DIY electric drums

[2slow]

Thought I would start a DIY thread . I've converted 3 kits so far so if i can help any one let me know !

[pastor_bob]

2slow, just out of curiosity, how much does an average conversion run, and how much time does it take to get a conversion done?

[Church Drummer]

That is a cool Idea, This would be a cool thing to do with my old CB percussion Kit, What mesh heads, and other parts did you use?

[2slow]

2slow, just out of curiosity, how much does an average conversion run, and how much time does it take to get a conversion done?

PB that is a hard one to pin down.

The things needed are..

Drums or shells

Triggers..you can build them or buy them


Mesh heads the pearls are cheap 1 ply hart makes a good mesh head

Cymbals there are DIY from real cymbals, rubber like the rolands and factory made triggered plastic and metal

and then you will need a sound module roland is the best but there are several companys that make them


Or you can use computer programs that trigger the sounds and these are by far the best most real sounds you can get the only draw back is it takes a dedicated high end computer

And if you plan to play live you will need a "drum" sound system

as for the cost it depends. What i did was bought a nice TD-10 kit kept the module,cymbals and cables and sold the rest. I found this to be the cheapest way to convert a kit

Time... once the triggers are built or bought and fitted it does not take much time. I can take my converted kit back to acoustic in about an hour or back to electric in about 2 hours.

Hope this helps and if i missed something just ask !

[pastor_bob]

Thanks 2slow!

[2slow]

After playing the hart 6.4 kit for a few days i switched back to the DIY mapex kit and I think I like it better ! It is a real drum set so it is great for practicing quitely and then being ready to play the acoustic kit at church. If this feeling stays the hart kit will be for sale soon ! DIY kits are nice anyone wanting to build one let me know I will be glad to help !

[cdaug]

Or you can use computer programs that trigger the sounds and these are by far the best most real sounds you can get the only draw back is it takes a dedicated high end computer

what is your recommended interface from the trigger to the laptop? is there delay?

[2slow]

what is your recommended interface from the trigger to the laptop? is there delay?

I did not get that far into the computer program because of the cost. But I did find out that there can be an ever so slight delay I do know of a very good company that builds computers with the program loaded and they know way more than I understand about it ! I can get that info for ya if you want .

[cdaug]

i would like to get some more info. would like to integrate more triggers into the mix for live performance. would greatly appreciate any leads you could throw my way 2slow.

[2slow]

i would like to get some more info. would like to integrate more triggers into the mix for live performance. would greatly appreciate any leads you could throw my way 2slow.

Sent you a PM cdaug

[Stevo42w]

you can run your triggers into anything that runs at asio and with enough ram you can turn the latency to pretty much zero. You can also get triggers onto your acoustic drums if you want to record with triggers but keep your acoustic sound for yourself.

Im gonna use a breakout box..... i forget what their proper name is but it has heaps of inputs that run at asio. straight from the triggers into the card. This can then be run into a separate program and run as a brain instead

[2slow]

you can run your triggers into anything that runs at asio and with enough ram you can turn the latency to pretty much zero. You can also get triggers onto your acoustic drums if you want to record with triggers but keep your acoustic sound for yourself.

Im gonna use a breakout box..... i forget what their proper name is but it has heaps of inputs that run at asio. straight from the triggers into the card. This can then be run into a separate program and run as a brain instead

What he said !!!

[Stevo42w]

hehe slow :P While you may know about e drums. I have spent years with computers and fewer times with audio technology but i learnt about this stuff in our course. I also know because this is what i am to use eventually. Its what im working towards. I just dont know exactly what im gonna use to do this but i know it exists! :>

[2slow]

The computer samples are by far the best . I just did not know enough to go that way. The modules are a no brainer!

[cdaug]

you can run your triggers into anything that runs at asio and with enough ram you can turn the latency to pretty much zero. You can also get triggers onto your acoustic drums if you want to record with triggers but keep your acoustic sound for yourself.

Im gonna use a breakout box..... i forget what their proper name is but it has heaps of inputs that run at asio. straight from the triggers into the card. This can then be run into a separate program and run as a brain instead

now your talking! i'll do some research on this and if i have any questions mabye you can help out?

[Stevo42w]

sure ill get the model of the thing im thinking off. I think they have stopped production though so it will be hard to get your hands on one it will have to be second hand... or ill look into alternatives.... Then you can run it into a program called drummagog. or ill have to search magesy for something else. then you buy samples and let the program take care of them. Then running at asio speeds you can use the laptop as your brain not a td or whatever.... which potentialy would save heaps of money! :>

throw questions my way and ill be happy to answer and figure out.

[2slow]

FYI if you are putting a mesh head on an acoustic drum use tape on the bearing edge to protect it ! I use electrical tape and it will break down so it should be checked on occasion. Don't want to hurt the bearing edges !

[Stevo42w]

Hey you said that twice :P

Those cross bars under the mesh head, are they pre made or did you make them yourself slow?

And slow its never too late to learn. Would you like to try get you upto date on computer connections? Because i could open a thread on how to do it maybe. I just need to figure it out properly before i tell you incase im wrong :P Would you like to experience though? Im gonna look at that site and figure out some good samples to use :>

[Bish]

FYI if you are putting a mesh head on an acoustic drum use tape on the bearing edge to protect it ! I use electrical tape and it will break down so it should be checked on occasion. Don't want to hurt the bearing edges !

Is that the sticky stuff I found on the edges of a couple of the toms?

[2slow]

Is that the sticky stuff I found on the edges of a couple of the toms?

Yep sorry i thought i got it all off .

[Stevo42w]

did you make/sell bish a kit slow?

[2slow]

Bish has my black cherry saturn kit now. A pro kit for a Pro drummer !!

[Bish]

Bish has my black cherry saturn kit now. A pro kit for a Pro drummer !!

Ut oh...who is supposed to have the kit? A pro drummer? Ok, I'll start looking for one.

[Stevo42w]

is that the mapex up there /\ its beautiful.

Did you keep the blue one slow?

[2slow]

is that the mapex up there /\ its beautiful.

Did you keep the blue one slow?

Yep thats the DIY kit I'm using now !