I Made an "E Drum Controller" kinda

G-Man

So I have been itching to make an ekit for a while and was on the hunt for a midi controller but sadly came up short so I decided to hunt for a more budget friendly option.

This is just a glorified USB keyboard that I have hacked and mapped the keys to correspond with Reaper's built in midi keyboard which triggers Superior Drummer. It's kinda cool!

Here's a pic...

And a quick test video.

=

If you guys like it I will post a tutorial.

Long term goal is to build a dedicated PC to run the kit, and to make a solid frame with proper rubberized pads.

Manfred-Klose

Nice !!!

Psean

G-Man wrote: So I have been itching to make an ekit for a while and was on the hunt for a midi controller but sadly came up short so I decided to hunt for a more budget friendly option.

This is just a glorified USB keyboard that I have hacked and mapped the keys to correspond with Reaper's built in midi keyboard which triggers Superior Drummer. It's kinda cool!

Nice one man!

If you guys like it I will post a tutorial.

Yes please :yup:

AlanRatcliffe

Cool! Are you making your own pads? Using piezos for triggers?

BTW, OneDayClint is selling an Alesis Trigger IO (basically a drum brain without built in sounds) here:
http://www.guitarforum.co.za/index.php?action=classifieds;sa=view;id=2631

G-Man

@ Manfred - Thanks man!! ?

@ Psean - OK great man, I will start it this week, luckily I took some pics along the way ?

@ Alan - No piezos unfortunately. My limitations in cost meant that I could not afford a real MIDI controller, meaning that I had to forgo the main feature of an E Drum kit - being velocity detection. That's because all I've essentially done with this is interrupted the paths to individual keys on the USB QWERTY keyboard with my Jack -> Switch. So My pads are basically just CDs with tin foil glued to each one separated by a rubber or cardboard riser around the perimeter so act as a contact switch. That being said though it is quite responsive.

I am going to be helping my mate and fellow forum-ite RudiDarkLord convert his old, disused, acoustic kit and use the Yamaha D11 he has as the controller, and because it is a midi device we can use piezos and get the full velocity range out of it.

Thanks for taking a look. ?

Manfred-Klose

G-Man a piezo pickup from the electronics store costs about R9 each, and i have use them, and they work fine and is velocity sensitive, the only trouble you will run into is to design something strong and stable that will even give better dynamics to the piezo

G-Man

Thanks Manfred.

As far as I am aware, a piezo switch is continuously connected but the vibration activates a crystal and generates a voltage, which the Midi controller interprets the hit, velocity and duration through. In my case I need a switch that is broken until the contact is made, tricking my QWERTY keyboard into thinking that I have pressed a button on it.

I would love to make a proper kit with piezos, but as this is my Ghetto Kit I'm keeping the budget as low as possible. I've only spent about R150 so far, hehe ?

G-Man

Where should I start posting the tutorial?

AlanRatcliffe

Here in drums & percussion. ?