Why is drum module X ...

[elrules]

When I finish the work I have to do, I will attempt writing a Java-based app for controlling megadrum

[elrules]

There is another feature in megadrum for improving it.

Did you know that yamaha modules (and cymbals) are trizone?

Yamaha modules have a nice switch management (I don't know why roland didn't use that kind of managing...)

This is how they work:
- Cymbals have only ony stereo jack output.
- They have one piezo and 2 switches.
- One switch (edge) is simply a switch (0 Ohm equivalent resistor value seen in module)
- The other (bell) is a switch connected with a 10Kohm resistor (10Kohm resistor value seen in module)

Suggestion for megadrum implementation:
- Add an option for the Rim input in which you can select between (Piezo, Switch, 2-Switches)
- To simplify settings for those 2 switches if you set the Note value od the Rim to 87 for example, the second switch could get subsequent note value, for example if you set Note=87 then it will take 87 for edge, and 88 for bell. Both switches would share the other settings as threshold and so on.

Can it be easily implemented? That would be veeeeeeeeeery nice cause Yamaha cymbals are cheaper and more functional (only one input but 3 zones!!) than Roland.

[Beamtreetaker]

Roland modules:
5.) Lots of impressive videos available on youtube with kick ass drummers! (e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqNtU4fIfJ8)

That's one weak point of Megadrum. I think if we had some cool endorsing guy who performes with virtuosity on youtube then everyone would like to build the module! =)

[elrules]

Nobody interested in what Yamaha modules do with dual switches??
I think it would be a cool feature for megadrum.
It would expand number of inputs from 32 to 47!!!!

Besides, DIY trizone cymbals are easy to do. I can post my tutorial to make yamaha-style trizone cymbals.

[slayer666]

Nobody interested in what Yamaha modules do with dual switches??
I think it would be a cool feature for megadrum.
It would expand number of inputs from 32 to 47!!!!

Besides, DIY trizone cymbals are easy to do. I can post my tutorial to make yamaha-style trizone cymbals.

please do that

[Beamtreetaker]

Nobody interested in what Yamaha modules do with dual switches??

Yes I would like that, too, as fewer expensive parts (cables, jacks) would be needed for building a 3zone! But I think the note value for the bell should be assignable freely.

[-Aj-]

Nobody interested in what Yamaha modules do with dual switches??
I think it would be a cool feature for megadrum.
It would expand number of inputs from 32 to 47!!!!

Besides, DIY trizone cymbals are easy to do. I can post my tutorial to make yamaha-style trizone cymbals.

I'd be very interested in this featur for megadrum. Yamaha also do this with their Tom pads, If you have a look I have a thread right now in the DIY section of V-drums.com/forum exposing the inner workings of a TP-100. If you where able to program the megadrum to recieve signals from a controller pot mounted on each pad that was assignable to a choice of parameters (sensitivity, crosstalk and Midi no. spring to mind) that would be amazing. Check out the thread to see how yamaha do it. On the note number thing you suggested for the bell, an auto map feature would be great assigning it to the next voice but it would be good to be able to select the number as well if you so wished to

for those asking for position sensing how do you propose this? Midi works in On/off and note numbers.. so are you proposing say 3 zones each with a different midi number? or do you want pads outputting a continuous controller signal? This seems pretty hard, and not very practical

I think stacking would be a great feature. being able to trigger multiple midi notes from one pad and also to be able to assign thresholds to these stacked notes so that velocity stacking becomes possible. The Aphex impulse did this (up to 4 notes) and is widely regarded as one of THE best trigger/midi systems of all time. If you implement stacking then having an "alt" function where you trigger off the stacked notes one at a time in order is also great, this would allow immense creative possibilities (ie: Akira Jimbo!)

Also on a final note how is the response time these days? under 5ms?

Dimitri you are doing a fantastic job, I would like to commend you for all the effort you have been putting in!

AJ


PS: full kits or pre-builts are a great idea too.... people are lazy, you can make money off that! lol

[dmitri]

About Yamaha type trizone triggers.
I will add support for such triggers when I have one to develop and test it with.

[elrules]

Hi -AJ-, what you propose I think is a bit more difficult to implement and not very useful for playing, live playing I mean. With the new rotary button suppot, you can change threshold or sensitivity like if you had a pot. Having control of a certain parameter in each megadrum input with a pot, would add a lot of complexity to the whole thing. Besides, TP-100 style DIY pads haven't been yet built with DIY techniques. A pot would be useful, for example, to control the pitch or tone of the instrument, and that can only be achieved in a host sampler with incoming MIDI CC data. For me, for example, it would be easier to connect my small MIDI keybord, and with its knobs control all that kind of things. To make MIDI CC knobs, i think it would be more reliable not to use the same inputs megadrum have for triggering, but using alternative inputs, maybe building an optional extra PCB for transmiting only MIDI CC taken from pot knobs. That would be like adding a mini-midi-keyboard board.

Firstly, I was amazed by the positional sensing stuff. Now that I have Fxpansion BFD 2 (which has some pos. sensing snares controlled by MIDI CC) I think it would be cool, but being practical, I think there are other features more necessary. That kept me thinking, till I found that megadrum now has Roland trizone ride's support, but it has not yamaha trizone support (which, in my point of view, is better than roland: usings 2 inputs vs. using only one input ). I don't know how dmitri implemented the piezo/switch management, but I guess it musn't be very difficult to add that. Dmitri! please give support for yamaha cymbal owners!

[-Aj-]

Hi -AJ-, what you propose I think is a bit more difficult to implement and not very useful for playing, live playing I mean. With the new rotary button suppot, you can change threshold or sensitivity like if you had a pot. Having control of a certain parameter in each megadrum input with a pot, would add a lot of complexity to the whole thing. Besides, TP-100 style DIY pads haven't been yet built with DIY techniques. A pot would be useful, for example, to control the pitch or tone of the instrument, and that can only be achieved in a host sampler with incoming MIDI CC data. For me, for example, it would be easier to connect my small MIDI keybord, and with its knobs control all that kind of things. To make MIDI CC knobs, i think it would be more reliable not to use the same inputs megadrum have for triggering, but using alternative inputs, maybe building an optional extra PCB for transmiting only MIDI CC taken from pot knobs. That would be like adding a mini-midi-keyboard board.

Firstly, I was amazed by the positional sensing stuff. Now that I have Fxpansion BFD 2 (which has some pos. sensing snares controlled by MIDI CC) I think it would be cool, but being practical, I think there are other features more necessary. That kept me thinking, till I found that megadrum now has Roland trizone ride's support, but it has not yamaha trizone support (which, in my point of view, is better than roland: usings 2 inputs vs. using only one input ). I don't know how dmitri implemented the piezo/switch management, but I guess it musn't be very difficult to add that. Dmitri! please give support for yamaha cymbal owners!

After some reflection you are deffinately right. Dimitri has added roatary encoder support in the place of the buttons on the front, That to me would suffice for sensitivity changes, also I realize it is possible to just build a Pot into your pad to controll the peizo output level. I am currently trying to DIY a reproduction of the TP-100 and the part that is actually escaping me is the switch trigger not the controller knob!

I do like your idea of the CC board and support! if you could have that then doing such a thing as creating a set of electronic timpani would be very easy to do! being able to offer extra footswitch points or pot controllers or an X/Y touch pad (would take up 2 inputs) would be amazing.

I also agreee that yamaha triple zone pad support would be fantastic. A lot of yamaha pads use tripple zone (TP-65, TP-100, TP-120 as well as all of the new cymbals and the old C-150YR) so support for them would be fantastic.

Aj