Solved: ways to trigger synth drum modules

[Jero]

Recently aquired a Drumfire DF500, which has 5 seperate (in/out each) drum synth channels. They were originally triggered with piezo contacts that you clipped on to drums etc

I would like to be able to play all channels, whether it be manually with some sort of pushbutton gate? Or perhaps automatically with a sequencer of sorts? Both?

Help my dumb brain

Some manual devices I've considered are the Synthrotek Arcadian (but only 3 gates), the ADDAC 304, Krypt Modular Keyboard Warrior, etc...I also found this one, https://reverb.com/item/63457843

which would help with one of my next issues...power, a box, etc....as I am not a modular user at the moment, and don't currently have anything like that

[crochambeau]

Congrats on the new drum synth!

In my experience, the DF500 is pretty forgiving with respect to what you feed into the trigger inputs. I trigger mine with a drum machine. You could conceivably just hook a pushbutton up to some low voltage (like a AA battery) and trigger them like that, but do note that the shape of the trigger can affect the resulting sound.

Example: triggering off a tight closed hihat can sound different than a trigger with a wider footprint, resulting in something approximating dynamics.

With respect to the keypad listing, I'm interpreting that as a passive CV processor, in which you can cut up or slice in an existing CV train to feed whatever is downstream. I do not interpret that as a CV generator, which is what you'd want to trigger the drum module - but again, it looks like hanging a small battery off the input to chop to the outputs would do the trick.

Piezo transducers do not generate a huge signal, so the Drumfire has onboard gain to tailor each channel to the size of signal you're feeding it (sensitivity), I have triggered mine from my guitar - though held notes result in an open span of noise and not a well defined drum sound.

My TL;DR advice is: if you're going with a manual push button be quick on the tap/release because the time you hold the trigger ON will affect the sound.

(edit, I seem to have mentioned the trigger quality affecting the sound quite enough on this post - I had to grab mine and fire it up to be sure I wasn't talking out my ass - so forgive the repetition)

[Jero]

I seem to have lost track of things as usual

...Crochambeau thank you! I figured as much, re minimal signal to trigger. Perfect that you have an actual DF unit for first hand experience

I ended up tossing together a basic controller for it! Built from an old busted Fender channel switch, some small momentary push buttons, five 1/4" jacks, & a AA battery.

Here's a test clip I recorded when I finally had extra time to get it wired. More to come once I clean up/repair the unit, and get more familiar with it...Naturally, I already have ideas for a better conroller design for the future


(Sorry for the ratio, wasn't planning to upload it)

[coupleonapkins]

Eggcellent vid, Jero! Glad it has led you down a tube of future triggerings

[Jero]

Haha thanks, yeah it should be fun!
...I also noticed sonething interesting, while plugging in the cables...apparently I generate enough voltage to trigger it, simply by touching the end of the cable!

So the next device will have a 3x3 keypad grid (5 main isolated, plus 4 wired to multi hit) with a touch panel as well...and I have one of those little Simon toys that I want to hack to make a random auto trigger/interactive thing

...might be worth seeing if I can use a color change/flicker LED to automatically alter the sound on one of the channels as well

Anyone have one of those EHX Clockworks kicking around?

[crochambeau]

I seem to have lost track of things as usual

...Crochambeau thank you! I figured as much, re minimal signal to trigger. Perfect that you have an actual DF unit for first hand experience

I ended up tossing together a basic controller for it! Built from an old busted Fender channel switch, some small momentary push buttons, five 1/4" jacks, & a AA battery.

Here's a test clip I recorded when I finally had extra time to get it wired. More to come once I clean up/repair the unit, and get more familiar with it...Naturally, I already have ideas for a better conroller design for the future


(Sorry for the ratio, wasn't planning to upload it)

That's brilliant, I had never considered just holding a trigger open and running it like a standard oscillator. THANK YOU.