Everything was fine with the pedal input until...

[CyberFly]

Low Level: 46
Hi Level 859

How did you come up with these values?

I monitor the open/closed bar in MCT. Then I play with the values and curve until I get the biggest range. I wanted to have the most distance between the lowest and highest value in the green bar. Then I set the open and closed level of the hi hat, taking the value from the green bar. I toughed this would give me more control of the hi hat.
Is this the right way to set the pedal? (Also, auto levels doesn't seem to work. It doesn't change the values when I set them to something random.)

I've been playing with the low and hi level for a bit. This doesn't change the fact that the value is jumping up and down all the time. It does have effect on how much the value jumps up and down, I got it to jump by 5+ in value.

Should I check the pcb or wires?
I have a very basic multi meter.

[dmitri]

If you measure voltage on the pedal input when you press/depress the pedal, what values do you get?

[CyberFly]

If you measure voltage on the pedal input when you press/depress the pedal, what values do you get?

My MD is powered via the usb on my laptop. My laptop is connect to the psu, the batter is still in the laptop.
I did not install the parts for an external power supply on my MD. It is a 2.8 syntex kit.

First will be the control, no pedal. Measuring from the tip and ring of the cable plug.
MCT: value jumps up and down between 126 and maximum. Multi meter: 4.34 to 4.36, value goes up and down. It sometimes hits 4.33 and 4.37. Multi meter is set at 20 V, I can't set it lower.

Pedal open:
MCT value jumps around at 40.
Multi meter: value jumps from: 0.28 to 0.30

Pedal closed:
MCT value jumps around at 113
Multi meter: value jumps from 0.51 to 0.54

After setting pedal type to pod:
Control:
Multi meter: value jumps from 4.35 to 4.38

Pedal open:
Multi meter: value jumps from: 0.28 to 0.30

Pedal closed:
Multi meter: value jumps from 0.51 to 0.54

[dmitri]

Pedal open:
MCT value jumps around at 40.
Multi meter: value jumps from: 0.28 to 0.30

When the pedal is open, i.e. the wiper of the pot is close to the terminal of the pot connected to the power source, voltage on the pedal input should be close to +5. Find out why it is not in your case.

[CyberFly]

Pedal open:
MCT value jumps around at 40.
Multi meter: value jumps from: 0.28 to 0.30

When the pedal is open, i.e. the wiper of the pot is close to the terminal of the pot connected to the power source, voltage on the pedal input should be close to +5. Find out why it is not in your case.

The wiper doesn't go all the way up and down. I'm using a converted bass drum kicker and there is not enough up/down movement to get the wiper to go all the way up and down.

Multi meter set at 20k ohm (resistor mode).
Pedal open: 4.97
pedal closed: 12.16

When I place the wiper all the way up by hand, (almost 0 resistance), I only get 0.01V.

The pedal Low impedance and power source are connected to the tip and ring of the input. Ground is shared with all the other inputs.

[dmitri]

When I place the wiper all the way up by hand, (almost 0 resistance), I only get 0.01V.

The power terminal of the pot is close to +5 and when the wiper is all the way up it also becomes connected to the power so it should also read close to +5, shouldn't it?

[CyberFly]

I have tested my hi hat pedal on a friends MD, also a 2.8 kit. Results ware the same, almost no voltage when the resistor was at 0 ohm and the value of the hi hat position was jumping around. Seems like the resistors I have are broken.

Any advice on good sliding resistors? I would like to try a sliding resistor again because they are so easy to use.
Or should I just go with an optical sensor?

[dmitri]

Go with optical. Much easier to build and much much more reliable.

[rockdude]

Go with optical. Much easier to build and much much more reliable.

..or go magnetic My hall effect sensor has been a good friend a while now.

[CyberFly]

Go with optical. Much easier to build and much much more reliable.

..or go magnetic My hall effect sensor has been a good friend a while now.

Yes, the hall effect seems to be most simple to build sensor for the hi hat pedal. I have already send a pm to Ken Forgettable. I need some help on finding the right parts. I can only build ''monkey see, monkey do'' style.