MegaDrum as simple midi controller?

[blindboyrecording]

would the MegaDrum also work as a simple on/off switch and midi fader/volume/pan control for Logic or Reason?

i'm thinking = yes, for ON/OFF swittches (which would act like "drum hits" - mute, solo etc..)
but what about implementing pots instead of the switches?
can a pot inplace of the piezo control a continues control of how much velocity is sent (0 - 127) ?

pot simply wired (on the BassDrum input 1) now acting as a volume control in ie. Reason

1 - signal
2 - ground
3 - (not connected)

then we would have a DIY guitar pedalboard controller too

[jman 31]

If I understand you right, you want to replace the piezo with a pot? If that is what you are saying then no, piezos (the drum trigger itself) produce an AC pulse which is then interpreted by the Megadrum. Simply putting a switch or pot would not produce any voltage, and therefore not trigger anything. I hope I understood you right.

[kwas]

If I understand you right, you want to replace the piezo with a pot? If that is what you are saying then no, piezos (the drum trigger itself) produce an AC pulse which is then interpreted by the Megadrum. Simply putting a switch or pot would not produce any voltage, and therefore not trigger anything. I hope I understood you right.

Please forgive me if I now give a (VERY) stupid idea...
If you provide constant voltage and after that a pot, instead of piezo pulse, could that idea work?
My MD is still i peaces so I dont have any expirience with the settings, but if it's possible to arrange them to receive
and send continuos MIDI messages instead of pulses maybe it could be possible.
Used this way we could have very inexpencive 56 fader MIDI control for DAW or foot controler for Guitar Rig or anything similar.
I wonder, how much of the original programing would have to be changed for MD to work in this mode?
Just the idea of the top of my mind....

[jman 31]

Not sure about that. Maybe if the constant source had a normally off switch that could be triggered to on when you wanted a pulse to go to the MD.

[kwas]

You are still thinking in pulses. Try to think of it in a way of hihat controler, which is a continuously varied acros the 127 steps. Multiply that by 56 and you got your self a midi mixer controll. Or you can leave some of the chanels for on/off switches. Then you have home project studios and guitarists who also want to build their DIY MegaControllBoard

If this sounds to you like a total idiotism, it's only because I have NO knowledge in electronics or programing.
I'm just a drummer with some expirience in studio recording.

Can anybody who understands what I'm saying here, comment on this cause I think it could be a very interesting twist to the MD development?

[jman 31]

Sorry man, I have never messed with midi for anything but drums. So I am always thinking in terms of hits. I wouldn't think it would be that hard to implement something like you are talking about. I may give it some thought and see if I can come up with something.

[kwas]

Yeah! You finaly geting it, but I didn't ment you like you personaly, rather like anybody who would have an interest to do such a thing - project.
Maybe Dimitry could comment on this if the idea is too far away from the MD's original use, program-vise...

[jman 31]

Hey maybe I am interested! I agree though, it would be good to see if the Master himself thought it was possible....

[kwas]

Finaly!
And picture this, now as it is, only the drumer in the band gets to play on MD. In this developed version guitar and bass players can get one for them ( Guitar Rig ) and the "producer" can pick up one for the recording. So in an average band you could have up to 3 or even 4 MD's. How's that for market expansion?

Oh well, the salesman in me is getting a litle carried away...

[dmitri]

Why not this: http://www.midibox.org/users/tor_arne/m ... index.html ?