Getting Started
All drum kits work with the Melodics iPhone app. If you’re having trouble connecting your drums or if Melodics can’t detect them, follow these steps:
Setup a New Device
If your drum kit isn’t already connected and selected:Tap “Setup new device” in the Settings tab.
Choose between Electronic, Acoustic kit, or Practice Pad.
If you selected Electronic, pick your drum brand and model from the list of supported options. If your drums aren’t listed, select “Other”—all drum kits are compatible with Melodics.
Test Your Audio
The app will test your audio to ensure you can hear sound. For more guidance on audio setup, view this guide. Note: Avoid using Bluetooth headphones or speakers due to latency, which will cause delays between hitting the drum and hearing sound.Connect Your Drums
There are multiple methods for connecting your electronic drums. The best method depends on which Drum Kit you are using. View the options below ⬇️
Connecting Your Electronic Drums
Almost all electronic drum kits will be able to connect to Melodics via MIDI. What is MIDI? MIDI is a protocol which allows electronic instruments to communicate with Melodics, so the app can interpret your playing, provide feedback, and trigger sounds in real time.
Method 1: USB MIDI Setup (works for all drum kits)
Suitable for all drums with USB connections (click to expand)
Suitable for all drums with USB connections (click to expand)
Alesis (USB 2.0 connection recommended where possible.)
Carlsbro
Donner
Roland
Simmons
Yamaha
and many more...
Connect your drum kit to your iPhone using a USB connection.
You’ll need a USB adapter/hub compatible with your iPhone (Lightning or USB-C). Ideally, use an adapter that allows for headphone connections as well as USB.
Important: Not all USB adapters transmit MIDI signals, some USB connections are only for charging. If your USB adapter has a lightning symbol, it might be for charging only and not suitable for Melodics. Check compatibility or go with one of these adapters:
Method 2: Bluetooth MIDI Setup
Suitable for drums with Bluetooth MIDI capability (click to expand)
Suitable for drums with Bluetooth MIDI capability (click to expand)
Alesis Strata Prime
Roland TD-02 series (with BT-DUAL adapter sold separately)
Roland TD-07 series
Roland TD-17 series (excluding TD17K-L)
Roland TD-27 series
Simmons Titan 20
Simmons Titan 50
Simmons Titan 70
Simmons Titan SD1250
Some drum kits support Bluetooth MIDI, a low-latency protocol for sending MIDI data wirelessly. (Note: Bluetooth MIDI is not to be confused with Bluetooth audio.)
Click "Connect via Bluetooth" in Melodics settings and follow the in-app instructions to pair your drum kit with your phone using Bluetooth MIDI. ⚠️ Do not connect your kit via Bluetooth in iOS settings — this will initiate a Bluetooth audio connection which is not used for MIDI connectivity.
Method 3: USB Audio and MIDI Setup
Suitable for some drums with USB connections (click to expand)
Suitable for some drums with USB connections (click to expand)
Carlsbro D25M
Carlsbro D35M
Carlsbro D45M
Simmons Titan 20
Simmons Titan 50
Simmons Titan 70
Simmons Titan SD1250
Yamaha DTX402 Series
Yamaha DTX6 / DTX8 / DTX PRO
Yamaha DTX10 / DTX PROX
Certain drum kits allow for both audio and MIDI transmission over a single USB connection.
For these kits, connect to your iPhone using a USB adapter/hub. No separate audio connection is required—Melodics will transmit audio directly to your drum module. You can then connect your headphones or speakers to your drum module instead of your phone.
Calibrating Your Acoustic Drums
Go to Settings and under “Input device,” choose “Acoustic Drums.”
Follow the steps to calibrate your acoustic drums.
Test Your Audio
The app will test your audio to ensure you can hear sound. For more guidance on audio setup, view this guide. Note: Avoid using Bluetooth headphones or speakers due to latency, which will cause delays and timing issues when playing lessons.Calibrate each drum:
Follow the prompts and hit your drums multiple times until each component of your kit turns green.
You can re-calibrate your kit anytime by going back to Settings. For more guidance, check out the acoustic drums calibration guide.
Troubleshooting: Drums Not Detected
If Melodics can't find a connected MIDI drum kit, try these solutions:
Check Your USB Connection: Ensure the USB cable is properly connected.
Try a Different USB Cable or Adapter: Use a different cable or adapter. Not all adapters/hubs transmit MIDI signals, so use the recommended ones listed above.
Disconnect Other Bluetooth Devices: If connecting via Bluetooth MIDI, disconnect or remove other Bluetooth devices to prevent interference.
Restart Your iPhone: This can resolve any temporary software issues.
Close Other Applications: Other apps running in the background might interfere with your drum kit’s connection.
Factory Reset Your Drums: Reset your drums to factory settings. Refer to your drum kit’s manual or check this guide for instructions.