| Home recording and general music post from the archived Yabb Recording Website Message Board. Some of the info here may be outdated but many of the audio recording and home studio tips are still good. Note: The only tags I made and attempt to convert are italics, bold, center and underline. So if you see some gibberish surrounded by brackets, just ignore it.
Recording Website Archived Yabb board Post
Febuary 2001 Yabb Message Board Archive
Subject: Question for those with electronics knowledge ...
by EddieCD@yahoo.com | 03/07/01 at 10:46:58
I know this may sound like a non-recording question, but I know all the folks who contribute here are well-rounded individuals, so I'll post it anyways.
My drummer wants to use the sounds from a Boss Dr-220A Dr. Rhythm drum machine on our next tune. However, this box does not use trigger inputs like an Alesis DM4 or Roland V-drums module. The Dr-220A simply has push-buttons on the face of the unit to activate the sounds individually.
What we want to do is activate the sounds from these little pushbuttons with a trigger pad mounted on the drum kit somewhere.
Our idea (and we hope someone out there is an electronics expert so speak up if you get our drift) ... is to open the DR-220A and somehow get the same contact points which are switched together by pressing the buttons to be activated by a piezo based trigger pad. Would it work to simply put the piezo trigger + and - wires directly on the two contacts for the pushbutton? Or would it work to use a transistor and have the piezo unit produce a voltage at the BASE of the transistor which would then allow the COLLECTOR and EMITTER of the transistor to flow current, thus completing the circuit and causing the sound to be triggered?
(or isn't it that easy?)
We really want to use these sounds on the new tune, but if this sounds like a lot of work ... then just tell me.
Thanks guys!
Eddie;D
Subject: Re: Question for those with electronics knowledge
by db | 03/07/01 at 16:07:07
??? Does the drum machine have midi?, If so, can a trigger system, pads,etc., be used with that?
--db
Subject: Re: Question for those with electronics knowledge
by Mike_F | 03/07/01 at 16:07:45
I fear it won't be as simple (!) as that Eddie.:(
The drum machine will have touch-sensitive pads, not just open/closed contacts, and I don't know how that is accomplished. On "sealed" computer keyboards for 'unfriendly' environments, for example, there is a pressure sensitive membrane under the keys which shows a reducing resistance under pressure, and trigger circuitry 'flips' at the critical point to register the key press.
On my electric piano, touch sensitivity is achieved by having three contacts associated with the keys, and the time between one contact breaking and the other one making is a function of the speed - and therefore the intended loudness - at which the note is pressed.
I guess it would be theoretically possible to hack something together to do the job you want to do, but I think you should find another way.
Good luck.
Subject: Re: Question for those with electronics knowledge
by EddieCD@yahoo.com | 03/09/01 at 08:30:09
:P
OK, so I think I'm licked on this one.
I wasn't worried so much about the touch sensativity ... all I wanted to do was trigger the sounds in ANY way with a drum stick. Oh well, I think what I'm going to do is buy a rather cheap drum brain and make a few piezo based pads for it and route that via MIDI to my Proteus FX, which has some cool 80's sounds on it. My drummer has already said that idea has merit.
Anyone know where I can find a nice trigger to MIDI drum brain for cheap?
Later
Eddoe
Subject: Re: Question for those with electronics knowledge
by db | 03/14/01 at 06:35:26
I remembered you were looking for this kind of thing.. recent thread on prorec.com discussions, drum triggers thread 03/13/01.
hope this helps,
--db