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Connections: Chapter 3
DM5 Reference Manual 17
EXAMPLE 3: USING TWO OR MORE DM5 MODULES
The DM5 provides 16-note polyphony, which means at any single moment, up to 16
different Drum Voices can be triggered at once. This polyphony is “shared” by all 61
notes in a Drum Set. So, although you have 61 different Drum Voices available to
you, a maximum of 16 can be played at the exact same time. Once a Drum Voice is
finished playing back, polyphony is restored so another Drum Voice may be played.
If, however, the DM5 receives note commands and/or external triggers that instruct
it to play more than 16 Drum Voices at the same time, you may notice some
interesting things occurring (such as Drum Voices being cutoff before their finished
sounding). This is an infrequent occurrence, since usually there are fewer than 16
Drum Voices being played at any given moment; normally they are spaced apart to
provide a syncopated rhythm. And since many of the Drum Voices have quick
decays, having another Drum Voice triggered hot on its heels will almost never cut-
off the Voice that preceded it.
MIDI Overflow Mode
In the event that you require more than 16 Drum Voices at the same time, it is
possible to connect a second DM5 to catch the “overflow” of notes and consequently
accommodate all the Drum Voices you need (for 32-note polyphony). You can
actually connect as many DM5s in a chain as you like to accomodate your needs. For
example, connecting 8 DM5s would provide 128-note polyphony.
To do this, connect the first DM5’s [MIDI OUT/THRU] to the second DM5’s [MIDI IN].
This connection requires that the MIDI Thru parameter be set to Overflow Mode (see
below).
To turn the MIDI Overflow Mode on:
➀ Press the [MIDI] button.
The [MIDI] button will light. There are 5 different pages of parameters.
➁ If not already selected, press the [MIDI] button repeatedly until PAGE 1 is selected.
In the bottom left corner of the display, PAGE 1 will have a square around it. There are
three parameters in this page: Root, Chan and Thru. The first parameter, Root will be
selected (the value beneath it will be flashing).
➂ Press the [ ] button twice to select the Thru parameter.
The Thru parameter’s value will flash.
➃ Turn the [VALUE] knob clockwise until the Thru parameter’s value reads “FLo”.
MIDI Overflow Mode is now turned on.