Is there anything an iPad can’t do? Alesis are certainly enamoured with the tablet’s design, as at NAMM 2012 they’ve debuted their crafty DMDock, an outer-shell casing that allows you to hook up triggers and pads of your choice directly to your iPad.
Alesis DM Dock Drum Module
It makes a great deal of sense for a lot of drummers who already own acoustic triggers, dual-zone drumpads and triple-zone cymbals, but would prefer an interface that’s particularly easy to both see and navigate around.
As well as inputs for your triggers, there’s a headphone out, a 1/8” mix input and balanced 1/4” stereo outs, so you can very much use this as a setup for professional gigs if you so choose. For the studio, there are USB and MIDI connections and an assignable footswitch in. The latter will come in handy for, for instance, switching drum sets or of course triggering an extra sample as necessary.
Of course, the iPad is wirelessly connected to the internet, which will make downloading new drum samples and effects a doddle – while that might seem a little OTT, it will certainly be helpful in the studio when you suddenly decide you want a specific sound, or when you feel that the size of room your gigging in could use a more contextual reverb.
It obviously also charges your iPad as well so there won’t be power issues, and with an addition mount can fit snugly to stands and racks. It’s a solution that will likely be appealing to electronic drummers who have become used to touchscreen navigation. If you’re already in possession of an iPad, the DM Dock is a bit of a no-brainer.
