Updating Alesis DM5 drum machine firmware

I recently updated the firmware on my Alesis DM5. The update has been around for ages, but I didn’t have the interface between the DM5 and my PC. I was in limbo about it all – I was looking at the Midiman Midisport 2×2 but I felt a bit aggrieved spending some thirty quid on something I was likely to use once. (I already have a M-Audio Pro 44 keyboard that hooks the kit in to my PC.) I finally bit the bullet and trusty old eBay turns up a nice and cheap USB Midi interface – I was dubious about something for £0.98 – whether it would really work.

Well, it did – no issues at all. You don’t need to spend £30 just to get this working!

On OSX, the process is dead simple. With the interface plugged in to your Mac and the DM5, and the DM5 switched on:

1) Download Sysex Librarian
2) Download the DM5 firmware update
3) Unpack the firmware update
4) Launch SysEx librarian
5) If your interface is working OK, you’ll see “USB cable” in the list of sources
6) Click Add, and add the downloaded update file
7) Ignore the warning message
Press play
9) It will start transferring the files to your DM5; the screen on the DM5 will change
10) Wait, and cross fingers

After that, the DM5 has been updated.

The pros of the update are more than the cons. The triggers are more responsive and there’s seems to be far less crosstalk between the triggers, and they seem to work far better with Surge cymbals. The major cons are that you have to reset any custom changes you’ve made which is a bit of a drag – and although there are all new kits on there, they’re all a bit weird. One of the defaults is a quite nice “double kick” – where the input for the hi-hat is converted to a kick sound, so you can double kick if you want.

Ultimately though, it seems like it’s worth doing.

DM5 pro kit

Non drinking, non smoking fun

So today marks the start of a self-inflicted detox of sorts. Quit smoking for good, stop drinking for at least January, and aiming for as long as possible.

I’m good at this stuff. I’ve quit smoking loads of time in the past.

P.S Happy New Year.
P.P.S It might seem a weird day to start, most people might have started on the 1st. My excuse is I had loads of booze and fags left, and despite wanting to quit that stuff, I couldn’t bring myself to throw it away. I think that’s fair enough.

We are the mushrooms.

So remember I mentioned the CI Cup? Well, we won. That’s right. Oh yes.

Writeups: here and here.

And yet more coverage in the Guernsey Press, where I somehow found my ugly mug (albeit in fortunately low-resolution) on both the front and back pages.

Awesome.

P.S. Fcking get in there!

Famous. Again.

Ahh, the pressures of being a cricketing supergod. Perhaps not.

But still, it’s always nice to get written up in the paper. ESPECIALLY when they get your name right. (Third time lucky.)

She’s healed!

Bad: Spilling half a can of Stella Artois on your bluetooth Mac keyboard. Said keyboard then starts functioning erratically. Then stops functioning.
Good: Go away for a couple of days, and on return find that the keyboard is once again working exactly as it should.

Moral of the story: Don’t spill beer on electrical items. Do use a Mac.

Maria Sharapova, on hearing…

… that I got my PhD and that I’m single.

Someone give her my email address. Thanks.

We are go for detox

Well why not. I’ve abused my body for long enough now that a little clean out is in order. No booze, fags, caffeine and for some reason this time no nuts or crisps. Bizarre. See you in 4 weeks.

Eek.