Building a Mega Drum, Need Help

[jamalpiper]

I'm new here, saw a post on the V-Drum DIY forum, and this really caught my eye. Right now I have a cheap electric drumset with 9 inputs and really no settings to tweak with horrible pads. My original Idea was to just replace the pads to adjust the feel, but now i'm being very limited by only having 9 pads so I've decided to build a Megadrum.

I was going to buy one of synthex's Pcb/Ic kits but i calculated it out to being $75US, Which is a bit more than I can really spend on just the chip right now. (though the pcb and everything looks very nice and well designed)

My Idea for the megadrum is to rack mount it, omit the LCD and keypad, and have the midi and usb controls.

So my real question(s) is what components can I omit since I won't be using the keypad/LCD?

How will I get the USB, do I have to go to synthex for that, or is there a way to do it myself also?

And another final question mostly towards synthex since I believe he made it, the USB circuit, is that a Midi>USB hub? Could a Midi jack be connected to it make a small midi hub?

In lue of not being able to afford the pcb I'll be either learning how to make my own (since it's a neccessary skill I've been avoiding), or just using Prototyping board.


And since I'm already making an unnessarily long post, I'll add this too.

On the Main page, theres something about a 64 version? Is that developed yet?

[Beamtreetaker]

So my real question(s) is what components can I omit since I won't be using the keypad/LCD?

Hi there!
It's explained on the first page of Synthex' PCB 2.7 thread http://www.megadrum.info/forums/viewtopic.php?t=187 (3rd entry)

How will I get the USB, do I have to go to synthex for that, or is there a way to do it myself also?

FT232 or AVR-CDC USB were initially used by dmitri before Synthex offered the pic 18F2550 usb chip & firmware.

On the Main page, theres something about a 64 version? Is that developed yet?

I think you are hinting at the Atmega644 chip. It also offers 32 inputs 'only'. But you can hook multiple megadrum units in a chain ...if you desire.

[Synthex]

So my real question(s) is what components can I omit since I won't be using the keypad/LCD?

See here : http://www.megadrum.info/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=187&start=0#p2455

How will I get the USB, do I have to go to synthex for that, or is there a way to do it myself also?

See here : http://www.megadrum.info/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=38&start=0#p192

And another final question mostly towards synthex since I believe he made it, the USB circuit, is that a Midi>USB hub? Could a Midi jack be connected to it make a small midi hub?

See here : http://www.megadrum.info/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=41&start=0

theres something about a 64 version? Is that developed yet?

No 64 version yet. And I think never.

[jamalpiper]

Thank you both for replying, helped alot.

[gastric]

Unless I missed some critical post where there was a real-time software app that can control the MegaDrum via USB/MIDI I think you'll be doing yourself a disservice omitting the LCD and controls simply due to the fact you'll have a difficult time configuring your trigger parameters without some sort of real-time visual feedback via the LCD.

[mojamusic]

Gastric,

Have you built a megadrum, yet? Your edrum DIY was very inspiring. This seems to be a next move for you.

I bought the full kit a month ago and I'm still staring at all the pieces

I bought a pcb board to practice on but I haven't been impressed by my soldering skills. I don't want to ruin the nice board so... I'm still staring at the pieces.

[gastric]

I do still plan to build a MegaDrum. I just keep getting to involved in converting the drums/cymbals themselves, thus I've been using a Trigger IO for my module so I have one less project to cause problems to iron out. As I move forward one thing I'm looking for is a module that can hopefully provide better cymbal features than the Trigger IO. With the Trigger IO you're stuck with 2-zones-plus-choke maximum. Which is totally functional. But some Roland modules can support 3-zones-plus-choke so you can get separate bell/bow/edge/choke triggering. Not that it really matters that much but if it's possible, why not?

I did find a post for MegaDrum Controller software which looks AWESOME. It's so much easier to control and configure kits via software in my opinion. Much more intuitive to see all of a trigger parameters at once rather than tediously scrolling through menus. And it would simply the build slightly if you can truly skip the LCD/buttons. Though I'd still think you'd want the LCD if for no other reason that to provide visually feedback the module is working. Without that if the Controller software is having issues you're stuck wondering why. Just my opinion, anyway.

I work in computer software QA so Controller software specifically peaks my interest.