Tag: DIY

DIY

New DIY sound source released

E-drummers have a new sound source option, with Italian drummer Paolo Simonazzi releasing the plans and a component list for a new USB sound expander – and the software needed to run it – all for free. DrumPi began its journey in 2011 when Simonazzi, a software engineer, began toying with the idea of using the smartphone as a sound engine for an electronic drum module. Hampered by latency, in 2015, he changed his approach and started coding prototypes on a Raspberry Pi 3. After sitting dormant for a while, the project was revived, with new software developed to transform the audio engine into a full-featured DAW, including a 64-channel mixer, effects, MIDI support, multi-layered samples, multi-velocity samples, a transients […]

DIY, Gear

R-Drums adds ‘chainable’ trigger

To meet the growing demand for multi-sensor trigger systems, Germany’s R-Drums has launched its Chain Trigger internal side-mounted drum trigger. The Chain Trigger is a dual-zone trigger for mounting on the inside of the drum shell. It is attached to the shell using a lug, so no drilling is required. What is unique about the new system is that multiple Chain Triggers can be installed in a single drum and connected to each other using the built-in male/female cables. This ensures consistent triggering even with large shell diameters, without the annoying hot spot in the centre of the head. R-Drums says the trigger is compatible with many current drum modules, and digitalDrummer’s reviews of the manufacturer’s previous designs have reported […]

DIY, Gear

Lego drummer

Many e-drummers are also Lego fans, so here’s an experience that ties the two hobbies together. Lego enthusiast Brick Technology (he prefers to keep his identity secret) recently posted a YouTube video showing how he built a Lego drum machine to power a Roland TD-9. The video shows the build step by step and culminates in a demo of the machine in action, together with a guess-the-song quiz at the end. We asked the mind behind the machine about the build. dD: Why did you start the project? BT: I run a channel and try to come up with interesting ideas that no-one has tried before. I knew Lego Technic is capable of a lot of things and wondered if […]

Gear

Five e-drum fails

For the most part, electronic drums are plug and play and all that’s needed is to connect the pads and cymbals to the module and you’re set to go. However, there are a few common mistakes that could not only impact on the performance, but actually damage your instruments. 1. Felt beaters on mesh kick pads While it may seem counterintuitive, hard beaters are better for mesh heads than softer felt beaters. Felt actually ‘melts’ the mesh over time. If you do like the feel of a felt beater, make sure you use a patch on the strike zone of the mesh head. 2. Playing e-drums through your home stereo E-drummers often want to share their drumming rather than being […]

DIY

Roland TD-12 and TD-20 get lifeline

For at least the past four or five years, Roland TD-12 and TD-20 owners have become increasingly frustrated as their LCD screens began to die. The display tended to dim and fade and eventually die completely. Replacement screens were no longer available and many had to resort to desoldering and resoldering troublesome displays in a last-ditch attempt to prolong the life of their modules. Since then, many drummers have been desperate for replacement displays, without which their modules are useless. Well, the wait is over, with not one, but two sources of replacement screens emerging almost simultaneously. The first was from Freedom Products, a one-man Brazilian company headed by professional drummer Netto Scaff. Like so many others, Scaff was faced […]

Gear, Review

Create your own ‘vibe’

Allan Leibowitz set out for some “shakin’ all over”. THERE ARE SOME who say all that’s lacking in electronic drumming is “the vibe”. Literally – the vibrations, especially the low-end thump, that make you feel your beat. This is not such an issue for those starting out on their drumming path with electronics, but may be a deal-breaker for acoustic converts and especially for gigging drummers relying on in-ear monitors or wedges to hear their kit. Until recently, Pearl offered a good middle-of-the-road solution with its Throne Thumper, but that has been withdrawn, leaving the market open for the much higher-end Porter & Davies tactile monitors. The UK company, probably realising that its previous $1,200 entry price was a bit […]