You are missing the point 
The goal is to NOT use a computer at all, No DAW, no mouse, no screen.
OK but lauchpad + FGDP is kind of ruining the concept of the FGDP portability / ease of access on principle, isnāt it?
Anyway, just saying, Iām happy with my FGDP-30 used on its own and my practice is going pretty well despite the ājust decentā pads 
1 Like
I donāt think you are really understanding my idea. The idea here is to use the yamaha FGDP as a drum sound source, to sequence steps on the Launchpad pro mk3.
You can build a drum pattern, that gets sequenced by the Launchpad (imagine Launchpad is Ableton, but limited to 4 tracks), and then you can sequence a bass synth on track 2, and then you put some piano chords on track 3, and finally you jam live with your trumpet or electric guitar on top of all of that.
All without the need of a computer.
Check this video. It shows drum sequencing on the Launchpad.
And btw, the Launchpad pro mk3 is as portable as the FGDP, and Iāve used it before in the wild connected to my phone (it can operate together with the Novation app, and itās powered by phone battery, but can dry the battery very quickly, unless you have a power bank).
And here is another example of sequencing another hardware instrument using the Launchpad pro mk3
Edit: sorry, he is actually sequencing VSTs in this example 
, but you can get the point
Well I thought you wanted to play the FGDP with the pads of the launchpad but youāre not, you want to sequence it, without computer -fine.
I donāt want to argue about it, to each one his own approach.
Personally, I dropped long ago the idea to make (serious) music while travelling without a computer, thereās just nothing that match the power of a DAW in such a small footprint as a laptop + small sound card (which is not that big when we think about it, Launchpad+FGDP+other instruments would probably be as big of a setup as a laptop, if not more).
When travelling, I use a small app on my phone to build the core of a track around a few chords progressions and arpegios and very cheap/crappy sounds. If it works / is catchy, I then use the MIDI files and work it out in my DAW with good VST or my hardware setup.
FGDP simply opens up for a real practice while travelling (i.e. iām the sequencer), but no intention to actually build tracks with it, just simple practice thatās it.
Good luck with your project but at first glance, I am slightly doubtful. Surprise me 
1 Like
Well, Iām afraid that itās very unlikely that you can use both devices standalone and connect them together. What the Launchpad Pro Mk3 offers as MIDI out is very likely not the same as the full USB protocol over which MIDI is sent.
And if you just take the USB inputs of both devices - both likely assume that they are connected with a true host like a computer. I think itās the connected computer where the actual conversion of USB data into MIDI takes place.
The cable you linked is for converting USB to audio signals, not MIDI signals.
But I do understand why this would be nice as a portable, computerless setup.
1 Like
Yeah. You are probably right. I was afraid of that 
I absolutely understand why the FGDP is a great traveling companion fot practicing and agree with you on that
I myself used the Launchpad+iPhone as a portable practicing device.
Before I proceed let me just point out, that I donāt consider this āarguingā. I would like to say we are more like exchanging ideas, experiences and personal workflows.
For you to fully understand where I come from, and why, I should tell you that, as a classical trained musician (when younger), I am not very happy about using computers and I specially hate the mouse. Reaching the mouse cuts my workflow, interrupts my creativity and making music stops being fun and becomes really tedious. The mouse demotivates me. I like being spontaneous, to build stuff fast as I go, like if I am improvising, layers on top of layers. Thatās the main reason why I got a Maschine+ too. Itās a DAW, itās kind of a computer, but doesnāt have a mouse and I am still learning itās workflow, but itās pretty fluid for me (unlike the mouse).
I will of course use a computer to mix/master and polish ideas, but I want to avoid it as much as possible.
My interest about step sequencing the FGDP with the Launchpad was more like a curiosity, and if possible, it could make a nice alternative setup (+ a cheap behringer synth). Only recently I started to explore being DAWless and I am just considering options.
And yes, itās possible to make entire albums without a DAW using hardware only. Just ask the Eurorack guys 
1 Like
[OFF TOPIC POST -sorry Rob weāre going sideways! Magic of forums and passion about music I guess]
Yeah no worries! I should have used the word āquestioningā rather than arguing
I totally hear you about the wish to get away from the mouse.
I did start my musical journey with sound design, a mouse and a computer and stuck to it for way too long. Only a few years back I started to actually play my keyboard and got such a different feel from simply let your fingers and your hears guide you rather than thinking about where I should place my notes.
I actually started a track this evening completely haphazardly while testing a new beautiful analog delay that reached me yesterday, along with my trusty Vermona MARS mono synthā¦ and few notes played and the magic just happened, inspiration came by itself and the backbone of the track was here in a few minutes. That is just not happening with a mouse
FGDP / finger drumming get me to the same feeling with percussions -even though iām still too bad to actually get to something for now but Iāll get there thanks to regular practice and Robās lessons 
I just know it will bring a massive something to my productions. Harmony and chords are a side of the music coin, rhythm is the other one.
And Iām a very, very convinced modular guy, Iām into it since 2 decades and I did entire (mostly experimental but not only) tracks with it only
Iām also trying to do as much as I can using feelings rather than thinking and hardware gear is immensly helpful with this so weāre really on the same page.
I hope that my practice of finger drumming will help me
Itās just that I never found a real good āmusic & travelsā portable setup apart from what i described above that does get me some results some time to time. I tried many optionsā¦ tablets/phones, TE OP-1, MPC and a few other stuff but none were satisfying to me so I kept it simple and focused on just harmony and chordsā¦
And lastly, we will argue about behringer, it is evil 
(kidding, but clearly iāll never buy these stuff even though I understand itās cool for people who donāt have much budget to allocate to music).
1 Like
Ahahahah. Yeah, letās not talk much about behringer, although I only recently learned about all the āscandalsā. I donāt really pay much attention to music politics. For the record, I donāt even own (yet) any behringer product, but I think they are ideal to bring to a friendās wild party where some times itās raining beer 
yeah! Or to crash it on the ground like rock guitarists sometimes do in concerts
The day Iām really good at finger drumming, Iāll do that with my FGDP-30 after an epic performance, for the glory! 
1 Like
Do you think we can split this topic in two ?
I would like to add data too, not related to FGDP
I use a Zynthian, with a Launchpad X and Drumgizmo (and others stuff)
It sound great, and I can make music with it. It not a daw yet butā¦ It nearly is.
Potentially going off topic here, but this thread got me to the point that I wanted to try out an used Maschine Mk3 to see if Iām missing out (now that I returned my FGDP-50 due to pad sensitivity inconsistencies).
So, I really like the hardware quality of this device, the size of the pads and that it comes with dedicated rotary knobs and a footswitch pedal.
But with the pads, Iām having an issue where Iām not sure if itās due to the āusedā nature of the device: If I play fast triggers on the the same pad with two fingers (e.g. for the toms), some triggers are frequently not registered. I didnāt have this problem with the large FGDP pads. Or is this something you need to develop some technique to get this more reliable? (I followed your tip to disable Aftertouch)
Other than this, I can see why you like this device so much @Robert_Mathijs
Btw. Iām totally unsure whether I prefer the toms now on top or the FGDP-50 layout. Maybe this is mostly what youāre used to, but I lean toward the FGDP-50 take on this - mostly because itās symmetrical. But on a 4x4 pad layout, having them on top is probably the only good option.
Trying to hit one pad with two fingers seems to be a no go on a lot of pad controllers, including Maschine. People who do the finger rolls will usually swap the side stick pad(s) for another snare and to it that way. I myself just go for the uncomfortable position where my left hand had to go a little bit under my right hand so I can hit both snare pads with a finger roll.
And symmetrical tom layout makes a lot of sense. Itās just hard to keep playing the hi hat that way. Most drummers would keep playing the hi hat with their foot when playing the toms.
1 Like
Iām kind of happy thereās enough banter going on on the messageboards that itās even possible to go off topic haha
2 Likes
Ok thanks - your take on this helps a lot.
But am I wrong in the impression that the FGDP-50 kick pad and snare pad handle it rather well (better than Maschine Mk3) when you play with two finger on them fast?
If I play fast with 2 different hands, I get that on my Maschine+, and itās probably due to my lack of practice. I canāt seem to have a good enough cadence for the Maschine to always recognize 2 taps.
But if I try and play fast with the same hand but 2 different fingers, I can get all the triggers.
(Video is sloppy and for illustration purposes only and will expire in 2 days)
2 Likes
Hey man, thanks for sharing. I never heard of Zinthian and it looks pretty awesome. I will do more research about it, since I am looking for portable synths atm. The Roland S-1 seems to be a great fit for me and for granular synthesis I am considering the Sonicware Liven Texture Lab.
I am a bit afraid about DIY synth stuff though. I can handle gardening, carpentry, construction etc, but when it comes to delicated stuff I am a troll. I f*cked up when I assembled my Korg NTS-1 - I basically damaged the audio output and now I only have mono output, and I should have stereo 
But will definitely have a listen to YouTube reviews. Thanks
Also wanted to add my thanks to those who have mentioned the Zinthian. Didnāt know of its existence until earlier today. Though if I understand things correctly, itās not exactly a small investment. Based on what I read on the Zinthian website, it looks like the all-in cost could exceed $500? However, I donāt know how its capabilities would compare to a pre-built brand name synth.