pots on the jacks pcb?

[dm9876]

So I know one of the 'features' of MegaDrum was "Potentiometers free design". but in practice I see that so many of us need to add them to deal with so called 'hot' pads to get decent dynamics.

Anyway it seems this statement really was just to make megaDrum look better than edrum. Since edrum is a dead project I don't think we need to compete and can now just be pragmatic.

I think an elegant solution would be to add pcb mount pots to synthex's input jacks pcbs. That way it's cheap, compact and quick to install (as opposed to wiring panel mount pots or drum mounted ones). Also then those who don't want them can just put jumpers in place of each pot.

I know this means megadrum would be sort of tied to a particular drum kit and need internal adjustments, rather than just loading a different config which is not ideal, but I guess 99% would use their MegaDrum on one drum kit only.

Not too expensive even if you choose half decent pcb pots and definitely easier and cheaper than having to retrofit them into each drum / cymbal itself

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=RT4366

0.55*32= $17.60 AUD

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=RT4318

0.24*32= $7.68 AUD


Dean

[dmitri]

So I know one of the 'features' of MegaDrum was "Potentiometers free design". but in practice I see that so many of us need to add them to deal with so called 'hot' pads to get decent dynamics.

Still most of the pads/cymbals don't require potentiometers. People having problems tend to be more vocal hence you hear more about some having "hot" pads and needing voltage dividers.
Also "voltage dividers" doesn't mean "potentiometers". The voltage division doesn't need to be precise, it can be simply two resistors to bring voltage level down roughly within the range meaningful to MegaDrum - MegaDrum will already get a full dynamic range if with HiLvlAuto set Yes "HighLevel" goes above 200.

I myself don't use potentiometers and neither many others.

Having said this, I must repeat - if your pads are too "hot" you may have to use voltage dividers. There are several ways to do that and one of which you just described.

[Ken Forgettable]

I believe it is possible to maintain SUFFICIENT resolution whilst ensuring inputs never clip!
I shovel channel data down a light pipe with no apparent bandwidth problems like those associated with trigger to MIDI based algorhythms

[dm9876]

well how ever you want to call it... pot is arranged just as an adjustable voltage divider and is just as easy as a couple of resistors. Point taken about not everyone and not all inputs needing them.

I understand what your saying here.

>>MegaDrum will already get a full dynamic range if with HiLvlAuto set Yes "HighLevel" goes above 200.

So you could reduce the input quite far and still have it work.

Its a while back that I did this so I might have forgotten some specifics, but there still is some confusion on my part.

Without voltage dividers originally I had with HiLvlAuto and highLevel getting somewhere around 950 - 1000 something like that, so i presume being below the maximum that meant it was still not clipping.. yet it did not become very 'playable' (in terms of dynamics) until I reduced the input with 'voltage divider' (pot) so the max was somewhere like 600 - 700 range. Why if it is not clipping do we have this issue at all?

[dmitri]

I told it elsewhere in the forum, don't remember where, that if with HiLvlAuto set to Yes HighLevel goes above 900 then the pad is too hot.

[dm9876]

yes I remember and that is the same as what I experience in practice... just not sure I understand the theory of why..

Never mind though.. this thread was just a proposal and I see that if not the majority need it then there is no point to have it on the PCB especially if it would then mean everyone who does not want the pots then has to install 32 links in their place.