MegaDrum as Sound Producer possible?

[Cysign]

Hey guys, I wonder if an Extension-Kit for MegaDrum would be able to make a computer unneccessary for playing with the megadrum.
Another Module that is connected by midi-cable that creates sounds.

So if you are @home you cen use your computer as sound libary.... and while you are practicing with your band you connect this extension to your MegaDrum and you are able to connect headphones and a mixer to this extension.

Would this be possible?
And expecially with a sd-card-reader to use your own samples?

[Firelord]

You can connect MegaDrum to a synthesizer or a drum machine via MIDI cable if these devices support it.

[jman 31]

You can connect MegaDrum to a synthesizer or a drum machine via MIDI cable if these devices support it.

or a drum module.

[Cysign]

well, I own a Roland TD-12... btu if you guys are able to create such a great device like the MegaDrum....why shouldn't you be able to create a drum-synthesizer, too?
With the ability to load wav-files from intern memory or SD-card, it shouldn't be impossible to play this samples.
But I don't have any idea if it's possible...

But I guess a sound module especially built for the MegaDrum shoult be much cheaper and better than a commercial-product like those modules available on the market...
And with an updateable firmware you always could implement new features

[dmitri]

It is not as easy as it may appear.

[Cysign]

I think building a trigger-to-midi-device wouldn't be as easy, too - but you guys did it and it's a wonderful project
If such a project would be able it would be more expensive than the MegaDrum - especially the memory/storage and the DSPs will cost a lot...but I'm sure if you do, it'll be much better than those devices which are available on the market.

What's the point? Why should it be impossible?

[Effraktor]

This would just end up something like a muse receptor. Which itself is just a computer with a fast loading version of linux. Building your own the problem is programing the version of linux to run well on the hardware you use and runs the virtual instruments you want.

The receptor isn't that powerful, most of them using single core processors and ddr ram. If i built one i'd look into what improvements come from using an ssd hard drive for the samples. If you use an sd card reader for samples you're going to have a slow usb read speed and it'll degrade a lot quicker than ssd. Simplest (and cheapest) solution would be just get a sata hard drive, they really aren't that expensive and can hold a lot of samples (downside being the moving parts aren't ideal for gigging situations.)

If we put our heads together and find what hardware is already functional in linux then it could be a cool extra project for megadrum enthusiasts. I'm probably going to build one so i'll be looking into it soon anyway.

[Cysign]

hmmm...a complete linux-system for this? Isn't it too much?
I guess a controler-board which manages SD-card-management, USB-interface (for uploading new sounds) and RAM and a big amount of ram next to the sound-chip should be enough, schouldn't it?
Okay, a LCD and 4 Keys (like MegaDrum) are neccessary for setting it up. Bur RAM isn't that expensive and a SD-card as storage should be fast enough if users have 1 minute after turning the device on (display may show when finished loading sounds). So the controller could read out the soundfiles and settings, buffer them into RAM and if neccessary play them over the sound-chip.
I don't see weather linux should be neccessary...would be too much!

And Ram and SD-cards arn't that sensitive as harddrives...SSDs are much to expensive.
Perhaps someone starts such a project and calls it MegaSound - which could even be a sampler by using touch-pads instead of MegaDrum as control-instrument...

[Synthex]

Why don't you use a netbook ?

[ile]

I started thinking about this as well. Mainly because of some latency involved with the PC. I know it's possible to tweak it, but maybe it would be still better with a more hardware-ish sound module?

A question ... how much would a sound module reduce latency? Say, if the sound module is either

1) Connected with a midi cable, has the sounds on board. Would probably has to have a RAM for them as well as permanent storage.
2) Is more tightly integrated with MD, into the same PCB perhaps.
3) Has or doesn't have a DAC (I could maybe use an external DAC). Also known as a sound card, I think

Also, how much work would it be, is it feasible, or too much work?

As I said, I'm concerned with the latency and would like to reduce it as much as possible. A dedicated module might do it better than a PC and be more convenient also.