Inexpensive DIY percussion trigger

[MetalMarcMoxley]

how would one go about putting that up on a stand or something or a rack or something??

[muziknonstop]

MOTU makes an midi to USB hub called fast lane. That works and you can find them for $50

[BobNSlobbit]

Any ideas on making a USB trigger? I want to trigger sounds in Ableton Live on my laptop and all I need is a simple trigger, but it needs to hook up via USB. Any ideas would be GREATLY appreciated.

[DiGgfReAk]

@BobNSlobbit check out alesis trigger i/o

[BTvisuals]

did you see the new rush documentary?

[megodzillaudeadable]

Really cool idea! I haven't seen a trigger inside a tube before, did you do that for any reason or just convenience? Also if some one doesn't want to tear stuff apart you can buy the bare piezo elements online

[karenstev]

@megodzillaudeadable The only reason I encased it in the tube was so I had something to whack with a stick, or shake like a tambourine. Tnanks for looking!

[norxcontacts]

Does Rush use drum triggers?

[karenstev]

@norxcontacts

Peart uses quite a bit of electronics and triggers. According to the Rush site, he's currently using V-Drums, TD-20 brains, Roland XV 5080 samplers, the MalletKat, Kat trigger pedals, and a Dauz trigger pad.

[TheKyron93]

@norxcontacts Neil peart has an electric drum kit attached to his acoustic kit but as for the bass drum, he uses completely natural sound.

[TheBetterPeter]

does it matter how many Hz these are, or how big these are? Im asking cos there are several in the shop im looking from. They are from 3-28V 2.8kHz 85dB to 3.8kHz 3-12V 88dB. And it did looked like some of them didn't had wires on, is it important to have wires on these or can u colder these yourself?

[megodzillaudeadable]

@TheBetterPeter I don't know for sure but I BELIEVE that the kHz rating on these elements is the frequency response of the element, i.e. the frequencies it will produce as a speaker or detect as a pickup. If you are just useing the piezo element to send a voltage spike as in a drum trigger (and not trying to use it as a contact mic) the frequency response shouldn't matter. Hope that helps, good luck!

[rockexpert]

is this possible with sound jacks like a line in cable? my lil bro has a alesis drum kit that have those and im trying to get him a new bass and a third tom

[LIGHTRONIX]

way to shove it in there with the Gadd custom stick.

[Agatonga]

The SECOND funnest cylinder i'll ever hold.

[100roberthenry]

rush yeah....my all time fav band...cool trigger too..

[SimonKentSmith]

Hey man,

I was wondering, if this would work, on a cymbal.. I'm building a acoustic/electric kit, and have the drums figured out, but I was to trigger real cymbals. Ya think if I muffle them and add one of these triggers, I'd be in business?

[karenstev]

@SimonKentSmith

You can absolutely use these with an acoustic cymbal. There are a bunch of guys who have done this over at the vdrums(dot)com/forum forums, in the DIY section. Read through some of the posts and poke around there as tey are far mre knowledgeable than I about this.

[CloseTheDoorNathan]

@SimonKentSmith if you want a trigger with the look of a real cymbal, check out Alesis "Surge" Cymbals

[grandolddrummer]

Awww! Neato!

[BAFdrummer]

So. did you solder the wires to the phone jack? And is that tape? Can you explain it to me? Thanks.

Super!

[karenstev]

@BAFdrummer

Yes, Solder the wires. The wires that came from the Piezo were not long enough so I just spliced some extensions on it and covered the exposed splice with electrical tape. Also, I super-glued the piezo to a small block of wood that fits very snuggly into the PVC tube.

[deathspaghetti]

ive just discovered a really cheap and easy way of getting electronic cymbal pads that you dont need to put together yourself. what they are are..............guitar hero/rockband pads. these should plug into the module like normal and the cost about £5 on eBay. :D

[metooblueshoes]

ahhh dats boss

[braydenbigweener]

you are a bad ass!! as soon as i get a module i am planning to make my own electronic kit! thank you for all the help! as for cymbals i have no clue because of the bell part on many roland kits ive played the bell is distinct but i'll figure it out or just trigger my acoustic kit. i love your video man

[Malteboy777]

Awesome..! =D

[KeepRocken]

could you use this to trigger lights?

[crashtestcow]

have you tried putting two different piezo's in one pvc? i was wanting to do that, but i wasn't sure if the vibrations would be picked up on both at the same time.

[starwarsfreak1997]

dude im in Australia and we dont have a radio shack so where could i get something like this and is it like a trigger or wat they call a pick up

[juanchezko]

Does anybody know what model# those piezos are? I don't see them on radios shack's site, please help!

[karenstev]

I posted the link in the info section.

[juanchezko]

Thanx Mang!

[crashtestcow]

@juanchezko they look different because theyre covered in a black plastic shell when you buy them.

[ikepowell]

vic firth steve gadd sticks?

[karenstev]

Yeah, I like them, but are a bit heavy (I'm a light hitter). My favorites these days are the Vic Firth American Jazz series. Long taper with a lot of rebound.

[TheWALOS]

Do I need a drum module? I just have Logic Studio 8 and an M-Audio Profire 2626

[karenstev]

Yeah, you'll need a module to interpret the signal to a sound. You could also use a trigger-MIDI-converter like the Roland TMC6. With that though, you'll need decent midi drum sounds or VSTs like Superior Drummer.

[deathdrumin]

cud u let me know iff u know how this could connect to a laptop or iff u know of any soft ware this could work with

[mycomputer5]

wow! only 15 dollars! oo wait, the TD-9 costs $1000.

[karenstev]

That's true....so YOUR total cost is $1,015.

[freestylefilmsinc]

cud you put this you use this inside a bass drum

[karenstev]

I would recommend attaching the piezo to the inside of the bass drum shell or near the head. It would pick up the vibrations best from there.

[cast390]

Excellent...F***  Roland and thier OVERPRICED shit!!!!

[PENTADACTYLON]

Wath happen if I connect the piezo to the input guitar amplifier....?

[dimas2487]

that was great bro...i have question , how to make a different sounds...thanks.

dimas2487.

[karenstev]

The sounds are generated solely by the module, in this case, a Roland TD-9. All the trigger does is convert the vibrations into signals, then the module converts the signals to sound.

[66slazar99]

FAbuloso te felicito.

[marcinnsz]

very good idea!!!!

[JonFrumCome]

Very cool!!

[anibalresendez]

awesome DIY man!

I'm gonna try it myself!

thanks for sharing!!

[kritonaso]

dude thats brilliant! let me ask u something.. im thinkig to buy the td-9 kit with mesh heads but i see all this videos of how to convert a £300 drum set in to a mesh head set and its sounds great. what do u suggest? should i go with the td-9 (£1600) or something cheaper and convert it?

[xhaylowx]

just convert it. all you have to do is take the original head off and buy some mesh screen, and put it where the head used to be, and mount a trigger in it.

:)

[sil0thepr0]

Genius, thank you!!!!!

[Alexfbi24]

gonna be a great ride lol

[kublakhan0040]

good choice in music, rush rocks!...Oh yeah very nice drum trigger.

[SuperPussMusic]

Very cool. Me like! =^.^=

[preput]

brilliant! thanks for sharing