Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Hi Keith,

I remember this one...Cool I'll have a look at it..though I have 3 
drum trigger modules and more pads than I can shake a stick...or two 
at by now...None the less, this is a great concept for those in 
need, and I'm curious as well as I find it very interesting :)

Steve



--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Keith" <keith@k...> wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> Many of you will have seen discussions about the "Magic Box" which
> will allow two pads to use one input on the DTXpress, and also 
combine
> two piezos from a single pad into a single piezo and rim switch 
signal
> for use on the DTXpress (some non Yamaha dual zone pads use two 
piezos
> instead of a single piezo and a rim switch).
> 
> I have designed a circuit which does a reasonably good job of doing
> this and a few people have tried it out.  It is not 100% perfect 
and I
> am not sure it ever will be - it has to work within what the 
DTXpress
> expects from a pad with rim switch - but it is pretty good.  
However,
> I am not sure it will be viable as a commercial product and am not
> prepared to spend a lot of my own money to find out.
> 
> As the original "Magic Box" was quite complex, I have come up with 
a
> simplified idea which should be within the abilities of anyone who
> wants to have a go.  The components will only cost a few cents and 
the
> circuit is "passive" in that it does not use any external power 
(but
> has an "active" component).  I have given it a quick try and it 
works
> and should be good for a typical use where you want to add a few 
pads
> for cow bells, extra cymbals etc.  Bear in mind that when combining
> two pads into one input you can only get one sound at a time 
(although
> you can get both if one hit is slightly after the other) so you 
need
> to choose your combinations with some thought (ie don't combine the
> kick drum, snare or high-hat with anything).
> 
> With a few extra components you could also combine three pads into
> one.  I have posted a circuit to the files section.  It is supplied
> without any warranty, but as it has now power, it is difficult to 
see
> how it can damage anything.  I have not optimised the component 
values
> - I haven't time at the moment - so you may want to play around 
with them.
> 
> I will try to answer any questions posted to the group as quickly 
as
> possible.  If anyone wants the more complex circuit, please ask.  
It
> has opamps, comparators, inductors, power supply etc and would 
need a
> stripboard or something similar to build it on.  The parts to build
> one would probably cost around $100 (I am not sure of USA component
> prices) and it would combine 8 channels into 4.
> 
> Keith.