[fulrmr]

I like internal. Of course my Pearls will never be acoustics again so..that may be a consideration. For $60 I’d get them and see if I liked them or not. They seem cheap enough if they work. If you don’t like them, there are lots of internal DYI trigger set ups out there. I bought some that were not much more expensive than that to start out with. The snare had a rim trigger to boot!

DYI Acoustic Pearl Forums 7 piece conversion, 56 Input MegaDrum, Roland TD-3, Alesis D4, AMD Phenom x4 9650 (2.4GHz) Quad Core, 8g RAM,

[fulrmr]

ORIGINAL: bakerboy

I’m also very interested in converting my acoustic set to a triggered set with mesh heads.  From reading this forum, this is what I’d planned on doing:

1. Put mesh heads on my drums (not sure what brand and also not sure about the bass drum – suggestions??)
2. Get triggers for the mesh heads (again, not sure what type – is there a way to do the dual-zone triggering with a DIY setup like this?  what about the ability to trigger the snare with the same sensitivity as a Roland or Hart Dynamics pad??)
3. Replace my acoustic cymbals with some e-cymbals (was thinking the Ecymbal II pack from Hart Dynamics)
4. Run the triggers through a TMI (the Alesis Trigger IO maybe?  any suggestions?)
5. Run that TMI into my computer via USB and use EZ Drummer. 

I need clarification on these things mainly:

[*]What mesh heads to buy and how to trigger them for sensitive, responsive playing (what triggers to buy and how to implement them)
[*]How to convert an acoustic snare to a triggered, mesh head snare that has the same range of sensitivity
[*]Suggestions on a TMI to run these triggers through to my PC
[*]Any other thoughts on this setup to alleviate latency (upgraded soundcard I’m sure)

Buying a whole Roland or Hart kit just isn’t possible for me right now, but I need to be able to practice silently and I have an acoustic kit that’s just collecting dust most of the time. 

This forum is great!!  Very glad I found it (and the Toontracks products)

-Chris

 
everything your looking to do (Triggers cymbals etc.), you can find on the vdrums.com  forum.
 
my personal opinion on heads is that you can’t beat Hart Dynamics Magnums. They seem to be bullet proof. I can go through Pearl mesh heads in just a few weeks. Maybe I’m just a heavy hitter, but I’ve had the Magnums on my snare for months with very little sign of wear.
 
As far as cymbals go…convert your acoustics unless they are extremely expensive. If they are, purchase a set of B8s or something in that price range and buy some pre-made 2z or 3zone triggers on them, if you don’t feel up to building some. Tha’ts what I did. Assembly was painless and the rewards are great! They feel, sound and look GREAT! Oh and they were only about half the cost of buying a brand name set. Especially if you already have an old set acoustics to use.
 
Have fun. I love my A to E kit!

DYI Acoustic Pearl Forums 7 piece conversion, 56 Input MegaDrum, Roland TD-3, Alesis D4, AMD Phenom x4 9650 (2.4GHz) Quad Core, 8g RAM,

[fulrmr]

Well, so much for moving slow. The Acronis software i used to make my partition ate my pc! I had to order new OS software from HP just to get it back to factory specs. Still waiting for them to arrive. What a nightmare! Never giving up though.

DYI Acoustic Pearl Forums 7 piece conversion, 56 Input MegaDrum, Roland TD-3, Alesis D4, AMD Phenom x4 9650 (2.4GHz) Quad Core, 8g RAM,

[fulrmr]

Oh, just an update. I took the plunge. I purchased a desk top instead of the laptop. More bang for the buck. Quad core AMD Phenom, 8 gigs of RAM, 750g hard drive. It came with Vista Home Premium 64bit. (I figured S2.0 will go 64bit eventually) I’m in the process of partitioning and installing a 32 bit os to run S2.0. Not exactly up my alley so I’m moving slow and trying to get all the info I can so I don’t screw something up. The case is small and lite so it won’t be that much of a hassle lugging it around. I figured gamers do it, so why can’t I. Once I get the os on I’ll boot up S2.0 and get it registered so I can start the the next step of my quest.

DYI Acoustic Pearl Forums 7 piece conversion, 56 Input MegaDrum, Roland TD-3, Alesis D4, AMD Phenom x4 9650 (2.4GHz) Quad Core, 8g RAM,

[fulrmr]

The midi merger sounds like the ticket! I was thinking of using one of those to link my TD-3 and D4 together to give me the amount of inputs that i wanted until I could get my TD-20 this summer. I was also thinking of maybe linking two Alesis i/Os together via usb this way and then outputting the signal via midi directly into my FireBox instead of using my D4 just so I could have some updated equipment in my signal path. Then out to my PA. Not sure if this will work though.

DYI Acoustic Pearl Forums 7 piece conversion, 56 Input MegaDrum, Roland TD-3, Alesis D4, AMD Phenom x4 9650 (2.4GHz) Quad Core, 8g RAM,

[fulrmr]

Thanks. I guess I didn’t even think about the search and I have no idea what “64 buffers” are. I’ll try the seach. Thanks again.

DYI Acoustic Pearl Forums 7 piece conversion, 56 Input MegaDrum, Roland TD-3, Alesis D4, AMD Phenom x4 9650 (2.4GHz) Quad Core, 8g RAM,

[fulrmr]

I have a 7 piece Smokey Chrome Pearl Forum set. 8″, 10″, 12″, 14″, 16″ Toms, 22″x16″ Kick and standard 14″ matching snare. All rack mounted. DW 5002AD3 Accelorator pedal. Gibraltar/ Hart Dynamics Hybrid Rack (just stuff I put together because I had it). All converted with internal triggers, Hart Dynamics Magnum mesh heads(Pearls don’t last) REMO Muffl Sound Control (cut out to various sizes depending on the tom size – this cuts back on cross talk and double triggering) Alesis D4, Roland TD-3 modules. Various Hart Dynamics Ecymbals, a couple of Traps cymbals, some Alesis Surge cymbals on the way and a variable hi-hat cntoller that mounts to a standard hi-hat stand. No pictures right now. Need to take some. I have only about $1500 in the kit. Got my triggers form this site. http://www.musiciansnearyou.com/ The are just as responsive as my Hart Dynamics pads. Even the HH trigger is very responsive. All In all there less half the price of the external triggers on the market. I installed everything in about an hour for the whole kit. I also save ALOT of $ by using windshield washer tubing for rim guards. Don’t laugh, it I split on it’s natural curve with a razor and it fits like a glove and stays put. Not olny that, it looks GREAT and is only about 25 cents a foot! I did my whole kit for about $8.00! Getting ready to go the software route (S2.0) as soon as I upgrade my laptop.

DYI Acoustic Pearl Forums 7 piece conversion, 56 Input MegaDrum, Roland TD-3, Alesis D4, AMD Phenom x4 9650 (2.4GHz) Quad Core, 8g RAM,

[fulrmr]

O.K. I know this is and old post, but I just built my own kit from some DYI triggers that were premade and work great! Cheap too, even when compaired to external triggers from Roland. These are internally mounted and as sensitive and responsive as my Hart Dynamics pads. I installed them myself in about an hour for my whole kit. http://www.musiciansnearyou.com/. I have a 7 piece Smokey Chrome Pearl Forum set. 8″, 10″, 12″, 14″, 16″ Toms, 22″x16″ Kick and standard 14″ matching snare. All rack mounted. DW 5002AD3 Accelorator pedal. Gibraltar/ Hart Dynamics Hybrid Rack (just stuff I put together because I had it). All converted with internal triggers, Hart Dynamics Magnum mesh heads’ REMO Muffl Sound Control (cut out to various sizes depending on the tom size – this cuts back on cross talk and double triggering) Alesis D4, Roland TD-3 modules. Various Hart Dynamics Ecymbals, a couple of Traps cymbals, some Alesis Surge cymbals on the way and a variable hi-hat contoller that mounts to a standard hi-hat stand ( got this from the same place as the triggers- very responsive). All together so far I have about about $1500 invested! All the diversity of edrums and the great looks and “Rocker Bling” of an real acoustic set. I’m going upgrade my laptop and start using S2.0. Your rant is justified!

DYI Acoustic Pearl Forums 7 piece conversion, 56 Input MegaDrum, Roland TD-3, Alesis D4, AMD Phenom x4 9650 (2.4GHz) Quad Core, 8g RAM,

[fulrmr]

RE:You may wish to provide information here re on WHICH laptop you plan to use (PC? Mac? O/S? etc.)

Well, I really don’t have any particular brand in mind, however I’ve been looking at a Toshiba Qosmio X305-Q725.
• Intel® Core™ 2 Quad processor Q9000   o 2.0GHz, 6MB L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB
   • Mobile Intel® PM45 Express Chipset
• 384GB using two hard disk drives;  o Primary drive: 64GB Serial ATA solid state drive
  o Secondary drive: 320GB (7200 RPM) Serial ATA hard disk drive 
• Configured with 4GB PC3 8500 DDR3 SDRAM (both memory slots may be occupied). Maximum capacity 4GB
                                                        
• NVIDIA® GeForce® 9800M GTX, 1GB GDDR3 discrete graphics

   memory, plus up to 1791MB dynamically allocated shared graphics   memory using NVIDIA® TurboCache™ technology.
  o Total Available Graphics memory 2815MB (64-bit version)
• Genuine Windows Vista® Ultimate (SP1, 64-bit version)
• Genuine Windows Vista® Ultimate (SP1, 32-bit version)
( The specs say it has both operating systems ( it actually says “selectable”) unless I read it wrong. I thought that it might be a optional dual boot system because of all the 32 to 64 bit crossover application problems. Sure would solve alot of issue if it does. If not i guess I’ll just get the 32 bit version for S2.0 unless the 64 bit is on it’s way soon)
Ports
• Video o RGB (monitor) output port
o REGZA LINK™ (HDMI-CEC)
o 1080p support
• Audio
o S/P DIF output port (shared with headphone port)
o Microphone input port
o Headphone output port
• Data
o i.LINK™ IEEE-1394
o USB v2.0 – 4 ports with USB Sleep and Charge13
o 3 x USB v2.0
o 1 x eSATA/USB combo port
o RJ-45 LAN port
o RJ-11 modem port
(so this thing has both Firewire and USB. I’m not sure if the firewire is 400 or 800 though. I just want the least amount of latency especially for live performance. Recording is not an immediate issue but will definitely be on the horizon.)

Hey do I need some sort of recording host software to do what I have been taking about (for the live stuff) or are all the applications I need included in the S2.0 software? The laptop alone costs the same as the TD-20 with the new expansion board, but if I can get everything organized I think in the long run I will be more satisfied with the software if I can get a grip how to use it and set it up correctly. I really appreciate all the info your sharing. I’m starting to comprehend the scope of things a little better.

DYI Acoustic Pearl Forums 7 piece conversion, 56 Input MegaDrum, Roland TD-3, Alesis D4, AMD Phenom x4 9650 (2.4GHz) Quad Core, 8g RAM,

[fulrmr]

No keyboards, just drums with triggers. So.. lets see if I get this. From my edrums to my drum module or trigger I/O. Out of the module (MIDI) to an audio interface or trigger I/O (USB?) to my laptop? Through the Superior Drummer 2.0 software. Out of my laptop via firewire or usb (which is better?) back into an audio interface. Then to my sound board (mixer) and out through the FOH. Do you have any suggestions for interfaces or other hardware I might need. I’m on a budget? The laptop will be my big ticket item.
 
Oh by the way, thanks, I did not know about the “Storm Drum” thing. Never heard of it.

DYI Acoustic Pearl Forums 7 piece conversion, 56 Input MegaDrum, Roland TD-3, Alesis D4, AMD Phenom x4 9650 (2.4GHz) Quad Core, 8g RAM,

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