Alesis

Alesis makes Electronic Drums, Drum Amplifiers, Digital Audio Equipment, and more.  Alesis Electronic Drum Kits offer a great choice for your Electronic Drumming needs.  Alesis Electronic Drums are well made, easy to play, and sound great.  They integrate seamlessly with DAW’s such as Logic Pro X.

This Logic Pro Trick Will Supercharge Your Electronic Drums!

If you play electronic drums in Logic Pro — Alesis Nitro Mesh, Roland, Yamaha, or any e-kit — this video will completely change the way your hi-hat and dynamics feel.

Today we’re using Logic’s built-in Scripter MIDI FX to fix the most common e-drum problems:

🥁 Smart Hi-Hat Fix ✔ Accurate open + closed detection ✔ Half-open states ✔ Realistic foot-chick ✔ Custom thresholds for any electronic drum module ✔ Works with ANY drum plugin (Logic Drum Kit Designer, SSD5, Superior, EZdrummer, Addictive, etc.)

🔥 Velocity Humanizer ✔ Natural dynamic variation ✔ Better ghost notes ✔ Less robotic “machine-gun” hits ✔ More expressive, realistic feels

Whether you’re using an Alesis Nitro Mesh, a Roland TD-series kit, Yamaha DTX, Donner, or any e-drum brain — these scripts will instantly upgrade your playing inside Logic Pro.

And the best part? Everything is done with Logic’s free Scripter plugin.

The Scripts

// SMART HI-HAT FOR ALESIS NITRO MESH

// CC#4 -> Closed / Half / Open + Foot Chick

// Place this in the MIDI FX “Scripter” slot on your drum instrument track.

var NeedsTimingInfo = true;

// Defaults for GM-style drum maps

var HIHAT_INPUT_NOTE = 42; // note sent by your hi-hat pad (often 42)

var CLOSED_NOTE = 42; // GM Closed Hi-Hat

var HALF_NOTE = 44; // GM Pedal/half-open hat

var OPEN_NOTE = 46; // GM Open Hi-Hat

// CC#4 threshold behavior

var closedThresh = 25; // CC4 <= this = closed

var halfThresh = 80; // CC4 between closedThresh & halfThresh = half-open

// CC4 >= halfThresh = open

// Foot Chick parameters

var enableChick = 1; // 0 = off, 1 = on

var chickSens = 35; // how fast CC4 must drop to trigger chick

var chickVel = 100; // velocity for foot-chick

var chickNote = 44; // GM pedal/foot chick note

var passOthers = 1; // pass non-hi-hat notes through

// Internal state

var lastCC4 = 127;

var activeMap = {}; // maps input NoteOn -> output note

var nextChickBeat = -999;

// UI Parameters in Scripter

var PluginParameters = [

{name:”Hi-Hat Pad Note (input)”, type:”lin”, minValue:0, maxValue:127, numberOfSteps:127, defaultValue:42},

{name:”Closed Note (out)”, type:”lin”, minValue:0, maxValue:127, numberOfSteps:127, defaultValue:42},

{name:”Half-Open Note (out)”, type:”lin”, minValue:0, maxValue:127, numberOfSteps:127, defaultValue:44},

{name:”Open Note (out)”, type:”lin”, minValue:0, maxValue:127, numberOfSteps:127, defaultValue:46},

{name:”Closed Threshold (CC4)”, type:”lin”, minValue:0, maxValue:127, numberOfSteps:127, defaultValue:25},

{name:”Half Threshold (CC4)”, type:”lin”, minValue:0, maxValue:127, numberOfSteps:127, defaultValue:80},

{name:”Foot Chick”, type:”menu”, valueStrings:[“Off”,”On”], defaultValue:1},

{name:”Chick Sensitivity (ΔCC4)”,type:”lin”, minValue:1, maxValue:127, numberOfSteps:126, defaultValue:35},

{name:”Chick Velocity”, type:”lin”, minValue:1, maxValue:127, numberOfSteps:126, defaultValue:100},

{name:”Chick Note (out)”, type:”lin”, minValue:0, maxValue:127, numberOfSteps:127, defaultValue:44},

{name:”Pass Other Notes”, type:”menu”, valueStrings:[“No”,”Yes”], defaultValue:1}

];

// Update parameters

function ParameterChanged(i, v)

{

switch(i){

case 0: HIHAT_INPUT_NOTE = Math.round(v); break;

case 1: CLOSED_NOTE = Math.round(v); break;

case 2: HALF_NOTE = Math.round(v); break;

case 3: OPEN_NOTE = Math.round(v); break;

case 4: closedThresh = Math.round(v); break;

case 5: halfThresh = Math.round(v); break;

case 6: enableChick = v; break;

case 7: chickSens = Math.round(v); break;

case 8: chickVel = Math.round(v); break;

case 9: chickNote = Math.round(v); break;

case 10: passOthers = v; break;

}

}

// Decide which hat sample to trigger based on CC#4

function mapHiHat()

{

if (lastCC4 <= closedThresh) return CLOSED_NOTE;

if (lastCC4 >= halfThresh) return OPEN_NOTE;

return HALF_NOTE; // in-between zone

}

function keyFor(event)

{

return (event.channel << 8) + HIHAT_INPUT_NOTE;

}

// MAIN MIDI HANDLER

function HandleMIDI(event)

{

// Handle CC4 pedal movement

if (event instanceof ControlChange && event.number === 4) {

var info = GetTimingInfo();

// Foot chick detection: large drop in CC4

var delta = lastCC4 – event.value;

if (enableChick === 1 && delta >= chickSens) {

var allowed = true;

if (info && info.blockStartBeat < nextChickBeat)

allowed = false;

if (allowed) {

var on = new NoteOn();

on.channel = event.channel;

on.pitch = chickNote;

on.velocity = chickVel;

on.send();

var off = new NoteOff(on);

off.sendAfterMilliseconds(40);

if (info)

nextChickBeat = info.blockStartBeat + 0.25; // 1/4 beat cooldown

}

}

lastCC4 = event.value;

event.send();

return;

}

// Handle NoteOn

if (event instanceof NoteOn) {

if (event.pitch === HIHAT_INPUT_NOTE) {

var mapped = mapHiHat();

activeMap[keyFor(event)] = mapped;

event.pitch = mapped;

event.send();

return;

} else {

if (passOthers === 1) event.send();

return;

}

}

// Handle NoteOff

if (event instanceof NoteOff) {

if (event.pitch === HIHAT_INPUT_NOTE) {

var mapped = activeMap[keyFor(event)];

if (mapped == undefined) mapped = mapHiHat();

event.pitch = mapped;

event.send();

delete activeMap[keyFor(event)];

return;

} else {

if (passOthers === 1) event.send();

return;

}

}

// Everything else

event.send();

}

function Reset()

{

activeMap = {};

lastCC4 = 127;

}

// VELOCITY HUMANIZER FOR ELECTRONIC DRUMS

// Adds natural +/- velocity variation to NoteOn events.

// GREAT for Alesis Nitro Mesh & other e-kits.

var amount = 10; // +/- range added around incoming velocity

var bias = 0; // -50 = softer, +50 = harder, 0 = neutral

var minVel = 1; // minimum allowed velocity

var maxVel = 127; // maximum allowed velocity

var enabled = 1; // 1 = on, 0 = off

var PluginParameters = [

{name:”Humanizer On/Off”, type:”menu”, valueStrings:[“Off”,”On”], defaultValue:1},

{name:”Amount (±)”, type:”lin”, minValue:0, maxValue:40, numberOfSteps:40, defaultValue:10},

{name:”Bias”, type:”lin”, minValue:-50, maxValue:50, numberOfSteps:100, defaultValue:0},

{name:”Min Velocity”, type:”lin”, minValue:1, maxValue:127, numberOfSteps:126, defaultValue:1},

{name:”Max Velocity”, type:”lin”, minValue:1, maxValue:127, numberOfSteps:126, defaultValue:127}

];

function ParameterChanged(i, v)

{

switch(i){

case 0: enabled = v; break;

case 1: amount = Math.round(v); break;

case 2: bias = Math.round(v); break;

case 3: minVel = Math.round(v); break;

case 4: maxVel = Math.round(v); break;

}

// Make sure minVel is not greater than maxVel

if (minVel > maxVel) {

var temp = minVel;

minVel = maxVel;

maxVel = temp;

}

}

// Clamp helper

function clamp(val, lo, hi)

{

return Math.max(lo, Math.min(hi, val));

}

function HandleMIDI(event)

{

// Only modify NoteOn events

if (event instanceof NoteOn && enabled === 1) {

var vel = event.velocity;

// Random number between -amount and +amount

var rnd = (Math.random()*2 – 1) * amount;

// Bias: -50..50 mapped to roughly -amount..+amount

var biasOffset = (bias / 50) * (amount * 0.6);

// Apply humanization, bias, and clamp

var newVel = Math.round(vel + rnd + biasOffset);

newVel = clamp(newVel, minVel, maxVel);

event.velocity = newVel;

event.send();

return;

}

// Pass everything else through unchanged

event.send();

}

function Reset() {}

I cover the essential factors to consider when purchasing the Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit. See how to Super Charge the Kit and how I set mine up to Jam and Record with other Musicians. Should you use an Audio Interface and Digital Audio Workstation?

I use the Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit to walk through all you need to know on how to use your Electronic Drums.

Logic Pro Producer Kits allow you to fine-tune your Electronic Drum Kit’s sound. See how you can combine them with Plug-Ins, Smart Controls, and the Mixing Board to rock your Electronic Drums.

I give a two-year review of the Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit, including some additions I’ve made to the Kit, how I use it, and my plans for the future.

I review the Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit after one year of heavy use. After tweaking my Kit for a year, I’ll demo my current setup, show the Kit’s wear-and-tear, and highlight an addition I made to the Kit. I’ll also lay out my plan to extend the Kit in the future.

Learn how to use your Electronic Drums to Jam and Record Music with Other Musicians. In this video, I will review the Hardware, the Setup, the Instrumentation, and other Tips and Tricks, to allow you to Jam out and Record the way you want to.

Alesis Foot Pedals are best used on a carpet or mounted, to reduce slippage. Learn the best practices for your set up and maintenance.

Did you know you could extend the Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit?  Learn how to extend your kit and some of the options available to you.

Check out the specifications and instructions on the Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit.

Download this quick-reference Cheat Sheet to easily see how Logic Pro X Maps your Drum Kit.  Use this reference when creating a custom kit to save the time of figuring out the mapping on your own.

Quick Tip Videos

Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit – What Does it sound like?

Hear what the Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit sounds like. From totally unplugged, to using the Nitro Drum Module, to using a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) – Logic Pro X. Hear the wide range of sounds that the Kit has to offer.

Logic Pro X with Electronic Drums

Learn the details of using Electronic Drums with Logic Pro X. I walk through how I use the Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit with Logic Pro X.

What You Need to Know before Buying an Alesis Nitro Mesh Drum Kit

Learn what you need to know before purchasing your Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit to reach its maximum potential. I will give tips and advice on how best to utilize the Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit.