Optical hihat controller

[ole_hansen]

the optical HH controller is considered a "foot pedal". not a "pot".

i can't get it to (haven't gotten around to really working it out) work from closed to open.

but i can easily get (in MidiOx and MCT) it to show from closed to open, on the CC#4.


i don't know why yours is so inconsistant.
it should react to your footmovement up-and-down.

where/ how did you install yours?

[jman 31]

the optical HH controller is considered a "foot pedal". not a "pot".

i can't get it to (haven't gotten around to really working it out) work from closed to open.

but i can easily get (in MidiOx and MCT) it to show from closed to open, on the CC#4.


i don't know why yours is so inconsistant.
it should react to your footmovement up-and-down.

where/ how did you install yours?

I haven't installed it on anything yet. It is sitting on my bench. I can't imagine that that really matters though. I would expect it to behave the same either way.

Jman

[ole_hansen]

ok. fair enough.
i ijust figured if you had installed it inside your HH (within the bell), - as i have - you may experience problems from the optical hihat controller closing and opening everytime you hit the hihat, since the hihat cymbal itself moves a bit when you hit it.

[jman 31]

I didn't mean that to sound smartass man, I really appreciate the help. I have a drum pad sitting on my bench and the HH controller sitting about two feet away. I don't think there is any way they can be interfering with each other. My next step may be to rebuild the controller with all new parts unless someone has a better idea.

[ole_hansen]

no worries man.
not at all.

i didn't find you as a "smartass" not at all.


i would suggest rebuilding it.

but what parts did you use?
infrared LED or "normal" bright LED?

5k6
150r
1n4148
photo diode
bright red led

is the way to go.

[jman 31]

I used an infrared. Everything else is as specified. I will try a red one and see if that helps. Thanks ole_hansen.

[dmitri]

Do you get variable voltge on the HiHat output? If you don't, then it could be any of these:
1. It doesn't get power from MegaDrum.
2. LED is not bright enough.
3. Phototransistor is not sensitive enough.
4. Shorts, breaks and etc.

[ole_hansen]

remember if you swap the infrared LED for a bright red one,- remember to use a "normal" akak not-infrared phototransistor as well.

i tried going the infrared route - but couldn't get it to work either.
swapped the two items for normal ones and it worked.

someonePLEEEESE elaborate on what settings you have for the hihat controller, just to get it working in BFD or Superior.
i have some troubles going from open to closed (even though it shows up "smooth" on the MCT/MD "scale")

[jman 31]

remember if you swap the infrared LED for a bright red one,- remember to use a "normal" akak not-infrared phototransistor as well.

i tried going the infrared route - but couldn't get it to work either.
swapped the two items for normal ones and it worked.

someonePLEEEESE elaborate on what settings you have for the hihat controller, just to get it working in BFD or Superior.
i have some troubles going from open to closed (even though it shows up "smooth" on the MCT/MD "scale")

Yeah man I knew that, but thanks. I looked through my stash to see if I could find a regular LED detector, but I don't have any. I stuck a 100K pot on it just to be sure it would react properly and it did, so it must be the infrared. I have sent a couple of the circuits out with the infrared, so I am sure I will hear back from those folks when they don't work. Up till now, I didn't have any thing to test it on. I am so glad that I thought of using it with my DM-5, I wasn't even going to use the MD until I thought of that. It will open up so many options for my set if I ever get it figured out. My next thing is to figure out the 3-zone keith raper circuit with it.

Oh, and some settings would be great for the optical HH guys!!!!

Jman

[jman 31]

remember if you swap the infrared LED for a bright red one,- remember to use a "normal" akak not-infrared phototransistor as well.

i tried going the infrared route - but couldn't get it to work either.
swapped the two items for normal ones and it worked.

someonePLEEEESE elaborate on what settings you have for the hihat controller, just to get it working in BFD or Superior.
i have some troubles going from open to closed (even though it shows up "smooth" on the MCT/MD "scale")

Hey ole_hansen, do you have a part number for the phototransistor that you used? I looked at mouser and they have about 500 to choose from.