Retrokits Boss DR-110 MIDI Modification (RK-110)

Published on Jan 30, 2020 Retrokits

"A quick visual guide for building in the Retrokits RK110 into the BOSS DR110 drumcomputer.

Below an excerpt from the RK110 manual:

RK-110 SETUP MODE
Once the RK-110 is built in, it will auto-slave the internal sequencer to a MIDI clock and has mapped the DR-110 in a 'General MIDI Drum mode'-fashion. This means a standard note mapping, receiving on MIDI Channel 10:

Sound MIDI Key:
AC 37
BD 36
SD 38
HH 46
OH 42
CY 49
CP 39
If you have special needs for integrating the DR-110 in your setup; Pressing the SHIFT+STOP button on the DR-110 for more than 1 second will enter the RK-110 in Setup Mode. It will sound the DR-110 Clap 2 times to indicate it's setup time.
Setup Mode will exit after a non-active period of 9 seconds. You will hear a Cymbal if it times out. You can manually exit the Setup Mode any time by pressing the STOP button as well.

SHIFT Pad : Global MIDI Response Channel
Pressing SHIFT in setup mode allows you to quickly remap the RK-110 response channel to any MIDI Channel (default=10)

After pressing SHIFT, subsequently press any key on a connected MIDI device. If the channel is set, you will hear 2x Clap sound, if it has timed out, you will hear 2x Kickdrum. Note that this channel will override all previous set channel definitions via the individual sounds.

AC-BD-SD-CH-OH-CY-CP Pads: MIDI Drum Notes and Program Change
As mentioned before, all sounds (Accent, BD, SD, CH, OH, CY and CP) are mapped out by default on General MIDI Drum channel mapping on MIDI Channel 10, however, these keys can also be trained to respond to a specific MIDI Key/Channel.

A special note on the ACCENT Key:
ACCENT is a track on the DR-110 which boosts the sound if it's activated and it also sends out pulses to external hardware. With the RK-110 you can trigger ACCENT in two ways:
1 - Send any drum sound with velocity above 120 will trigger an ACCENT 2 - Pressing the ACCENT Key (default C#)
Note that any sound with a high velocity will trigger the ACCENT for all sounds!

BANK Pad : Train Program Change MIDI Channel + base offset
The first received MIDI Progam Change Event hereafter will set the Program change MIDI Channel + Base Program Change offset (you can also start sending MIDI Program Changes from e.g. nr 40 only to affect the DR110 pattern changes) Note that MIDI channel change for this event will not change MIDI Note On reception which trigger drum parts.
REMARK:
The Accent level of the sound is a fixed setting defined by the note velocity. Any note played with velocity 100 or above will trigger the DR-110 Accent level. Note that the DR-110 has only one global Accent level for every sound.

1-8 Pads: RK-110 Global / MIDI RX Settings
The number 1-8 pads on the DR-110 are used to toggle settings and will trigger a sound to indicate it's state:
2x Kickdrum = setting off 2x Clap = setting on

PATTERN BUTTONS:
1 = RX MIDI Start/Stop
Defines if the DR-110 internal sequencer will start and run along with MIDI clock automatically
2 = RX MIDI Program Change Messages
Defines if the DR-110 will do pattern changes on MIDI Program Change messages.
3 = RX note triggers
Defines if the DR-110 will trigger sounds on MIDI Note On messages.
4 = User Pattern A1 on startup.
If you want to start at user pattern A1 (instead of the ROM C1 pattern at default) this setting will send two bank-buttons at startup so the DR-110 will move on to A1 at startup. This can be handy if you want a blank pattern at startup.
5 = Remote control key area
On top of the default (but redefinable) GM Drum mapping on channel 10 we have also mapped out all DR-110 buttons on note numbers 100-119 on MIDI Channel 10. You can use this area to do full automation of the DR-110. We think it is not in the way of your MIDI mapping but should that be the case: use button 5 to toggle this reception on/off.
6,7 = reserved
8 = RK-110 Factory Defaults
Messed up your settings? - press this button and settings will be restored to default. Factory Reset is confirmed by 6 handclaps"