Dato DRUM has two full size MIDI ports: one MIDI in and one MIDI out. You can use these to connect the DUO to other MIDI gear, such as synthesizers, MIDI keyboards or a MIDI interface on your computer.
You can also connect the DRUM to your computer for class-compliant USB MIDI, no drivers needed on Mac, Linux or Windows.
Everything described below works over USB just as it does over the physical MIDI ports.
Dato DRUM’s MIDI channel
The DRUM sends and receives MIDI on channel 10 (the General MIDI percussion standard).
Syncing with other gear
The DRUM is a MIDI clock sender by default: it sends clock and tempo out whenever it’s playing. Connect DRUM’s MIDI OUT to another device’s MIDI IN and that device will follow the DRUM’s tempo.
It also listens. As soon as the DRUM detects incoming MIDI clock on its MIDI IN, it automatically switches to receiver mode and follows that clock instead. Connect your DAW or another sequencer’s MIDI OUT to the DRUM’s MIDI IN and the DRUM will lock to it. When the external clock disappears, the DRUM will wait for a clock before continuing. If you want to resume, restart the DRUM by unplugging the power, or insert a jack into the SYNC IN socket and remove.
Transport messages work too: Start (0xFA) and Continue (0xFB) begin playback from wherever the sequencer is and Stop (0xFC) pauses it in place.
Playing samples via MIDI notes
Each of the four tracks of the DRUM has eight sample slots, mapped to consecutive MIDI note numbers starting at note 30:
- Track 1: notes 30–37
- Track 2: notes 38–45
- Track 3: notes 46–53
- Track 4: notes 54–61
For instance: if you send note 36 from a keyboard or DAW, you’ll trigger the Bass Drum on Track 1. This is handy for triggering the DRUM from another sequencer.
When the DRUM receives a note, two things happen: it plays the corresponding sample, and it sets that sample as the active selection for that track.
Velocity (1–127) controls how loud the sample plays.
Control Changes
The DRUM both sends and receives CC messages. You can automate most of the front panel from a DAW, or record your knob movements into it.
Global controls:
| Parameter | CC |
|---|---|
| Master Volume | 7 |
| Swing | 9 |
| Crush | 12 |
| Tempo | 15 |
| Random effect | 16 |
| Repeat effect | 17 |
| Filter Cutoff | 74 |
| Filter Resonance | 75 |
Per-track pitch (±1 octave, 64 = no change):
| Track | CC |
|---|---|
| Track 1 | 21 |
| Track 2 | 22 |
| Track 3 | 23 |
| Track 4 | 24 |
Note that CC 15 (Tempo) is ignored in receiver mode: when the DRUM is following an external clock, that clock controls the tempo.
When the DRUM receives tempo, the tempo knob on the DRUM can be set to match (center), double (left), or halve (right) the speed
The effect buttons (filter, crush, random, repeat) report three states: 0 = off, 63 = light press, 127 = full press.