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Resistors necessary for Roland PD-120 pads?

PostPosted: Tue Dec 19, 2017 8:13 pm
by glenn.szymanski
Hello,

About 2 or 3 years ago I bought a used 32 input Megadrum on ebay (along with two Roland KD-7s, three Roland PD-120s, two Yamaha PCY155, one Yamaha PCY135, and an Alesis real hat pedal).

I have had no luck in getting this whole set up to work, mostly because my Macbook Pro is stuck at OS 10.6.4 and I can't get Megadrum manager to work. I'm heading down to Florida in a few days and I'm going to bring a few pieces and try to use my mom's computer to run Megadrum manager and try to get this working.

The firmware on the Megadrum is currently at 20160406

Before I attempt all of this, I remember reading a few years ago before I bought the Roland PD-120 pads that their piezo output was considered "too hot" and that the Megadrum inputs couldn't handle them and possibly needed a resistor soldered to them. Is this still the case or was this overcome by a firmware update?

thank you in advance,

Glenn

Re: Resistors necessary for Roland PD-120 pads?

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 12:11 pm
by dmitri
If you send 1 million volts to an input you cannot overcome it by any firmware update. If a pad is "too hot" you have to "cool" it with a resistor.

Re: Resistors necessary for Roland PD-120 pads?

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 12:46 pm
by ignotus
Megadrum manager isn't essential to configure the module, you can easily do it in the module itself.

You won't know if your specific pads are too hot until you actually try them.

Re: Resistors necessary for Roland PD-120 pads?

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 3:04 pm
by Theblackcat
Hi Glenn

First of all, I would try and see if it works the way it is. No reason to go all crazy if it needs no fixing!

If not, this is what I did, I´m running 27mm piezos on the heads on a converted kit - wich I believe is the same size as the Roland ones?
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