street priceThe Alesis DM5 is a professional drum sound module and the successor to the popular D4, maintaining much of its predecessor's hardware and operational architecture while introducing significant updates. Unlike conventional drum machines, the DM5 functions purely as a drum sound generator without an on-board rhythm sequencer, designed to be triggered via MIDI, drum pads, contact microphones, or even off-tape drum sounds.
The module excels in versatility, offering comprehensive external triggering capabilities that rival dedicated pad-to-MIDI converters. The trigger system accommodates sophisticated performance techniques, including a specialized hi-hat footswitch mode that accurately reproduces open, closed, and closing hi-hat sounds with proper voice grouping to ensure closed hi-hats naturally cut off open ones. The crosstalk elimination system has been redesigned from the D4, now offering individual adjustment for each pad rather than relying on a frame-mounted pickup.
Sound-wise, the DM5 delivers exceptional audio quality through 18-bit DACs operating at a 48kHz sample rate. The module houses over 550 sounds organized into eight categories, with many samples recorded in stereo with natural ambience. The dynamic articulation feature allows sounds to respond differently based on velocity, creating realistic performance nuances particularly evident in instruments like castanets, congas, and ethnic drums where playing technique significantly affects timbre.
A standout innovation is the Random sound mode, featuring 15 specially programmed sounds that either cycle through multiple variations of the same instrument (like hi-hats playing slightly different samples each time) or trigger complementary sounds in random order (such as various ethnic drums creating rhythmic accents). This ensures that sequenced parts never sound exactly the same on repeated playback, adding organic variation to programmed performances.
The sound library spans an impressive range, from heavy metal to jazz acoustic drums, comprehensive electronic sounds, contemporary rave and dance stabs, and an extensive collection of world music instruments including tablas, urdu, bolan, American Indian drums, and talking drums. Special effects sounds include Kung Fu punches, whipcracks, techno scratches, and industrial metallic hits.
The updated front panel features new illuminated switches and a more comprehensive display that shows which trigger pad is being hit, along with a VU-style meter for adjusting sensitivity. The Note Chase mode automatically displays parameters for the currently accessed sound, streamlining the editing workflow.
All 21 on-board kits can be fully modified or overwritten, with factory settings preserved in ROM for easy restoration. Kits are changeable via front panel or MIDI program change commands, and can be saved using MIDI SysEx dumps. A program table facility allows kits to be called up by any desired MIDI program change number.
The DM5 offers 16-note polyphony, which can be expanded through an overflow function allowing multiple units to be chained together for shared polyphony. Dual stereo output pairs (Main and Auxiliary) provide flexible routing options, with independent level and pan settings for each sound within a kit. The comprehensive trigger setup parameters include individual pad sensitivity, dynamic response curves, retrigger delay times, and extensive crosstalk cancellation controls.
| Usage area | |
|---|---|
| Percussion Synthesizer | |
| Rhytm/ Drum Machine | |
| Sound Module/ Tone Generator | |
| Usage Design/ Form Factor | |
| Rackmount, 1U | |
| Archetype | |
| Digital (D) | |
| Case/ body | |
| Metal | |
| Color | |
| Black | |
| Production start | 1995 |
| Production ended | |