Who can help me get started with triggering acoustic drums?

[VTgreen81]

demoed a DTXpress yesterday, liked the sounds of the drums, did not like the feel of the pads or sound of cymbals. I don't think I'll ever want to play electronic pads, but now I want to learn about triggering. I'm guessing I'd still use overhead mics to capture cymbals. Do I need a module or can I use software like Drumagog of DK from Hell?

All I really know is I don't know enough to even go buy triggers yet.

Thanks,
Dan

[mikeh]

A drum trigger captures the vibration (impact) of the drum and sends that signal into some type of converter (drum module, etc.) The converter can then converts the "pulse" to a MIDI signal which can then feed to various other modules or software applications.

The triggers normally have a 1/4" jack which must be plugged into whatever converter (module) you use. That would then either have audio outs, to output sounds from that module or MIDI out, to feed a MIDI signal to whatever software application you choose (if you want to use DFH or whatever).

So yes, you would need a converter to accept the 1/4" jacks. I've been told they have new converters which do not require 1/4" input - but I have not seen or tried such animals.

[boomtap]

Has anybody tried triggering an acoustic kit that has those practice silencer (neoprene mats) on them?

[Tim Brown]

It has already been established that you can plug the triggers into individual mic inputs on a computer recording soundcard - such as one with 10 inputs(each trigger/drum's signal must go on its own channel/track) and then have Drumkit from Hell or Drumagogue do a "track replacement", thereby eliminating the Trigger to MIDI Interface - BUT, it can not do it in real time - you have to record the strikes first, and then replace the tracks.

Originally Posted by boomtap

Has anybody tried triggering an acoustic kit that has those practice silencer (neoprene mats) on them?

Why not just buy the screen heads? you can get them to fit most standard sized drums.




Tim

[tourettes5139]

Drumagogue?

[boomtap]

I am in the process of doing a conversion by ordering th e screen heads, I just was thumping around and had the practice pads on and was thinking, 'hey has anyone tried this".

[pandamonk]

Originally Posted by Tim Brown

It has already been established that you can plug the triggers into individual mic inputs on a computer recording soundcard - such as one with 10 inputs(each trigger/drum's signal must go on its own channel/track) and then have Drumkit from Hell or Drumagogue do a "track replacement", thereby eliminating the Trigger to MIDI Interface - BUT, it can not do it in real time - you have to record the strikes first, and then replace the tracks

Can you do this with an e-drumkit with no module? Plus, what do you mean by"you have to record the strikes first, and then replace the tracks", do you mean, once you've recorded the tracks you assign each one to a drum sound? What about the velocity, does that work or is it all just the same?

[Tim Brown]

Originally Posted by pandamonk

Can you do this with an e-drumkit with no module? Plus, what do you mean by"you have to record the strikes first, and then replace the tracks", do you mean, once you've recorded the tracks you assign each one to a drum sound? What about the velocity, does that work or is it all just the same?

You are basically using the triggers like microphones when you record. Except insterad of delivering a quality sound, the trigger will deliver an electric "spike" or strike each time you hit the drum.
So you have to record each of these drum triggers on it's own track - that way, when you assign sounds to them, you can have the entire kit separated, otherwise it won't work.

Velocity and all of that should work, because the triggers are fully dynamic - and the electronic signal delivered will be dynamic.

I personally haven't tried it because I don't record on a PC, or use any of those programs, but I do trigger my kit and I use the triggers to open and control Gates and Compressors when I'm miking my kit.



Tim

[brandrum]

Originally Posted by Tim Brown

Why not just buy the screen heads? you can get them to fit most standard sized drums.


Tim

that would be a great idea for volume purposes....a tip though. you might want to cover the bearing edges, since mesh heads can have a sandpaper effect on bearing edges.