The aD5 features cutting-edge sensing technology and fast triggering response so that the full dynamic range and groove of the drummer can be translated into a realistic sound and natural-feeling response.
The aD5 interface is intuitive to use and the Trigger Setup Wizard gets you playing within minutes, and the aD5 can be fine-adjusted to give a perfectly natural response for each pad and instrument.
1 . Trigger Setup Wizard
The first step in setting the aD5 triggering is to run the Trigger Setup Wizard. To access it, select the menu SYSTEM | TRIGGER | Trigger Setup Wizard.
After starting the Trigger Setup Wizard, you will be prompted to enter the Pad Model for the selected pad. If you have used the Trigger Setup Wizard before, then changing the Pad Model will overwrite those settings.
The aD5 has Pad Models for aDrums pads as well as the pads of other manufacturers. Pad trigger settings and information on pad compatibility can be found on our Support pages.
When prompted by the wizard software, you play three soft (pp) and hard (ff) dynamic strikes to calibrate the dynamic range for the pad. You can use the 'Retry' button as many times as you like before repeating the process with other pads.
As this video shows, the Trigger Setup Wizard is a quick and easy way to get started with setting up the aD5. In the next section, we will dive deeper into the trigger settings.
2 . TRIGGER SETUP: ADJUST
After completing the trigger setup wizard, you can dive deeper into the aD5's trigger settings to adjust and fine-tune the response of each pad and even its zones.
From the Trigger Wizard Setup screen, press PAGE > twice to access the ADJUST screen. In this screen, you can refine the trigger response of each pad that you set using the wizard software. When you hit a pad, you select it as an INPUT, and the display will indicate which pad is selected in the top right of the screen.
The shot meter and graph on the left of the screen show you the dynamic range of your strikes.
Adjust the pad's trigger Sensitivity value (all zones) to a value where your hardest strikes are just touching the ff level. Use the shot meter to monitor the dynamics as you adjust the sensitivity. It is important to play naturally and not hit the pad too hard to reach higher dynamics.
Adjust Curve and you will see how the graph changes. Curve is used to compensate for the response so that the dynamics of your strikes will correspond linearly to the dynamics of the sound. In other words, this changes the mapping between your playing dynamics and the module's triggered dynamics. A linear setting will work fine for most pads. A positive value setting for Curve can assist players with a lighter touch to achieve higher dynamics. If you tend to hit hard, then you might want to try adjusting Curve to a negative value.
If you press PAGE > once again then you will access the FINE ADJUST screen where you can adjust the Threshold value which sets the minimum strike level above which the pad responds. There are also separate sensitivity adjustment settings for pad zones - Zone B Sens and Zone C Sens. These settings are only active when the selected pad supports multiple triggering zones.
In the last two sections of this article, we will focus on specialized trigger settings for the snare pad and the hi-hat pad.
3 . TRIGGER SETUP: RIM ADJUST
The RIM ADJUST screen is used to adjust the response of the snare pad, which is capable of triggering three distinct sounds: Head, Rim Shot, and Cross Stick (Side Stick).
The settings 'Head-Rim Adj' and 'Side Rim Adj' are only active when the snare pad is selected as the input.
The Head-Rim Adj setting is used to set the boundary between head shots and rim shots. If a rim shot is sounded when you strike the head, adjust this parameter toward H values. If you find it difficult to play rim shots, adjust this parameter toward R values.
Side Rim Adj: This setting is for the aD-S13 snare pad, which is equipped with a wood side rim attachment for playing cross-stick sounds.
4 . TRIGGER SETUP: HIHAT PEDAL ADJ
The HIHAT PEDAL ADJ screen has a simple visualization tool that corresponds to the hi-hat's control position (open <-> closed).
The tool has a moving cursor that indicates the current position of the hi-hat controller. The player uses this tool to set the close point of the hi-hat instrument by pressing the [Set Close] button. If a non-ATV pad is used, then a [Set Open] button position is also shown and must be set. The setting Pedal HH Sens adjusts the foot-close and foot-splash volumes.
This video demonstrates the full step-by-step process of setting up and adjusting the hi-hat:
Links
aD5 Product Page: Find out more about the aD5 module
More information on ATV's hi-hat pads, the aD-H14, and aD-H12 can be found in the article 'ATV Product Focus: Hi-Hat'
If you have a question about the aD5, please get in touch using the form on our Contact Us page. You can refer to our Dealers page or Aftersales Service page to find the ATV distributor in your region.