Single Input Multipad

[jamalpiper]

I was thinking about the resistance adding up on my bike ride today. Squared numbers would work the easiest I would think, 1,2,4,8,16,32,64,128... Even If you hit 4 pads simultaneously it would be possible to know which pads.

As for the shared piezo, I think that may be the fatal flaw. Some mechanism would be needed to divide the voltage. Or a way of avoiding the issue is to only have pads on the same bank which you would never use together, either by physical or musical distance. (ex, 18" Tom & Cowbell, 28" gong china & 6" splash). The issue would be negligible in a multipad though.

[Ken Forgettable]

Anyone have an idea how this 'Mandala drum' is constructed?

See P.12 of this 1.76Mb PDF manual http://synesthesiacorp.com/Mandala_USB_Manual.pdf

[mcalilj]

I was thinking about the resistance adding up on my bike ride today. Squared numbers would work the easiest I would think, 1,2,4,8,16,32,64,128... Even If you hit 4 pads simultaneously it would be possible to know which pads.

That would work. Good one.

Or a way of avoiding the issue is to only have pads on the same bank which you would never use together, either by physical or musical distance. (ex, 18" Tom & Cowbell, 28" gong china & 6" splash). The issue would be negligible in a multipad though.

Yes, I think the solution is to group the instruments appropriately... I have a habit of making things more complicated than they actually are

Anyone have an idea how this 'Mandala drum' is constructed?

See P.12 of this 1.76Mb PDF manual http://synesthesiacorp.com/Mandala_USB_Manual.pdf

Wow, that looks cool! I looked at their site; if you click on the image gallery in the main page, pic 5, it shows that under the hood there are 128 concentric "strike position rings"; do you think these are switches? I read that they have a patent on the position sensing method, but so far couldn't track down the patent number... I'd be interested to know how that works.

[Ken Forgettable]

-cut-
... I'd be interested to know how that works.

I expect the design relies on a stiff playing surface which is a deal breaker for me.
Also bear in mind that positional sensing may be able to fulfil your dreams ...