[sdiy] percussion sensors?

[harrybissell]

Hiya DrumBoy5... welcome to delurk mode :^P

Another possible solution would be Force Sensing Resistors from
Interlink
Electronics... unfortunately only available as an "FSR design kit" for
about
$90 USA (including shipping).

They have a good selection of small, medium, and large area sensors...
as
well as some ribbon-like strips.  They vary resistance with force, so
they would
give a trigger and aftertouch with suitable electronics.

I made two kick-drum 'pads' with them... they were very effective. I
mounted them to
an aluminum plate and covered with the rubber sheet included in the
kit...

A very expensive solution to a simple problem.  I'm now using Piezos
underneath
cut down "Gladstone Pads"  (a jazz-era snare drum accessory)

H^) harry

DrumBoy5 at aol.com wrote:

> Hey
>
> I've been lurking for a while but this is the first post I think I've
> made...
>
> Anyway, there are a number of people who do DIY drum trigger pads
> (being a drummer and engineer, I naturally had to try it).
>
> There are free plans on these sites:
>
> http://www.sospubs.co.uk/sos/1995_articles/diydrumpad.htm
> http://www.electronicdrums.com/
>
> This is probably one of the best sites on homemade electronic drum
> triggers:
> http://www.derksens.com/Beatnik_mirror.htm
>
> I know you don't want to build "real drums", but the principle is the
> same.  You can get piezo triggers (maybe a couple of bucks each, at
> least at radio shack...you could probably buy them cheaper elsewhere)
> and put them under some sort of foam (mouse pads work well) or gum
> rubber pad (the majority of rubber drum pads work in this manner).
> The trigger response is great with drumsticks, so it would probably be
> flawless if you had, say, 1" round gum rubber disks over your piezo
> trigger.  If you're looking for a larger pad area or just to beef up
> the trigger, you can hot glue it to a sheet of thin metal (coffee can
> bottom or the like) to help transfer the impact directly to the
> piezo.  One of the major problems is cross triggering with the pads
> (this is a problem on commercial drums sets as well).  There are two
> options to solve this: either build a mounting box to isolate each
> trigger or dial down the sensitivity of the trigger-midi converter, or
> both.  You might be able to work out some sort of screw/spring shock
> absorber:
>
> Rubber pad
> Trigger
> |  ______|              <--  Screw head or nut
> |__|    |__|
>   <|-----|>               <--  Spring
>   <|-----|>
> __|___|___             <--  Screw head or nut
> Mount to something
>
> Foam or rubber might also do the trick...you'll have to experiment.  I
> know this is a DIY group, but if you're looking for a cheap commercial
> version, you could find an old Casio DZ (or DT...I can't remember)
> trigger to midi interface.  They work really well and are probably the
> same price as the PAIA trigger interface.
>
> This sounds pretty cool...maybe I should build one too :)
>
> Hope this helps.  If you need any more info, drop me an email at
> Drumboy5 at aol.com.
>
> Morgan