Finger Drum Triggers - How to get them right?

[Stefan]

Today I tried out with 2 bottle caps and I can say that it goes into the right direction. I think it has a good sensitivity at first sight. Now I'm curious to test the playability in a more real scenario with something like 10 or 12 finger pads...

The problem is that I have to drink a lot of water tomorrow to gain the missing caps!

Have a good night!
Stefan

[angr77]

Hi Guys!

First, I really like the idea! I have been tempted to buy a Zendrum for a while...but it would be just fantastic to be able to build one myself instead.

I have built an e-cajon with 3 piezo sensors mounted on the cajons front surface without any foam etc..and it it actual possible to get almost zero cross talk between them suing an ARM-based megadrum. (X-talk level set to 7...)

So this bottle cap idea will work perfectly.

I have built in a ARM-based MD inside the cajon...and I am not using any buttons or displays on the cajon - just the USB port out! (A blackbox scenario).
It is still possible to have 100% control and managed it through MDM.

Using Dmitris new MD Lite boards in the "MegaZen" will leave the Zendrum solution far behind! (Which is quite complex...)

ANGR77

[Stefan]

Hi angr77,

The bottle caps work quite well. I'm checking out different types and sizes.

I'm still struggling the most with the sensitivity/reactivity especially with regards to faster repetitive hits. For pressure sensitivity only I get it quite ok, but for faster hits it simply doesn't register some hits. Imagine you would like to play some groovey 32-notes figures on the Hihat.

At the moment this is my main issue. I will try further...

[ignotus]

Post your setttings, we might be able to make suggestions. If sensitivity to light hits is good, some tweaking of the settings might sort out fast hits.

[airflamesred]

I'm still struggling the most with the sensitivity/reactivity especially with regards to faster repetitive hits. For pressure sensitivity only I get it quite ok, but for faster hits it simply doesn't register some hits.

Great stuff, all going in the right direction. As Ignotus says, post the settings and a pic of the build so far, if you can.

We're breaking new ground here guys!

[Stefan]

Hello folks,

I have posted a short demonstration of my current progress on youtube.

The settings in the MDM are not yet perfect.
I am actually quite surprised how different each piezo requires the Threshold and HighLevel! And I have the impression that I have to adjust the settings each time that I attach more piezos. Ok, the more wires the more disturbing sources I suppose...
Crosstalk is also an issue here as you might hear.

Just have a look if you like...

Regards,
Stefan

[ignotus]

Nice! Yeah, setting the parameters can be quite hard work at the beginning, but as you get the hang of it, it gets much easier. If you rest all the bottle caps on a sheet of foam, crosstalk should become less of an issue. Keep up the good work!

[angr77]

Hi! Very nice!

You could lower the retrigger to about 1...maybe lower the threshold slightly.... and increase the miniscan to 30... then I think you will feel the sensitively increase.
Did you go for 20 mm piezos?

Best regards

AnGR77

[Stefan]

Yes, I used the 20mm piezos. I tried different sizes (15, 20, 27, 35), but the 20mm fit perfectly into the caps.

[airflamesred]

Looking good, as Ignotus says a mousemat or similar between the board and the bottle tops will rremove most of that crosstalk. Keep this post updated and I'll put a link from the wiki. Yet another use for MD.