DrumStation guide
Novation DrumStation
MIDI mapping
In 808 mode, the 808 sounds and 909 sounds are all grouped together consistently:
| MIDI note number | MIDI note | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | C-1 | TR-909 bass drum |
| 25 | C#1 | TR-909 rimshot |
| 26 | D-1 | TR-909 snare drum |
| 27 | D#1 | TR-909 handclap |
| 28 | E-1 | TR-909 low tom |
| 29 | F-1 | TR-909 mid tom |
| 30 | F#1 | TR-909 closed hihat |
| 31 | G-1 | TR-909 high tom |
| 32 | G#1 | TR-909 crash cymbal |
| 33 | A-1 | TR-909 ride cymbal |
| 34 | A#1 | TR-909 open hihat |
| 36 | C-2 | TR-808 bass drum |
| 37 | C#2 | TR-808 rimshot |
| 39 | D#2 | TR-808 handclap |
| 40 | E-2 | TR-808 snare drum |
| 42 | F#2 | TR-808 closed hihat |
| 43 | G-2 | TR-808 low tom |
| 46 | A#2 | TR-808 open hihat |
| 47 | B-2 | TR-808 mid tom |
| 49 | C#3 | TR-808 crash cymbal |
| 50 | D-3 | TR-808 high tom |
| 56 | G#3 | TR-808 cowbwell |
| 62 | D-4 | TR-808 high conga |
| 63 | D#4 | TR-808 mid conga |
| 64 | E-4 | TR-808 low conga |
| 70 | A#4 | TR-808 maracas |
| 75 | D#5 | TR-808 claves |
You can select this mode by pressing SELECT a few times to select the utility submenu; pressing 5 to select General MIDI ("Gn"); and pressing - to select 808 mode ("80").
I've made a file of DrumStation note names, ready for importing into Reaper via its MIDI note editing window, using File > Note/CC names > Load note/CC names from file.
Outputs
If you're wondering why your DrumStation is being steadfastly silent, and you've set up your patch to send all its instruments to the same individual output, here's why you can't hear anything: it appears to mix together the sum of all the instruments, meaning the more instruments you send to any given output, the quieter each one will be. If you send every single instrument to the same individual output, each one is so quiet that it's inaudible above the background noise.
So if you'd like to record each instrument one at a time, it's better to use the main stereo outputs (which don't appear to have this problem), and pan everything to one side to maximise the signal to noise ratio.
Which brings me to...
Patches
This DrumStation patch is a derivative of the preset "Classic TR-808 V1", with the distortion turned off and everything panned hard left. You can use it for simple mono output.
You can import the SysEx data into the DrumStation, overwriting one of your existing user-editable patches. First, press SELECT a few times to select program mode; then type in the number of the patch you want to overwrite (at least 25, depending on which version you have); then move the write switch to enable, and send the above SysEx file. Remember to switch it back to protect again afterwards.
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