Electronic Drum Kit by munchman
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Drums are fun, let's face it. But they are too expensive and cumbersome. The solution? Build your own electronic drum kit!
 
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Step 1: The theory

A keyboard is really a bunch of switches. So to make the drum kit, we build our own switches, and wire them up to a keyboard controller. This plugs into a PC, where a program listens for keypresses, and plays a corresponding .wav file
idontcar3 says: May 17, 2011. 11:12 AM
you wont believe me but i had the same idea but with piezos, and its kinda hard to find them locally =).. so.. thanks for the alluminum foil idea :D i'm trying tonight ^^
heller_guitar says: Dec 30, 2010. 4:25 PM
Hi, I´m really interested in making one of these, and I would like to know if this diagram will work, because, seriously, I find it easier to do ;) If no one can answer this, I´ll try and share my results.

Thanks in advance.

munchman: your instructable is great, but IMHO, maybe you could try not to use slang, and to explain a bit more on some sections. I mean, it´s understandable, but... well, it can always be better.
diagram.jpg
thealeks says: Dec 5, 2010. 9:03 PM
OMG YOU ARE GOD!!! this is exactly what ive been looking for! i have the software already, i just need some sort of hardware for "playing" drums and recording into cakewalk. i will make this asap.
duck_tape_ says: Mar 12, 2010. 5:06 PM
This popped up when I tried to open the program
drum kit error.bmp
Cr4zy_Dud3_0n_F1r3 says: Oct 24, 2010. 10:18 AM
I have windows 7 and it appears that munchman has vista, so if you have xp or whatever it could be that.
munchman (author) says: Mar 12, 2010. 5:20 PM
Are you sure that you have the .NET framework and that you have unzipped the program?
Pestana15 says: Jun 8, 2010. 3:03 PM
hello people I've got a little problem I've got the key codes and I've potted in the profile, but to play the notes I've just to hit the pads, but when i hit them no sound come of my speakers. could somebody help me plz. reply quickly plz, i need this as sone as possible thanks for your time
samzaxe says: Aug 10, 2009. 12:50 PM
hey there...dude am also trying the process that you showed in this tutorial. but isnt it better if we use piezo transducers instead of aluminium foil to complete the circuit. please reply i am in the middle of process... waitinzz
munchman (author) says: Aug 10, 2009. 11:57 PM
Try It!
samzaxe says: Aug 12, 2009. 2:58 PM
dude am trying......but the problem is that piezo works both ways.. that is tht it makes sound when current is given and generate current when force is applied.and when i atttached the keyboard extended wires with pzo the circuit was completed. can u help me with any idea that the piezo only takes input as force and should ignore any sort of current comin from the keyboard wires thx
harrydask88 says: Feb 25, 2010. 1:04 AM
try to put diods in the positive wire of the piezo that will oneway the electric flow.
munchman (author) says: Aug 13, 2009. 12:44 AM
If a piezo generates current than it's a bad idea to use it here. All you need is a switch. The described method does this.
ahmadsamintazwarkhan says: Jan 16, 2010. 11:50 PM
this is very cool...but it guess there is one problem...two sound files cant be played together...i guess a keyboard allows only one press...if two buttons are pressed together...only one appears....can u help me with this....or can i use gamepads instead of a keyboard??? please reply i;m in the middle of the process...

Thnk you
carlatf says: Jan 7, 2010. 10:37 PM
Hi,
I don't wuite understand what you wire with what in the keyboard :(
Would you be so kind to explain a little bit more?
best regards!
danymw says: Dec 22, 2009. 12:32 PM
it's way cheaper and customizable using a cheap gamepad like i did for my knex guitar ^^.
thanks for the pads idea,i'll rate if it works well enough
what it is the sheet of plastic for?
xhaylowx says: Jul 12, 2009. 6:12 PM
where do the wires go? one to each 'panel'? and so it triggers a note back to the keyboard when you hit it and the alluminum foil touches?
munchman (author) says: Jul 13, 2009. 12:40 AM
Exactly, the aluminium foil 'panels' touch together through the holes in the plastic, connecting the two wires together and completing the circuit.
xhaylowx says: Jul 13, 2009. 10:04 AM
you should add that up there. and is it okay if i don't have a multimeter and don't use one?
xhaylowx says: Jul 10, 2009. 1:37 PM
can i just use a peizo instead of the aluminum foil and such, and just wire it back to the keyboard?
munchman (author) says: Jul 10, 2009. 4:46 PM
I don't think so, does a piezo act like a switch?
xhaylowx says: Jul 10, 2009. 8:10 PM
a peizo detects when an object is hit and how hard it's hit.
munchman (author) says: Jul 10, 2009. 11:57 PM
In that case, no, not with this version. I am, however, planning a v2.0 using an Arduino and some pressure sensors. Stay Tuned!
xhaylowx says: Jul 10, 2009. 1:36 PM
you did say rinsing, right? how do you rinse it?
munchman (author) says: Jul 10, 2009. 4:48 PM
I just meant repeat, like make another one. It's just slang.
hg341 says: Jun 6, 2009. 8:59 PM
that is a very cheap and cool way to do that i don't have a spare keyborad though
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