www.megadrum.info

Hi,

I am interested in the Megadrum (any version) and have looked through some of the FAQ and forum posts and am rather impressed.

The software looks very elaborate, much more than what I am currently using which is basically what is in my units:

DTXPlorer - hi-hat, PCY crash, Pintech mesh kick and XP120SD
TMC-6 x 2 - Pintech rubber pads and a PCY ride
MOTU midi merger with parallel interface

The latency isn't too bad but I'd expect that Megadrum would be superior so I'm looking for information regarding user experiences, specifically how the Hi-hat would function since while the DTXPlorer works quite well, if it can be replaced then great but if not I believe some of the Megadrum models have at least one MIDI input (would be nice if there could be more here with Merge).

I use a DAW, Cubase 9 with various drum plugins and while there is some mechanical crosstalk between pads it has only meant that I must be satisfied with single hits but as it is rubber anyway it is really just a practice kit and not used for live.

The Lite version looks to be appealing, at 24 inputs that is hardly "lite" in my view but what would be the limitations, USB/MIDI or both?

I don't really want to build it myself and while I know someone who could their time is limited so it would have to be a pre-built model.

Part of the reason I am posting is due to the fact that it appears well supported in terms of both firmware and software so is the updating procedure fail safe?

Also, is MIDI input allowed from say a TMC-6 or could I put those boxes away and just have the Megadrum?

I have not found any information on this forum to suggest that successful operation of a RHH-135 hi-hat is possible but it's unclear whether or not that is actually user error.

Any information or assistance would be appreciated.

Thank you

P.S. I was looking at a DTX700 but for the price of this I am hoping to not only save money but also have a superior drumming platform

Welcome,
You can put all three of the units you have mentioned back in the cupboard and just use a megadrum. It's not plug and play, to be fair, but I don't think it's rocket science either. Pleanty of help around here.
The lite version would suit you fine; There are no limitations and cubase will pick up MD/MDM via USB.
Why do you have mechanical crosstalk may I ask?

Hi airflamesred,

Thanks for replying.

Mechanical crosstalk is brought about in my setup mainly because I am using multiple trigger modules, where I can only set the threshold on some pads which of course limits the scope of what I can play but that is mainly with cymbals so not so much of an issue.

I just fired it all up again and while it's working ok, I'd rather something a little more integrated hence my interest.

Looking at the MDM, it's quite astonishing there are so many settings.

I use SD as a plugin and believe I could use many of the velocity note settings, which would be unavailable with my current gear.

For the first time I also found a failing piezo so quickly replaced that but I'd be open to obtaining more pads, probably the Yamaha silicon as more of an improved practice setup (I have no intention of going live with a midi setup).

I hope I have given enough information.

Thanks again

Well if you can change a piezo then you should have no problems.

airflamesred wrote:Well if you can change a piezo then you should have no problems.

I misrepresented myself, I am quite ignorant of electronics in terms of physically doing it in particular (I just replaced the whole pad) but am well versed with computing technologies.

I have 3 x Sonic Core DSP cards so have good dynamic range from the hardware mixer with Cubase.

The setup is working ok it is just not very user friendly so what do you think of using USB midi compared to traditional a MIDI interface?

Thanks again airflamesred