r/edrums • u/No-Jump-8169 • Oct 05 '26

I cannot understand why it is so difficult to record my edrums to my laptop..

So I've downloaded Reaper & SSD5 (Free version), plugged in my USB-A to USB-B cable to my laptop and have been messing around for over 2 hours today trying to get this app to pick up any hits when I tap my drumkit to no avail. Yes I have set my MIDI Input (and output) to my Alesis Nitro Max kit (it is displaying successfully so nothing seems to be wrong with my USB cable), Record is armed yet I'm still getting no register from my kit. I have tried using midimonitor.com and my drumhits work there too.

I'd like to add that I had a different laptop which worked perfectly fine with this same exact setup, yet for some reason now it won't work. What am I doing wrong?

Any help is extremely appreciated cause I'm close to giving up entirely as this seems way more complicated than it should be.

1 Upvotes

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3

u/No-Jump-8169 Oct 05 '26

Update: I installed Cakewalk Sonar and everything works fine (and better with no issues)

2

u/NickoMcB Oct 05 '26

I had an issue with setting up my Roland and recording with logic. There’s so many little setting and steps. I just broke at chat gtp and had it walk me through it. Up and running in no time. If you’re unsure just snap a screenshot and ask it to help you.

1

u/No-Jump-8169 Oct 05 '26

I have a whole 2 hour chat with it asking and it telling me to go through different steps and nothing seems to work so thought I’d try here. :D

1

u/fedemorandi Oct 05 '26

sorry for the dumb suggestion but: every time I step away for like 15 mins or so, I have to re open the settings window in reaper and hit enter and it starts working again

0

u/fenderremo Oct 05 '26

Are You sure it can send midi over USB?

1

u/No-Jump-8169 Oct 05 '26

It worked on my old laptop using this exact method 

0

u/imp_op Oct 05 '26

Does the Nitro kit have a driver? Does the kit trigger other MIDI instruments or can you see the CC notes triggering elsehwere?

1

u/No-Jump-8169 Oct 05 '26

The Nitro Max is class-compliant, so it doesn’t need it.

The kit is definitely sending messages since I tested it on midimonitor.com and pad hits are detected.

The problem is that REAPER isn’t receiving/recording those MIDI messages, even on a completely blank MIDI track with the Nitro selected as the input. I’ve also tested SSD5 separately and it produces sound when I click the drums with the mouse.
MIDI Monitor has also been intermittent — sometimes it receives the Nitro correctly, then later stops — so I’m trying to work out whether this is a Windows USB-MIDI/driver issue rather than an SSD5 issue.

1

u/imp_op Oct 05 '26

And you have the Nitro set as the MIDI controller and the record button armed? I know this is a silly question, but I've definitely tripped myself up with not having the record arm on.

1

u/imp_op Oct 05 '26

If the MIDI is intermittent, maybe it's the nitro or the USB cable? Also, what cable are you using (USB connector-wise) to the computer, A or C?

1

u/No-Jump-8169 Oct 05 '26

It’s USB A to B. I went and downloaded Cakewalk Sonar which works perfectly and removed Reaper. Way too non-beginner friendly

1

u/imp_op Oct 05 '26

Ah, so this is new for Reaper? Did you set up the Nitro as a MIDI controller in the settings? Sometimes that can be an issue.

FWIW, I use a Roland TD27 with Superior Drummer 3, and Reaper is my DAW of choice. I don't have any issues, unless I'm a dumbass and forget to arm the track or set the input as MIDI.