mesh kit.. and I have expansion pack for both... Neil is my favorite as well.. I am looking forward to more videos from you.. hope you have the time this winter for some updates on how you used a split cable?? and maybe your cpu interface? thanks for your interest in drumming and sharing what you have learned... as Neil Says.. and Ill teach what I've been taught.. and I've been taught.. we know you've heard it before, but you didn't listen then ,so you still question why? no you didn't listen again.. you don't get something for nothing, you cant have freedom for free.. you wont get wise with the sleep still in your eyes, no matter what your dreams might be... see ya next time , Robert in Virginia
I mainly practice prog rock and jazz fusion, at least now I know that's it's possible to expand them to match my dream kit more (though I need 6 toms so might as well merge another Alesis Nitro Mesh)
Yeah..its the same module that comes with the Surge kit, just different logi on ..Surge kit comes with all Dual zone toms and snare..and chokeable cymbals. Surge kit also has an 8" kick tower.
Congrats on the videos Kevin. I'm planning on buying this kit but my first concern was: "can it be expanded"? You have answered that. One question though : the standard module doesn't seem to have inputs to all theses pads... So you are using a separate software as a module? I'm no sure if I got this right. Thanks
It’s the splitters. Even using the sounds on board you can expand the kit, but you’ll be limited to a smaller selection of sounds to spread over your 15 triggers. I use external sounds via midi because I wanted more variety and realism.
@@BustingsticksWithKW mostly everything lol I want to add way more cymbals n don't know if you buy splitters or have to cut cords to make multiple outputs. I seen in comments w work n life itself,you didn't have time to upload showing how you did all this but no rush. We all have lives but when I saw your set up I was like, I need to do this.
@@BustingsticksWithKW Here is the story. My friend baught me a drumset off of ebay. It's a really cheap one. The seller put a note in the box saying that there was something wrong with the kick pad and didn't put it in the box. Instead they put another highhat pedal in the box. i tried setting it up and the kick didn't work. My friend baught me another hihat pedal saying that it should work but it didn't. With the module i tried switching the kick pedal to a differnt pad and it didn't tripper. So i'm thinking that the cable for the kick isn't working right. The module i have now doesn't have a usb port. But i need a usb port to help with recording on Logic Pro x. I looked at this Alesis module and it had everything i wanted. It was on sale by $100. I hope to expand my kit like yours.
@@BustingsticksWithKW it works great. The only issue i have is the highhat is a smaller plug. The one i have is a bigger plug for like the other toms. I'm not sure why they made the Hi-hat controller a smaller plug.
Hi Kevin, Actually I was curious on the physical setup of your expansion. I bought an extra tom. And it took me so much time to set the kit in a comfortable way again. Crazy how your toms can fit that rack perfectly. The nitro rack.... It's so small... Is the longest rack arm the one on your right? Thanks and keep those videos coming
Thanks! Actually my rack is a bit of a cheat - I bought a whole extra rack on eBay. I use just a few parts to extend it on the right to hold my computer setup, but more importantly I did take the second long bar from the spare rack and put it on that lower right side. The stock rack did fit it, but the extra 2” just gives it a little wiggle room.
Question: can you add a second kick drum? I know the current kick pad doesn’t exactly support a second pedal, so I was wondering how you’d go about doing that.
A quick look at the manual says YES! They list rim inputs and default midi notes for all 4 tom spots - it's very much the same brain unit with added bluetooth as far as I can tell from the manual.
@@BustingsticksWithKW It wont sadly. I've also been trying this this week. The only dual zone on the Max is the snare. I've split from the snare rim to a cymbal via TRS to dual TR splitter. The cymbal is recognising the sound barely when I hit the bow of the cymbal very hard, the edge is dead silent and when I hit the cymbal lightly its silent aswell. I'm beginning to think the module isn't able to change the signal from the snare rim to a cymbal, Alesis has changed something when they found out people were making there Mesh kits Huge. Very frustrating as one extra cymbal (after installing the expansion set) would be fantastic.
Hello sir, how are you able to increase the volume on your kick drum especially when using EZ drummer? I increaee the volume and sensitivity but it’s still no as good as when your pressing the button on the brain. Any advise? Thank you
I'm going to look into this a little more and include it in an upcoming video - I have a regular pad that was basically doing the same thing and had to make some changes to the sensitivity, threshold, and curves settings to make it match. It was helpful that I use my Mac to generate all my sounds, because I could use the midi message monitor in the software to see the velocity info to know that my changes were making a difference.
Hi Kevin and thanks a lot for the video. I already had a Nitro Mesh and got a 2nd complete kit today to expand as much as possible. I plan on buying my splitters in 1 or 2 days but I noticed something while installing everything... the cymbals are also plugged with stereo wiring. Does that mean it works the same as the toms? The cymbals aren't supposed to be dual zone but looks like the module can receive 2 different sound inputs from them. If that's the case I'll have quite a huge kit to play on. O_O
Kevin, I'm trying to connect a crash 3 un the Tom 4 option, but i don't know what happen when i play the crash 3 pad sounds lower than the other crashes. I have tried everything with the utilities but it Still sounds low, the idea Is to set a China sound in that crash 3 pad. It's not a cable trouble because i connected a Tom pad instead the crash pad and it sounds fine. Help Kevin please
Hi. I’ve had the same problem tbh. As far as I can see you can only adjust the sensitivity and volume for the 1 input say Tom 2. So if you’ve split that with another cymbal, whatever volume and sensitivity you set the Tom at the cymbal is the same. I’ve had to turn the sensitivity and volume right down on one of the toms to match the volume of the other toms. The problem is then that the cymbal is very quiet and doesn’t trigger well. I know I must be doing something wrong but I can’t work out what 🤷♂️ Any help from the op would be good 🙏
There is a S-S and an R-S - Rim Sensitivity - that's the parameter you want to check for your split cable - check the manual I linked in the description for details!
Hey Kevin! I have a question about GarageBand and EZ Drummer / Superior Drummer that maybe you can answer. If I use an Alesis kit to midi out to GarageBand, is it possible to map out and create custom kits that I can use from project to project? Am I limited to just mapping after I’ve recorded? I used your method to expand my Command kit. Thanks!
GB and EZ are similar in that you have to change the mappings on the brain to match the fixed midi values in those products. So - I have to make kits on the brain specifically for the mappings I want if I use that sound source. SD let’s you change the midi value associated with any sound, so the kit on the brain can remain static (if you want) and you just remap sounds in the software and save the custom kits there instead. I basically made a kit for EZ/GB ( MainStage is in that list too) and then used those mappings as my “standard” when using SD and just remapped the sounds in SD to match what I wanted. I hope that makes sense!
I just use a double pedal - nothing to do with the unit. Just make sure you can place your beaters close to each other. And check my website for the beaters I use!
i will definitely see this video and tell you ... 😀😀😀 ... as i have to purchase this drum .... any new year offers or xmas offers ~~~ happening any soon
Wow! This is so useful. I wonder if it can be applied to other e-drums? I have a Behringer kit and the toms also have stereo plugs, would it work if I split them?
Only one way to tell! Pick up a splitter and try! Also check the program on the brain - if you have settings for the rim trigger you should be able to split.
I’ve got one question. Your double bass. I specifically asked musician friends tech if I can use my double on this kit and he of course said yes but that is proving to be not the case. How did you set up your double kick. Did you have to purchase a different pad? I bought this set so I can play without pissing the neighbors off but I want my double kick back 😢
First, would the Nitro Mesh toms & cymbals work with the Strike module if I decided to upgrade? Second, would the splitting principal be the same there - taking the two triggers for each tom and splitting them off into a tom and cymbal?
I don’t have direct experience with the Strike - but if it allows separate rim and pad programming, the splitting concept should work. Easy to test - grab a splitter off the list in my website and try it - pretty cheap to try!
It would be nice to see exactly how you split the tom to be a dual trigger an then what do you plug the cable into, do you have a mixer you plug the split cable into?
No mixer - the cables that come out of the brain are “stereo” I’m splitting them with a splitter cable into “left” and “right” - really I’m taking the pad trigger and rim trigger and separating them to 2 pads.
hello beautiful video ... I wanted to ask you something, do you know if you can put some different electronic hi hat like the one that opens and closes?
Thank you! Sadly your hi hat choices are limited. This brain only accepts 3 (4 technically but it’s complicated) direct signals - closed, 1/2 open, and open. Fancier ones use midi cc messages to send a range of values (which makes it much more realistic) but that’s the trade off of the low price.
Does anybody know if this can work on the Nitro Max? I split the toms and the system isn't recognizing that anything is connected to the rim triggers. Added an additional tom so far, and cannot get it to work.
@@BustingsticksWithKW ROLAND STYLE SPLITTER WORKS FOR THE NITRO MAX!!!!! My splitter arrived today and successfully split a Nitro Max tom input. Has a 100 ohm resistor soldered in one of the leads.
@@45WinchesterMagnum Can you tell me exactly what Roland splitter you used? They have a few different splitters and I need the model number. You are sure this works on Nitro Max? How long have you been using this set up? Worried about overloading the module due to the added resistance. Thanks for your help!
@@45WinchesterMagnum Can you tell me exactly what Roland splitter you used? They have a few different splitters and I need the model number. You are sure this works on Nitro Max? How long have you been using this set up? Worried about overloading the module due to the added resistance. Thanks for your help!
Good job man! Ihave one question: How did you risolved the famus problem of kick drum pad,in case you wanna use double pedal?I actually using duble pedal but....the problem is still there....Thank you!
In the Instamatic video you can see I did replace the bass tower with a pad I’ve had since 1985… but the stock tower worked just fine as a double kick target as long as your pedal allows you to adjust the distance between your beaters.
I've been confused about expanding this kit so if you could clear this up for me that would be great. For my purposes I want mine to look like yours in your Instamatic Cover. I can see you bought what I think is the alesis expansion kit along with one more alesis pad and cymbal. I saw your step by step video on expanding the kit to the max but the one thing I am confused about is if I can use splitters to connect more then one tom pad to the same cable because the brain has a limited number of cables included minus the tom 4 port. I can then use my laptop to connect to the brain and use EZ-drummer to have more sounds available (in my opinion the snare and kick drum options included with the drumset out-of-the-box are pretty weak) right? Thanks for the videos and I love the covers!
Hello good morning, one question: I bought an Alesis nitro mesh kit and I want to add a Roland PDX8 snare pad to it, will it work without problems? especially the double zone
I don't know for sure - if it's just a 2 zone pad (nothing fancy like position sensing or other proprietary features for Roland) then it should if it takes a "stereo" (TRS) cable as it's connection.
@@BustingsticksWithKW I was wondering about the actual rewiring to add toms. i was thinking about it and instead of actually cutting the wires could you just use a stereo to two mono splitter to add them?
Hi Kevin great video. To get the configuration you have (5 toms 4 cymbals). Can I split Tom 3 into (Tom 3 (pad) and ride cymbal (rim sound ) then Tom 4 into (Tom 4 (pad sound)and Tom (5 rim sound)) using the splitter cables ?
Hmm - the stock kit has 4 “stereo” inputs (rim/pad) but only comes with 1 dual trigger pad. I use that for the snare in the Instamatic video. There are also 2 expansion ports - 1 cymbal port (which is single trigger - not splittable) and a ton 4 port which is splittable. I use the cymbal port and the Tom 4 port and I split 2 of the 4 tom ports. I could actually add 2 more triggers since I only split 2 of the 4 ports!
I just picked up a Nitro Mesh. Any tips on getting the snare positioned properly? It seems like I can't get it high enough to stop hitting my thigh and/or the rim. The rest of the kit seems comfortably placed, but the snare mount seems super low.
So - I'm 5'9", and I've heard plenty of complaints about the whole kit being low to the ground, and they are mostly right. However, I've had success be adjusting my playing position to be a little further back than I usually would on an acoustic kit. That gave me more room to swing, use the tips (and less shaft) and have a better angle of the stick to find the center of the mesh on all the pads. It certainly is an adjustment period if you are coming from an acoustic kit - you do have to adjust your technique at least a little, especially if you are a heavy hitter (like I am) and like to lay a good bit of the shaft into the head when you play - check out my acoustic covers to see. I still whack the crap out of the e-kit - can't help who I am - but the adjustment worked for me. Usually, my acoustic snare is right between my legs (perhaps obscenely so! ;-) ) and getting the height just right to avoid my thigh was crucial (and easy with a fully adjustable stand). Random thought - you could always use an actual snare drum stand (perhaps one with an adjustable basket compatible with some of those tiny effect snares) and put your snare trigger in one of those - no rule that says you can't mix and match! Hope that helps! --kw
THANKS KEVIN... for your reply, I did find the "Red" Edition kit on sale @ Musicians' Friend with the Expansion Pack included for $470 {$100 savings}, and the "Red" Expansion Pack for $99, {$20 savings} through April 13/22. I'll be getting both. I do have a couple of questions, if you would be so kind to answer: 1. Did you have to modify the Rack to fit the 6 Drum Pads and 6 Cymbals pictured in your video "Step by Step - Expanding the Alesis Nitro Mesh kit to the Extreme"? Does it feel "Flimsy or unstable"? 2. Can the "Rim" Triggers be activated somehow in each Drum that is not modified with the splitters? I would GREATLY appreciate your taking the time to answer this if you can. THANKS!
Rim triggers - the “tom” pads they sell are single trigger only - physically no second trigger built in so you cannot “activate” it. 1 pad in main kit, and the pad in expansion pack has rim trigger. As for stability, watch any of my cover videos and I think it’s pretty clear I’m whacking the crap out of those pads and they are not moving! 😛🥁
@@BustingsticksWithKW: Thanks Kevin... You're SUPER! Congrats on your AWESOME CHANNEL, including taking the time to answer your followers... Your answers & videos are ALWAYS ON POINT!!!
Hey Kevin, is it possible to add a dual zone cymbal so you can have a ride with a bell? Seems like the Nitro brain would have a rim feature on the cymbal cables you could tap into. I use Superior Drummer 3
Totally possible - the issue has been finding such a pad that is bell and bow, not bow and edge. 3zone cymbals exist, and supposedly there are a few you could put a “dummy” plug in one of the jacks on the cymbal, but I’ve yet to figure out what I could get to fulfill that desire!
Check this out. I ordered this from Guitar Center for $79.00 This guy seems to have it working fine. I like that it's 12" as well. So my current ride will be turned into a splah. That will give me 2 crashes, a ride, China and a splash. I have it setup with 2 floor toms as well. I'll send you a picture or a demo when I get it! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-lG1Cfy9Hdyk.html&ab_channel=pachastudiomusic
That’s like picking a favorite child!!MP,P/G, and CA are all up there. R30 is the “best” live IMO, but ESL video is the one (on MTV’s Saturday night concert) that set me firmly down the path of actual musical percussion life.
My Pearl pedal has an adjustment to pull the beaters closer, so I had no issues with the stock tower except for movement - that’s why I swapped it out with a pad I’ve had since 1985 - plus I find it amusing that I have a (working) pad from 1985!!
I was trying to copy your setup since i thought it looked really nice. Can i ask how you mounted the module? Also you have any idea about getting more clamps that are small enough for the rack? Not only are just buying a single clamp expensive, i would also have to pay even more for the import + shipping.
The module is mounted to the “snare” arm so it’s down and out of the way but reachable with my left hand if needed. I bought my parts via eBay - maybe you can find a local dealer there?
@@BustingsticksWithKW Thanks i did just that, i put the snare (a bigger one, not nitro) on an acoustic stand and used that clamp for the module as an temporary solution. Well i contacted Alesis about it, I couldnt find a dealer in all of Europe who sell the clamps separetly.
Any single zone will work - I had trouble finding a dual zone for a ride - I don’t want edge and bow - I want bell and bow, and that doesn’t seem to exist. 3 zone rides are out there, but I’ve read sometimes you need a dummy plug to make them work - I do t have any hands on experience yet with that situation.
I have not yet - I’ve read positive and negative reviews so I’m a bit in the fence - I also only really want bell and bow for my ride, so there is the matter of figuring out if I can cable that.
I just have the stock one. I did find a second rack online for $35 so I’ve used a few pieces from that to extend the kit to fit my custom Mac mini rig. I thought of doing the same - replacing it altogether - I found a number of used Pearl square post racks online for reasonable $$ - you’d just need the right clamps to mount everything.
My Pearl pedal has an adjustment to let me get the beaters pretty close so they work. I did replace the bass pad with something I had from 1985(!) because it was more stable and doesn’t move at all.
Does anyone know if I can do this with my alesis forge kit? And is it a special splitter rather the a splitter that would make it so you could plug into to amps if you know what I mean? Thx really interested to try this
I’m guessing the answer is in the manual or brain unit - if it supports dual trigger pads on each input, and you can independently program each trigger (rim and pad) then in theory you should be able to do the same, but that’s a big if.
so the Alesis Nitro Mesh Special Edition 10-Piece has dual zone Toms too ? or just the snare? if the Toms have dual zone, then its possible for lots of expansion
Only the snare is shipped as a dual zone pad - that’s why you can basically double the amount of pads - by using the unused rim inputs on all 4 tom inputs!
