boobus
12-05-2005, 12:09 AM
Ok, so I've completed 2 of my e-drums so far... a 12" tom and a 14" snare. Pics are forthcoming... The trigger assembly and some chrono can be found here: http://webpages.charter.net/mpflieger/edrums.htm
You get the idea. Basically I'm using the method of DummerDan and Jlee, with spring mounted adjustable Roland-style triggers, Roland cones, 27mm Piezos from Radio Shack, etc, etc.....
So far so good. I have an Alesis DM Pro brain. All triggers are assembled and waiting for their drums (which are in the studio, except those mentioned). I'm also using Hart Dynamics "Magnum" mesh heads, which I got from MusiciansFriend.com.
I tested all the triggers and they work! That's good. They are pressure sensitive and trigger pretty well. Can't get a buzz roll going, but slow rolls and flams work fine.
A couple of hindsight observations.
I mounted my piezos on a rubber washer gorilla glued to the trigger plate. Next time, I think I might just forgoe the washer and get some of that padded double-stick tape. I assume it would serve well enough to isolate the piezo from the plate.
Also, I'm thinking there's really no need for any soldering. You can buy those female conectors that you can crimp to the wire and they should slide over the prongs on the output jack. That way, bad wires and bad triggers can be replaced easily.
Here's my questions:
1. I noticed that triggering is best at the center of the head. Is this normal? I get a faint trigger outside the sweet spot, but nothing at the edges.
2. I wired an additional piezo to the shell of the snare for rim-shot triggering but it's a no go. I'm pretty confident I wired it correctly to the stereo jack. I'm guessing I don't have the right cable, and I need a stero cable. Yes? I don't need two jacks now, do I? On the Alesis, the 2/3 trigger is supposedly for this type of application, snare head and "stick" sound. I would assume a rimshot would cause both to trigger and the combination of samples would produce the "rimshot"... ?
3. How tight should I be tuning these heads? Yes, I will try and err, but I'm wondering what others have found suitable for both feel and triggering.
4. How squahed up against the head should the cone be? Right now, I have it just touching the head, which seems fine. I'm wondering if more contact wijll widen the sweet spot... or damage the cone.
5. I got the flush mounted jacks from Radio Shack and was surprised they don't have enough thread to get through a thicker shell. The snare is a 10-ply Keller and it didn't make it. I had to countersink the inside of the shell a bit to get it to go. Others who have build their kits, did you use all 6-ply (or less) and did the jack mount okay?
6. Any thoughts on my hindsight observations?
In all, this was not that hard. If I can, anyone can build the bracket-type triggers with a little care. After I've given it a good go of it, I'll pop for newer, thinner shells, a better look. It's going to be cool when the rest of the drums are available, because the triggers and assemblies are just sitting here waiting!
You get the idea. Basically I'm using the method of DummerDan and Jlee, with spring mounted adjustable Roland-style triggers, Roland cones, 27mm Piezos from Radio Shack, etc, etc.....
So far so good. I have an Alesis DM Pro brain. All triggers are assembled and waiting for their drums (which are in the studio, except those mentioned). I'm also using Hart Dynamics "Magnum" mesh heads, which I got from MusiciansFriend.com.
I tested all the triggers and they work! That's good. They are pressure sensitive and trigger pretty well. Can't get a buzz roll going, but slow rolls and flams work fine.
A couple of hindsight observations.
I mounted my piezos on a rubber washer gorilla glued to the trigger plate. Next time, I think I might just forgoe the washer and get some of that padded double-stick tape. I assume it would serve well enough to isolate the piezo from the plate.
Also, I'm thinking there's really no need for any soldering. You can buy those female conectors that you can crimp to the wire and they should slide over the prongs on the output jack. That way, bad wires and bad triggers can be replaced easily.
Here's my questions:
1. I noticed that triggering is best at the center of the head. Is this normal? I get a faint trigger outside the sweet spot, but nothing at the edges.
2. I wired an additional piezo to the shell of the snare for rim-shot triggering but it's a no go. I'm pretty confident I wired it correctly to the stereo jack. I'm guessing I don't have the right cable, and I need a stero cable. Yes? I don't need two jacks now, do I? On the Alesis, the 2/3 trigger is supposedly for this type of application, snare head and "stick" sound. I would assume a rimshot would cause both to trigger and the combination of samples would produce the "rimshot"... ?
3. How tight should I be tuning these heads? Yes, I will try and err, but I'm wondering what others have found suitable for both feel and triggering.
4. How squahed up against the head should the cone be? Right now, I have it just touching the head, which seems fine. I'm wondering if more contact wijll widen the sweet spot... or damage the cone.
5. I got the flush mounted jacks from Radio Shack and was surprised they don't have enough thread to get through a thicker shell. The snare is a 10-ply Keller and it didn't make it. I had to countersink the inside of the shell a bit to get it to go. Others who have build their kits, did you use all 6-ply (or less) and did the jack mount okay?
6. Any thoughts on my hindsight observations?
In all, this was not that hard. If I can, anyone can build the bracket-type triggers with a little care. After I've given it a good go of it, I'll pop for newer, thinner shells, a better look. It's going to be cool when the rest of the drums are available, because the triggers and assemblies are just sitting here waiting!