Owner’s Manual
SPECIAL MESSAGE SECTION This product utilizes batteries or an external power supply (adapter). DO NOT connect this product to any power supply or adapter other than one described in the manual, on the name plate, or specifically recommended by Yamaha. This product may also use “household” type batteries. Some of these may be rechargeable. Make sure that the battery being charged is a rechargeable type and that the charger is intended for the battery being charged.
PRECAUTIONS PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING * Please keep these precautions in a safe place for future reference. WARNING Always follow the basic precautions listed below to avoid the possibility of serious injury or even death from electrical shock, short-circuiting, damages, fire or other hazards. These precautions include, but are not limited to, the following: • Do not open the instrument or attempt to disassemble the internal parts or modify them in any way.
Congratulations! Thank you for purchasing the Yamaha DD-55. The DD-55 has been developed to respond and play like a drum set - but with greater ease, flexibility and sophisticated functions. Before you use the instrument, we recommend that you carefully read through this manual. Contents Setting Up 5 Power Requirements .............................................5 Panel Controls 6 Recording a Song 20 Recording............................................................ 20 Playback..................
Setting Up This section contains information about setting up your DD-55 for playing. Make sure to read this section carefully before using the instrument. Power Requirements Although the DD-55 will run either from an optional AC adaptor or batteries, Yamaha recommends use of an AC adaptor whenever possible. An AC adaptor is more environmentally friendly than batteries and does not deplete resources. Using an AC Power Adaptor q Make sure that the [STANDBY/ON] switch of the DD-55 is set to STANDBY.
Panel Controls Front Panel !8 888 Pedal 2 Pedal 1 !5 !2 e q w 888 t !4 r y u i o !0 !1 !3 !7 !6 Front Panel q w e r t y u i o 6 DEMO button ......................................... 8, 25 CLICK button ............................................. 14 DISPLAY ..................................................... 10 VOLUME [▲], [▼] buttons........................... 8 HAND PERC button................................... 10 DRUM 1 - 3 buttons ...................................
Panel Controls Using a pair of headphones A standard pair of stereo headphones can be plugged in here for private practice or late-night playing. The internal stereo speaker system is automatically shut off when a pair of head phones is plugged into the PHONES/OUTPUT jack. Do not listen with the headphones at high volume for long periods of time. Doing so may cause hearing loss. Side Panel (Left) • Connect the DD-55 to external equipment only after turning off power for all devices.
Playing the Demo Song The DD-55 features a demonstration song, specially created to show you the dynamic possibilities of the instrument. 1 Turn on the power. Turn the [STANDBY/ON] switch ON. • Even when the switch is in the “STANDBY” position, electricity is still flowing to the instrument at the minimum level. When you are not using the DD55 for a long time, make sure you unplug the AC power adaptor from the wall AC outlet, and/or remove the batteries from the instrument. 2 Start the Demo Song.
Play the Pads/Pedals Strike the pad with the supplied drum sticks or your hands to play the drum voices. When playing the pads with your hands, turn the Hand Percussion feature on by pressing the [HAND PERC] button (the lamp lights). The volume of the pads’ sounds responds to your playing; when you play soft the volume is soft, and when you play strongly the volume is loud. The actual loudness of the sound may vary according to which part of the pad is struck.
Play the Pads/Pedals Hand Percussion ON/OFF You can play the pads of the DD-55 either with the supplied sticks or with your hands. 1 Press the [HAND PERC] button. When you press the [HAND PERC] button, the button’s lamp lights, and the pad sensitivity is automatically adjusted for optimum playing by hand. Hand Percussion on • When HAND PERCUSSION is on, the DD-55 automatically selects an appropriate song (#94) and kit (#29), ideal for playing by hand and using with the Hand Percussion feature.
Play the Pads/Pedals Assigning a Voice to Individual Pads and Pedals (“CU” Custom Kit) The DD-55 contains a total of 212 high quality drum sounds (see the “Drum Voice List” page 33) — and you can assign these freely to each of the 7 drum pads and 2 foot pedals. Try assigning some different voices and create your own “CU” Custom Drum Kit. • Any changes made to one of the preset drum kits will automatically be saved in the “ CU” Custom Drum Kit.
Play the Pads/Pedals Reverb ON/OFF Different depths of the DD-55’s reverb effect can be added to the DD-55’s overall sound. 1 Display the Reverb On/Off Setting. Simultaneously press the [DEMO] and [START/STOP] button to enter the MIDI/Utility mode, then press the [DRUM3] button. The current Reverb setting appears in the display. on 2 Reverb on Set the Reverb On/Off.
Play the Pads/Pedals Setting the Pad Sensitivity The DD-55 allows you to custom-set the sensitivity of the pads (range 0 - 2). When set to a value of 2, the pad sensitivity is the highest, providing the most dynamic range for your playing (softest to loudest volume). 1 Display the current pad sensitivity setting. Simultaneously press the [DEMO] and [START/STOP] button to enter the MIDI/Utility mode, then press the [HAND PERC] button. The current pad sensitivity setting appears in the display.
Play the Pads/Pedals Adjusting the Pad Volume The DD-55 lets you adjust the volume of each pad (range: L0 - L9), allowing you to set the overall balance of the kit. 1 Press and hold the [PAD] button and strike the pad whose volume you want to adjust. The corresponding pad is selected for changing volume. 2 Press and hold down the [PAD] button and simultaneously press VOLUME [▲] or [▼] to adjust the designated pad’s volume. • The default Pad volume is “ L9.
Playing a Song The DD-55 features 100 different songs that can be used to provide accompaniment. (See the “Song List” on page 35.) Select one of the songs and have listen. Select the Song and Play 1 10 Press the [SONG] button. When you press the [SONG] button, the current song number appears in the display. 2 Select a Song Number. Use the DIAL to select a song number.
Playing a Song Tap Start The Tap Start function allows you to set the song’s overall tempo as well as start the accompaniment — simply by tapping out the rhythm. The accompaniment will playback at the tempo with which the pads are struck or the pedals are pressed. 1 Press the [BREAK/TAP] button. While song playback is stopped, press the [BREAK/TAP] button. All three of the beat lamps flash, indicating the DD-55 is set to Tap Start standby.
Playing a Song 3 Exit the Auto Kit Select. Press the [DEMO] and [START/STOP] buttons simultaneously once again to exit the MIDI/Utility mode. • The Auto Kit Select is automatically set to “oFF” when the MIDI Transmit Channel setting is changed (see “Setting the MIDI Note Number” on page 28). Adjusting the Tempo The song tempo can be set anywhere from 32 to 280 beats per minute. The higher the tempo value, the faster the tempo. 1 120 Press the [TEMPO] button.
Play along with a Song Use the pads and pedals to play along with the song accompaniment. • The DD-55 can play a total of 32 notes simultaneously. That includes notes produced by song accompaniment, pads, foot pedals, and note data received through the MIDI IN jack. Track ON/OFF The DD-55’s song accompaniment consists of 4 tracks: Drum tracks 1, 2, and 3, and the Backing track.
Play along with a Song A-B Repeat If you want to practice a particular section of a song, you can specify that section’s “A” (start repeat) and “B” (end repeat) points. The accompaniment will continuously repeat between points “A” and “B” allowing you to practice between those points for as long as you like. 1 A03 Set the “A” (start repeat) point. When the song playback has reached the start of the section you want to practice, press the [A-B REPEAT] button and the “A” repeat point is set.
Recording a Song The DD-55’s Custom Song feature (song number “CU”) allows you to record and playback one original song (20000 notes approximately). Data that can be recorded in the Custom Song Mode • Drum pad and pedal data • Song data (the number cannot be changed while in the RECORD Mode) • Track ON/OFF settings • Tempo setting (The tempo cannot be changed while in the RECORD mode) • Song Volume setting Recording 1 Prepare to Record. Select the desired song, drum kit, tempo and track on/off setting.
MIDI Functions The MIDI IN and MIDI OUT terminals, located on the DD-55’s right side panel, offer broadened musical possibilities through use of MIDI. What is MIDI? What can you do with MIDI? And how can you use MIDI with the DD-55? Here are some answers to those questions... What’s MIDI? No doubt you have heard the terms “acoustic instrument” and “digital instrument.” In the world today, these are the two main categories of instruments.
MIDI Functions MIDI is an acronym that stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface, which allows electronic musical instruments to communicate with each other, by sending and receiving compatible Note, Control Change, Program Change and various other types of MIDI data, or messages. The DD-55 can control a MIDI device by transmitting note related data and various types of controller data.
MIDI Functions What You Can Do With MIDI The DD-55 also features side panel MIDI terminals (MIDI IN and MIDI OUT) as well as a comprehensive set of MIDI functions, that let you use the instrument in a variety of recording and performance applications. In all cases, make sure to properly set the MIDI Transmit Channels on the DD-55. Also make appropriate settings on the connected instruments. (Refer to the relevant owner’s manuals for details.
