DIY Drum triggers

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xhavepatiencex
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DIY Drum triggers

Post by xhavepatiencex » Fri Dec 31, 2010 1:24 pm

I have read about making these a few times, I now have a need for using them live with my current band.

Do diy triggers do as well as the ddrum ones you can just buy? I am mainly worried about missed triggering live, as that would not be good. Any insight would be great.

The Scum
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Post by The Scum » Fri Dec 31, 2010 3:40 pm

Long ago, drum trigger pads were pretty fiendishly simple (and painful to play): 1/4" rubber, atop 3/4" MDF, with a vanilla piezo bolted to the back. Cut geometrically and painted glossy, it looked like the future. Nobody was thinking about trying to use real drums to generate triggers.

Ddrum was one of the first companies to get away from that, using real hoops and heads. I would hope the modern ddrum stuff is more usable, reliable and robust than the old ones.

Still, it not hard to experiment with a bit - Piezos are a dollar or so each, plus a connector and some glue...build one and see if it meets your expectations. Give it a try, and report your findings.

kslight
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Post by kslight » Fri Dec 31, 2010 6:17 pm

Depends on your application and expectations?

strdsk
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Post by strdsk » Tue Jan 04, 2011 12:19 pm

I've built many and found them fine. Mouse pads are a favorite pad type.
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Gregg Juke
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Post by Gregg Juke » Tue Jan 04, 2011 12:34 pm

I used to see folks using Remo practice pad sets all the time; it's already to go, just add contact pick-ups. I suppose you could add a layer of mouse pad rubber to get a different feel, if you don't like the rebound of the Remo pads.

This is the new-fangled modern equivalent, but you could look for a used set-- they are out there...

>>>> http://drums-percussion.musiciansfriend ... sku=442963 <<<<

GJ

strdsk
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Post by strdsk » Tue Jan 04, 2011 12:50 pm

Yeah...DW makes such a set too. Problem is...they're high priced. You can score Ion brand triggers cheap on E-Bay too.
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Scodiddly
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Post by Scodiddly » Tue Jan 04, 2011 4:04 pm

Pads are no doubt better.... and I bet the processing at the other end has improved quite a bit too.

For a buck or two each and a bit of your time, there's no excuse not to build a couple and see what happens. If it works you're saving a lot of money.

The Scum
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Post by The Scum » Sat Jan 22, 2011 2:53 pm

So there was a stack of the Ddrum triggers at Music Go Round, and I took a closer look.

The basics look pretty simple - a shaped piezo, maybe 1/8" wide, and 1/2" long, wired to an XLR.

The mechanical construction is where the trick is. The metal housing is shaped such that it mounts on a drum rim with a hook and setscrew arrangement. They protrude over the drumhead by maybe 1 1/2", where they hold the piezo to the drumhead with a bit of foam. The form probably dampens the head a little, to help prevent bouncing and false triggers.

There were some Trigger Perfect triggers there too. Very similar arrangement, but with 1/4" outputs, and the piezos were garden variety round ones. The metal housing was very similar.

strdsk
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Post by strdsk » Sat Jan 22, 2011 10:01 pm

You can just apply them to drum heads directly...on top or on the inside with contact cement.
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JohnSuitcase
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Post by JohnSuitcase » Wed Feb 02, 2011 7:37 pm

Here is the cheapest pre-made ones I've seen:

http://www.drumdial.com/drum_trigger.htm

set of 5 for $40, that's cheap enough to skip the work part of it!

Just use some two-sided tape and stick them right to the head.
Image

strdsk
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Post by strdsk » Wed Feb 02, 2011 7:45 pm

I think the Ddrum ones are even cheaper...lol...
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JohnSuitcase
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Post by JohnSuitcase » Wed Feb 02, 2011 7:57 pm

The DDrums are pretty reasonable, they look a lot better than the drum dial ones!
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