Optical HiHat for the electricly challenged

[dsteinschneider]

I've decided to use my Pearl hi-hat stand to build this hihat:

The links for the sensor and magnet in the beginning of the thread don't work for me. Can anyone post a link of a magnet and sensor they know will work well? I'm willing to spend a little more on US located parts.

I want to also source suitable non-metal hi-hat that would be good to use for this project.

Thanks,

[dsteinschneider]

I found the magnet, sensor, terminal strips and TRS cable on Amazon, was a little more expensive but I've got time this month for the project so no waiting for shipment from China.

That covers me for the pedal portion of this project. I haven't bought the actual hi-hat cymbal yet. Does anyone have a link for a practice cymbal they liked that I can mount a piezo sensor on to?

I'm open to buying a less expensive two zone 13 inch cymbal if anyone has one they think would be best for this.

Thanks in advance

[dsteinschneider]

Has anyone bought a Pintech TC14? About half the reviews on Amazon are from people using them for Rockband. It's evident if you bash them hard you will need to repair it. I want to build my own from a "high quality" practice cymbal but I'm impatient and figure I could use this for my high hat and crash until I have learned how to build Ignotus' design.

EDIT: How about this one for a ride? Getting expensive for temporary fix until I learn how to make these but I really want to start using the kit:
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PC182Trigger--pintech-pc18-dual-zone-cymbal-trigger-18-inch

EDIT 2: Not going to use Pintech trigger or practice for conversion

[dsteinschneider]

Decided to go for the PCY135 and PCY155. I did buy a $10 Pintech practice cymbal and a 35mm pre-wired piezo. The PCY135 will go on the hi-hat stand I'm converting to Hall Effect using the Bestol A1302 Ratiometric Linear Hall Effect Sensor Chip, an N50 30x20x10 magnet and a wire terminal per one of Ignotus' posts.

[thebaronofsd]

Hi,

Curious about this, am I correct in my assumption that with this type of HH controller you can't play open clutch closed HH position correct? Meaning, any double bass with HH isn't going to work without a second HH? Is there a work around for that via a switch perhaps? Say a switch on a bottom cymbal that when closed = closed HH regardless of pedal position? Or even a pressure plate switch of some sort. Thoughts or am I misreading?

Thanks.

[dsteinschneider]

Good question - I'm still building the hi-hat controller - the magnet arrived today. I have a double bass pedal but probably wont' play it much. It would be pretty easy to build a single zone 14 out of practice cymbal to use for closed hi-hat when foot is off pedal

[thebaronofsd]

Suppose you could move the HAL sensor to the bell area of the bottom cymbal. drill a hole and run the wires out from there ... probably would then need to solder that instead of junction to save space. magnet placed in the bell area of top cymbal or on the bottom of the clutch that way the magnet in the top plate will always be 'closed' when the cymbals are together and in theory could get some closed tight pedal action by the rubber flexing.

hmm ..

[dsteinschneider]

If you get a smaller terminal strip you can bend the sensor's legs and insert them directly into the strip without the need to solder anything and you'll get a clean, solid connection.

Hi Ignotus,

I thought I should jump in here and mention that I just noticed I bought the same terminal strip as in the photo in this thread and that it worked fine with the legs of the sensor directly attached.