AwDeOh's Megadrum build.

[r0bbie]

The isue in this discusion is "reversed USB polarity"
However, a wrong inserted CPU, PIC or whatever component could increase current above normal Megadrum levels and trip the fuse instead of frieing the chip.
But as I wrote, it would make the project more fullproof, 100% FOOLPROOF does'nt exist

[AwDeOh82]

You can try and make Megadrum idiot-proof.. but society has a way of producing better idiots.

I think the problem most people have is the lack of a centralized FAQ - Dmitri and Synthex have posted a few things to fix this lately, I'm going to start adding to this with my experiences, and hopefully we could get everyone else doing the same, and get it compiled into a really definitely FAQ. Even little things like a picture of the way IC's need to go (showing in a picture the tab on the top of an IC, corresponding to the tab on the PCB's white marking), simple things, will probably cut down on alot of these problems that people are having.

I guess it's kind of a compliment to you guys, that there are so many complete beginners willing to by a kit and get started - it must mean you're onto something good. I know that word is already out on the electronic drumming forums that Megadrum is lengths ahead of Alesis..

As for my experiences, I SHOULD have had a multimeter at my side for this - I used to have one for simple sound engineering work when I was in the industry, so that's my fault. I should have, from the start, also been using the little alligator clip arms to secure the board, anti-static wrist strap, and a few other better things.. I guess it's easy to go overboard on being cheap when you're trying to do a project like this.

[daddy4life85]

Antistatic wrist straps are a bit over rated. Electronic components of today are not that sensitive to static electricity. I've been working with computers and electronics (building fixing whatever) for about 10 years now and have never used one

In my build I used the supplied USB port on the megadrum PCB and then bought a Neutrik chassis mount USB port which has a USB A connection on one side and USB B connection on the other side this way I could just use a small USB cable inside the Megadrum. Kind of made things easy and hard to fudge up But even so things happen and sometimes things get over looked.

[AwDeOh82]

I'd thought about doing that, but the case I bought ended up being quite low on space..

[daddy4life85]

The one I got worked out very nicely! I ended up buying one for the DAC I built as a temporary case until I get around to building the aluminum one.