DIY Electric Acoustic Drum Triggers Tutorial for eDrums
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- Опубліковано 30 лип 2024
- After much review of the existing tutorials available on UA-cam and the web, I've taken elements from many tutorials and a few ideas of my own and combined them into this ten minute tutorial. This took me a day to build, and probably cost me about $40 in materials. Yes, you can find triggers out there for a similar price without any of the work, but I've bought and tested many of those and they are nothing compared to the kit I built in this tutorial. Watch and learn how to construct an electric/acoustic hybrid kit.
Check out my band, Tsavo, at / tsavotheband
Seams to work great. Well done!
Thanks for your kind words! For the rim-shot sound (or really any sound you want to trigger on the rim of the drums) you would have to mount a piezo on the side of the shell or use some sort of metal tab to sit on the edge of the drum under the rim that would need to be set a bit lower in sensitivity so that it's not triggered by the drum hit. You can also wire this as a dual trigger, which instructions can be found for online, so that you don't have to worry about that.
Very good choice to use this aluminium or metallic disc to increase the sensitivity area of the piezo. Great build, simple and clear also you can put and a second piezo glued to the shell and change the input and connectivity to stereo so you can have and a sidestick sound!!
Outstanding video Sean.
Clear easy to follow instructions for a fantastic idea you're sharing. Thank you very much as you've inspired me to give this a try. The snare will be the tough part as the rim is necessary for the full dynamic -I'll do some research and share if I find anything noteworthy.
Great job. I have a TD-11 kit and have done some diy drums but most don't respond the way yours does. I've been using cones, which create an incredible hot-spot. Gonna give it a try. Thanks.
Thanks for your video. Great stuff and well presented.
Good clean and easy setup, thanks for sharing.
Although, I haven't tried this yet, in theory, this is genius, because it wont have the center head hot spot issues that Roland and pintech, etc have. On the Roland and Pintech, the trigger foam point contacts the center of the mesh drum creating a hot spot and higher velocity in that region. My only question, and I'll know when i build this is, how is the cross talk between the drums? Cross talk is sometimes an issue when you convert acoustic drums to electronic. Electric drums by comparison are mounted on a frame to reduce vibrational crosstalk.
Nice! I'm confident with my skill for wood but I don't know electric stuff at all, so that was quite interesting. thanks!
Thanks for the kind words. I think the design is great and it works much better than many of the other methods i've seen. And yes, the sound is a direct recording from Superior Drummer, not ambient room.
Why would you put the bottom head in place and not leave it open? And is the distance between the foam and the mesh head not to big? Thanks for sharing?
thanks a lot for this video and your help. i was wondering how is the “feel” comparing to a cone trigger? since the foam is touch the whole mesh head. does it change on the bounce?
One additional comment to my prior post. I removed the air hole sleeve and installed female 1/4" jacks (Stereo for the snare). I removed the wires from the piezo and soldered new wires directly to the jacks. This way the 1/4" cable to my TD 20 plugged directly into the side of the drum. For the snare, I used the bolts for the DW logo to secure a second piezo and then connected it to the stereo jack. This allows me both the snare and a rim shot. Didn't see that mentioned in the video, so FYI
Im getting a 4 piece kit from a friend that Im doing this to. Thanks so much for the awesome idea!
Great work man!!!
if I connect the piezo plug is a stereo female jack? .... then can I connect it to a roland control unit via mono jack-jack cable?
I converted my DW kit using this method. Instead of trying to save money, I had a cabinet shop cut perfect circles with MDF, a sheet metal co. do the same. NOTE: I made a mistake here and didn't get thin enough sheet metal, which had to be corrected for the snare and small tom, Lastly, I got an upholstery shop to cut black high density foam in perfect circles too. This was as easy as it looked in the video, but I went slow to make sure I did everything right. They work great with my TD20!
thanks a lot this is pretty helpful, do you know what's the output signal level ?
great work dude!
Great job man! I have built several ekits over a 30 year period, designing my own triggers. Now days, the drum modules are fast enough and sensitive enough to do a wicked job. Most drummers do not get the fact that pro recordings use triggers a LOT. I capture both audio (mics) and midi performances from the module and mix and match in a daw, I used to be an acoustic snob. I usually use the midi performances for fast, great sounding work. IMHO, as good as acoustic & tons EASIER! Regards e;)
How does having the piece of plywood that large affect the sound?
Drums are cool. :D
there are a lot of more complicated ways to do this that _look_ high tech and cool. but here in 2022, this 10yo video still seems the simplest way to go
after all my drum has setup do i need module? how to make it?
QUESTION...
If I buy a trigger and a cable, can I just run the trigger straight into my mixer from the cable, and then from my mixer to my laptop. because I only want to trigger my snare and kick, but I have four other mics going into my mixer as well...Or would I need to buy another interface to run my trigger cables into first, cuz there would be no presets right? or are the presets built in??
Please Answer! :D
Nicely done!
Very cool project, I think I m going to do the same. You ve inspired me a lot!!! My goal is to trigger sound from my Mac where I ve Superior Drummer 2.0 installed, via an external soundcard. I just need a module for the MIDI signal such as Alesis Trigger IO... Thank you very much
do you think this way is better than other methods out there, like the cones?
What kind of module best to use? For this kind of trigger?
Yes it does. I actually had mine putting too much pressure on the head and those heads started breaking pretty quick, so not too much pressure. Just enough to deaden the bounce from the mesh head a bit.
I like this sounds. what yours module
are the velocity and sensitivity settings managed through the drum module or the piezo? does it make a big difference if you have a quality drum module like a roland td series vs an osp dd502?
Hi. What module are you using. I've done the conversion but getting loads of cross talk and double triggering on my yamaha DTX502. Tried playing with the various trigger parameters and still have issues. Great video. Thanks
+SEANTHEPR0DUCER Can you attach the drum triggers to any electric drum module? If the foam isn't touching the head, can you have positional sensing if you've connected it with a Roland module?Cheers
@sherlie1953 No, you would definitely have to add another piezo to the shell to get rim shots. You'd also have to do a little bit of creative wiring if you want to run both piezos into a stereo 1/4" jack. Not sure how that works, but there are tutorials out there to show you how. It's not super complicated.
I agree with @drummaplumma, I bought the ddrum pack of triggers and it was not nearly as sensitive as the triggers I built.
If i'm making this for my bass drum for the purpose of running the signal through an effect board, in your opinion, how much will the wood cut from the jigsaw effect the overall acoustic sound of the bass drum?
Hi Sean, what sort of foam did you use? I have some flightcase foam laying around, would that work?
What was the reason for you using both sheet metal and wood?
Thank you Sean!!!! I will be working on this and will show the final product as a I finish!!!
Chiao!!!
silly wuestion but after searching there are a few different sizes of piezo transducer,,what size do you reccomend,,cheere in advance
Hello Sean How are you!!!
I followed all the instructions from your video and the drums look very nice and clean but I have a problem. The sensibility of the four drums I made is awful!!!! How can I get a more real response from them!!!! My module is a Roland TD-6V. Please give me some kind of advice to resolve this problem!!!
Thank you
Joel Enriquez
Thanks mate well done
Ok i cut s small piece and placed it in the middle but it didnt work too well. I also cut a ring and place it in there snug on the shell which kind of worked but my module setting are hard to figure out. I have the dtx500. Everything else is working though im just not to fond of the pad noise. Ill figure it out eventually.
Is the foam touching the mesh head? When I have it touching the mesh it double triggers often even after adjusting the Alesis IO settings. When I have it 1/8" below the head I have to hit the mesh quite a bit harder to get the sound. I like that you are able to do ghost notes on yours. Need a bit of help if you have time. Thanks!!
Yes, sounds are played back in real time, either by your module (which has the sounds built in - not the Alesis Trigger i|O though, that is only for triggering) or by your VSTi software (such as EZDrummer, Superior Drummer, BFD etc).
how does a roll sound with this setup? is the piezo sensitive enough to distinguish buzz roll from double stroke?
i need to know how to make the acoustic cymbals (dual zone) and also hi hat. please make the video and let me know.
which electric module are u using for outputs
Do you plug the drums in to a Digital Interface or are you using an actual drum module? I made one drum, but i can't get a drum sound in my headphones I get the click in my DAW.. i just can't figure out how to get a snare sound in real time as i'm playing it. help? anyone? i'd like to avoid a drum brain if possible.
What does this do to the acoustic sound of the drumset? Will it still be good for a small live performance where you aren't mic'd, or do you have to run it through an amp no matter what after this?
1) I did it similar to how I did the other drums, but I used a 2x4 to span across the size of the drum instead of the round piece of plywood.
2) The heads were not included in the price, but I would guess that you could use standard heads as well as mesh heads, it just might not have as much bounce/spring when you strike the head. All of the other supplies came to around $40. Honestly if you're just looking to get a cheap electric kit, I would recommend going with a Yamaha DTXpress II or III.
@HangKebon Unfortunately I have since sold this entire setup. Maybe someone else out there that gets this up and running could respond to your request?
really awesome set up, do you have any details on the Cymbals you have seen at the end of your Video?
I'm looking to do the same but turn it into a midi controller through USB so i can plug it directly into a music DAW. anyone know how?
This is kinda how the dm10 pads are built...great vid how is the rebound with the foam under the mesh does it feel more damped or cushioned??
It really depends on the drum machine/software that you are using. Yes, this setup is sensitive enough to make a double stroke roll sound great at pretty high speeds, but your limitation may be with your module/software to make it sound natural. Sometimes you have to play around with the trigger sensitivity too.
hi! you did great job,just wanna ask how about the kick? just wanna know...thanks!
Do you have any hotspots ? Also, how quiet are the drums ? Are they as quiet as mesh head e-drums ?
Whats the purpose of the wood and metal and all of that inside the drum?. Why not just put the pick up on the mesh head?. Or right under it?. I am wanting to convert my kit into a e kit
men good work.. i really dont know how piezoelectric works but can i use piezo buzzer instead of piezo transducer?
What are those cymbals you have? I'm going to do this conversion to an old acoustic kit I have. I know in the world of electronic drums, cymbals are still a little far behind haha. However, I study music in College and I have full access to some amazing kits so I'm only really doing this as I like to practice when I get home and I don't want to piss anyone off. SO yeah...... The cymbals!
Maybe you mentioned but; which module do you use? And what about the sound (noise) without the module. Can you use it without sound insulation in an apartment flat for example.
What e-drum brain would you recommend purchasing for DIY drums?
Hey Sean, what kind of Sheet metal did you use ?
I used the Alesis IO. Not too familiar with settings on DM10
did you do the same process for the kick drum?
Thanks for the response. Someone needs to seriously explain how this can possibly be done with a bass drum and something like DDrums triggers. Is that even possible?
does the foam actually TOUCH the bottom of the batter head?
I had issues with double triggering with the Alesis IO, do you have it hooked up via USB or MIDI. If you are using both, that could be what is causing the double triggering.
Great tutorial. Who knows, you may well have created the best triggers out there using that design. I'm guessing we only heard the output of the module and not ambient room sound. Great natural sound. Yes, this makes me feel like playing drums again, but midi this time.
Hello Sean how are you!!!
Very inspiring ideas!!! To the point that I see myself converting one of my sets into electric very soon!!! I have a question for you: After I do this to my snare drum, How can I get a side stick sound??? That will be very important to me!!! I will really appreciate an answer for this!!!! Than you
Joel Enriquez
What module u use ?
Btw would u think 2in thick memory foam would be better then this foam??
So you're running 5 1/4" cables to your interface? I think I'm going to build mine with a volume knob on each drum for more control
Great vid thanks :)
A couple of questions.
How thick is the metal sheet?
Do you need the wood? couldn't you attach the metal sheet directly to the brackets?
Hi, great job, can you share some more details on the foam you used? Im going to do same but my foam is very light and soft so i think i must look other option.
If you live in the USA Joan's sells the right foam. Is green high density foam.
Pretty much, except for I made a smaller plate (around 6" wide) and mounted that on a 2x4 piece of plywood that was mounted to the two brackets (which were mounted to the back side of the lugs)
great video, should the foam be touching the mesh head, i the video it looks quite a way down from it? Thanks
Yeah, it should. If not, it won't get enough vibration to the metal sheet.
I was using the Alesis Trigger IO in the video, but now I actually use a Yamaha DTXpress IV to capture my drum hits. For scratch tracking, I'm using the whole kit, but for final tracking I'm using the drum pads with actual acoustic cymbals that are mic'd (probably an understatement, I'm mic-ing the crap out of them)
Interesting video. How well does this method work with a computer program like Drumagog ?
did that allow you to hear it back in real time, right? like when you hit a tom it plays a tom sound in your headphones in real time or did you have to wait to hear it as the tom sample AFTER you had already recorded it?
I have a 5 lug drum, what should I do?
Amazing! Thank you, now same thing for the kick drum right?
Great video. Where did you get such a small port hole protector?
I have a question about the bass drum: would you go through the same steps as the other drums except make the sheet metal much smaller? I don't see the need to have the entire surface area of the bass drum triggered because the beaters would be in a static position right?
In my experience, you are correct. My bass drum trigger is about the size of my 6" tom. I actually quit using it altogether because it was a hassle keeping it in place and replaced it with a REMO 8" practice pad affixed to a triangle-shaped wood support inside the bass drum and did the triggering inside of the practice pad assembly (kept the practice pad head on, just cut the factory foam in 1/2 to affix the plate + piezo). It works really well and still has the responsiveness of a bass drum.
Thanks for the vid.
Q: What's your sound module or Software? Sounds Great, good velocity dynamics.
Okay i just read your comment to somebody else about this. Damn. Any suggestions on DIY drum triggers that still keep the acoustic sound?
Does anyone know what gauge sheet metal is used ?
Ok so i did it without the wood and it still works i screwed the sheet metal into the l brackets put a piece of foam over it and glued my piezo to the bottom of the sheet metal. Only problem is the hits are pretty loud like a thump. I might cut the foam into a small circle and place it in the middle c if its any quieter.
I know someone asked this before, but could you share what sheet metal thickness you used?
When I tried this the sheet metal I used was too thin and bent around the edges (the outer 1 inch) which lead to almost no trigger response in that area. No so much a problem with the toms, but kind of a deal breaker with a snare.
0,75 or 0,8 or 1mm should do it . It's what you can find in Ale_sis DM5 prokit pads.
how do u do this for cymbals then?
I can't seem to find any quarter inch female jacks with the exposed wire. Did you cut them yourself? Do you think I could use a quarter inch female to rca cable?
Yes, I cut them myself. I actually found them on eBay. Pretty cheap. You could use pretty much any quarter inch female cable.
Sean, Since you are using a mesh head does this make your drums acoustically mute???? In other words can you play quietly using just the headphones? Great video!!!!!
Thanks,
Robert
Amazing, thanks!
hey thank you sooooo much :)
it works very well
i trigger my millenium tom for a test bought a alesis trigger io with ezdrummer lite
and it works :)
so great
no i have to trigger my whole drumset :D
thank you :)
it's the same with the snare ??
What kind of cymbals/pads are you using? I have not seen those before.
hello sean, i followed your instructions but my drums doesnt seem to be as sensitive as your build. i used a bit thicker galvanized sheet metal and didnt glue it, i just taped it. could this be the reason? i also have an alesis drum brain
+Carl Flores Yes, I would definitely find a way to attach the piezo to the sheet metal permanently. Also, make sure you tweak your settings, that may also be the issue. I used very thin sheet metal because the vibration transmits better.
Can I get this video from you? I dont want to forget about this later, I plan on doing this when I get home, I am currently deployed so its not an option.