MIDI Mapping - Marrying QFG Layout and AD2 Default

Finger Drumming Gear / Software / Setup
1

Disclaimer - I know just enough to know that I don’t know nearly enough. : )

I’m using FL Studio and Additive Drums 2 (AD2) and a Yamaha FGDP-50 pad.

I practice and play the FGDP-50 using the QfG layout. Great. No problems there.

The problems arise when I use beats from AD2 MIDIpaks. With the QFG layout, the Midipaks sound goofy because the assignments are different. When I switch the MIDI mapping from the QfG layout back to the AD2 Standard layout, all the beats sound as they should.

So how do I play along with a MIDIpak beat? Or if I create a beat as I play (using QfG layout), then how can I share it with a friend who is using the AD2 Standard layout?

Lastly, I’m a little hazy on terminology. Are these MIDI mappings, these layouts - AD2 Standard, QfG - are these also called drum racks?

Thanks for any and all insight.

Ross

2

Hey yeah, that’s an interesting problem.

there’s two ways to approach this.

  • Use the factory standard midi mapping from Addictive drums and change the midi output values of the FGDP pads so that they trigger the correct sounds. Then everything should line up.
  • Open a second track (I think you can do this in FL studio) and load a separate instance of Addictive Drums on there (with the factory pad mapping) and then drag the midi loops in there.
  • On the other track you load your addictive drums with your own pad mapping. That way you can play along.
3

thanks, rob. i’ll look into this.

you’re right about your last two points - i can have two channels, both with AD2 but separate maps on each. so i can play along.

your first point - the sharing part - is the tricky part. i’ll see what that involves and let you know how it goes.

it feels like i could use a MIDI translator in FL.

Thanks : )

4

Hey Rob,

I’m familiarizing myself with MIDI because I’m running into other issues as well. For example, if I share a midi file with a friend, and his map is different than the one I’m using, I basically have the same problem. The maps aren’t the same, so he won’t here what I hear.

As I look into it further, I guess a midi file references the MIDI KEY#, not the actual sound. So if I have a snare on Key #38, but my friend has a triangle on Key #38, when I send him a MIDI file of a drum roll, the file is going to play a drum roll on the triangle. Is that right?

If so, I think I understand your instruction - “Use the factory standard midi mapping from Addictive drums and change the midi output values of the FGDP pads so that they trigger the correct sounds.”

In AD2, the MIDI Key for the Kick is 36. Which means I want to do 2 things on the FGDP-50:

  1. Change (or confirm) that the wide bar pad at the bottom has a midi output value of 36.
  2. Assign the Kick sound (sample) to the wide bar pad.

Do I have that right?

Thanks again.

Ross

5

Yes, but step 2 should not be necessary. At that point you simply open up an addictive drums instance with the standard mapping and you should trigger the kick drum right away, since you’ve already used the correct note.

If you want to send midi files to friends who might not use addictive drums, you might want to use GM mapping since that is sort of the “general” mapping you will also find on keyboards and stuff.