a few questions on

[acoustiiks]

this was originally a PM but i figured i’d get more input on here.
im at a stand still..
i know you all must be bugged all the time about nauseating questions, and so..i have a big array of them for you too if thats okay. i also understand if you can’t answer some, but it seems like most here are intelligent and least likely to bite my head off if i am an amateur. i have read for hours and researched sites over and over, yet i still lack the ‘intake’ of skill.

i plan on buying the megadrum all in one module and building my own ekit. i have no clue how to understand the schematics for keith’s circuit or how to even get the circuit board. can you give me some tips behind it? and for any soldering done with piezoes, is the positive (ceramic) always soldered to the tip of the jack and the negative to the sleeve? or is that just for yamaha modules (or something like that, i think i read it somewhere..ugh theres so much information it’s confusing me)

with the megadrum module i want to do this

1 zone bass drum
2 zone snare (rim and main)
1 zone hi hat (plus beatniks variable pedal idea)
4x 1 zone toms
1 zone splash
1 zone china
3 zone ride
2x 3 zone crashes
1 zone percussion bar

will there be enough inputs? using keiths circuit ?
on this page ( http://www.megadrum.info/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=813 )
it says “56 trigger inputs” yet there are only 30 trs jacks in the kit, is this because each input can handle up to more than one signal? (just to better my understanding)

also, the main reason i come to you is i plan on using the pintech practice cymbal set, pfozz’s post about the 3 zone chokeable (genius by the way) cymbal, could that be done to those practice cymbals with no bit tape? or is there a problem with dullness/conductivity?

for the 2 zone snare, could keiths circuit work as well?

i plan on using this with my superior drummer. so using keith’s circuit with megadrum, for say a 3 zone cymbal-will i be able to click ‘learn’ in Superior drummer for a regular hit, and hit the cymbal as if i would normally do, then set it to learn the bell midi, then click ‘learn’ then strike the bell on the cymbal and so on? im asking because two piezos get wired into one trs jack, so megadrum must just receive a signal to that input as just a trigger signal from either piezo right? would it be able to tell each piezo apart and send a seperate midi signal even though its in two different piezos in one TRS input? how would i set it to choke, i could set the option in superior drummer to ‘choke’ and click ‘learn’ but what would i do for it to ‘learn’ to choke

oh and if that wouldn’t work, what if i just wired each piezo to its own seperate jack and its own 1/4 input on the megadrum? would that work without too much cross talk setting? just an idea but it sounds too crazy hah.

i dont want to abuse your time or mine so i think ill try ending it here lol….

thank you for your time and any reply/help you can send me way, and my apollogies for being like all the others as clueless as me

i don’t blame any of you for taking a look at this post then clicking the back button lol but if you could help me i’d appreciate it because i would love to get going on this project soon.

Topic

[PFozz]

Hi Acoustiiks,

You’re welcome !

> Inputs

The Megadrum module should have enough inputs to suit your needs (32 inputs is an amazing amount of inputs for a single module – 56 may be enough for a small electronic “tap” accordeon ^^).

> Piezos polarity

Here’s the info you need : http://www.toontrack.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=36342
(theorically, the Alesis wiring diagram should be used if your module is the Megadrum).

Note that the polarity isn’t that critical in your situation. Both wiring possibilities will work, but if you plan to buy a Roland module later, use the Roland wiring diagram since the polarity affects the positional sensing accuracy (mostly).

> could that be done to those practice cymbals with no bit tape?

(thank you for the kind words ^^)
I’m not sure about it (maybe there’s something to do with 2 practice cymbals). Though, the bitumen tape trick may work with a practice cymbal but AFAIK, it’s never been tested.

> for the 2 zone snare, could keiths circuit work as well?

Yes, no problem.

> Superior (learn function)

According to the Megadrum home page, the module “Supports 3 zone Roland style cymbals (e.g. CY-12/CY-15)”, so your home made cymbals (featuring Keith’s circuit) should work.
Actually, a Roland 3 zone cymbal works as 2 combined dual triggers and needs 2 dual inputs :

For example, we have :

Input 1 <- Bow (Tip/Sleeve) + Bell (Ring/Sleeve)
Input 2 <- Bow (Tip/Sleeve) + Edge (Ring/Sleeve)

The velocity is always computed from the bow zone signal (tip/sleeve).
Then the state of the “switches” (bell/edge – ring/sleeve couples) indicates which zone is hitted and one of the 2 inputs is ignored depending on the hitted zone :

Bell=Off + Edge=Off : Bow zone -> the module sends the note assigned to the Input #1 Bow zone.
Bell=On + Edge=Off : Bell zone -> the module sends the note assigned to the Input #1 Bell zone.
Bell=Off + Edge=On : Edge zone -> the module sends the note assigned to the Input #2 Edge zone.

(as you can see, there’s no need to assigned a note to the Input #2 bow zone and finally, we have 3 different notes to assign – one for each zone)

All of this also shows why it is so critical to insulate each zone from each other if your 3 zone cymbal is built around 3 piezos and 2 Keith’s circuits.
If the bow and/or edge zone are too “sensible”, you won’t be able to trigger the bow zone and if they are sensible enough to be triggered whereever the cymbal is hitted, you’ll get 2 notes (bell+edge) on each hit !

> Choke function

A “choke” is usually translated to a MIDI “Key Aftertouch” message (reading the Megadrum home page, this module may send a CC instead – to be verified)
This key aftertouch message contains a note number which is the same as the note assigned to the chokeable zone.
The Superior 2 “Envelope” feature is what you need to “choke” cymbals from a key aftertouch message.
For Superior 1, please check the “Fade (out)” feature.

> what if i just wired each piezo to its own seperate jack and its own 1/4 input on the megadrum? would that work without too much cross talk setting?

I wish it could work this way but unfortunately, it won’t 😉

Best regards.

www.eareckon.com

[Author]

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