Input gain range

[el-dr]

I recently finished setting up my new MD based triggering system I mentioned in my earlier posts (I'll post the promised picture, soon). All triggering is now handled by a 56 input MD: individual drumpads, three modified Alesis Control Pads (with the on-board electronics bypassed) and the acoustic drums.

Everything works fine, my only problem is that the difference between the signal coming from the acoustic drums is a much weaker than the signal coming from the pads and MD's gain range is not wide enough to cover that.

The pads work well with All Gains Low setting, but that's not enough for the acoustic signals. When I turn All Gains Low off, even a gain value of 0 is too hot for the pads. Not too much, but it noticeably reduces the dynamic range of them.
I should either have to amplify the acoustic signal or attenuate the signal of the pads. The former would be more difficult I guess, but it should only be applied to 8 inputs, while the latter would be simpler and it should be done on 47 inputs.

Could someone give me a detailed description (with recommended resistor values etc.) on what I should do?

Thanks.

[dschrammie]

There are a few threads about pads being "too hot" that you can do a search for. I think amplifying the signal your acoustics is not an option...at least not without being quite involved/complicated.
Your best bet is probably to simply add a resistor at each of your pads. Yes, I know that's a lot of them, but it's the price we pay for wanting giant sets! It's probably easiest to just put a 10k-100k ohm potentiometer in line...that way you can dial in just how much resistance you need. I don't know where you are located, but here in the States I just get them at Radio Shack...they're probably about $1 US.

[dmitri]

I can only second what dschrammie said. Hot pads require voltage dividers/attenuation.