WORLDS CHEAPEST VIRTUAL DRUM at $10 [ Rs.500] - using pc ( no drum module required )

introducing the worlds cheapest electronic virtual drum :-

1. Construction under $10 [ 500 Indian rupees ]
2. Brain - PC using software- flexi music orchestra
3. interface device - uses pc keyboard to link software and hardware
4. quality - excellent since in uses the samples in wav. or mp3 format or any else provided be user ...i used Yamaha and Ronald samples to get the professional quality .
5. 4 drums + 4 cymbals + a kick ( can be increased ) with sensitivity control
6. sorry no velocity sensitivity

Step 1 Parts list

all u need :

hardware + electronics + software

1. hardware :

1. wooden planks or plastic pipes to make a similar structure frame like ( if u want 4 +4 +1 ) :-
http://eqmag.com/article/yamaha-electronic-drum-set/Sept-2010/119075
2. hardboard (rough board ) plank cut into different diameter circles for drums and cymbals
i used :
drum : 7' snare two 10' toms and one 12' floor tom
cymbals: 5' bass cymbal two 12' crash one 10' hi-hat

3.
1.for attachments 8 suitable length stainless steel polished rods . out of which 4 are threaded out of which three are 1 inch and one for bass cymbal is 3 inch threaded
2. 4 nuts ( of size of the threads - i used no.)
4 voicers small + big , 4 springs + 4 chavi nuts
plz see image for corect idea
3. wooden pieces for bass pedal + suitable sized door hinges ( see image ) + 3 1 inch springs + an aluminium square + a not-bolt

2. electronics :-
1. 8 piezo transducer sensors here i get for 10rs. each ( 1 $ = 45/ rs. approx) [plastic / piezo any ]
2. 8 ic 741 op amps ( 5rs. each)
3. 40 * 40 PCB
4. 8 220k ohms resistors ( for feadback )
5. 8 4.7k presets(or pots) ( coarse) ( 2rs. each )
6. 8 470E presets ( fine ) ( 2rs. each )
8. connecting speaker wires ( 30 ft- doubled)
( 1.25 rs per feet )
9. last but not the least pc keyboard ( rs.200/- )
( or directly the IC if u get )
ALSO a female connector for the ic
i used a video game female connector the pins mismatched but i made it work randomly on the pins accessible

transistors can also be used here to amplifiy

3.software :-

as i mentioned

u need
1. flexi music orchestra
2. some professional quality wav. drum samples available widely

i attached both of them

tools :-
multimeter
solder gun + acc.
hot glue gun ( if u wish to glue the electronic joints)
super glue ( araldite , bondtite ..etc )
G- clamps
drill + 4mm drill bit
cutting saw etc.

Comments

[harryjone]

Thank you sir for this great instructable. I was just wondering if you could put bigger pictures of those schematics, I am new to this and can't take a step without copying it :D.
Thank you.

[TheBookworm]

if you hover your mouse over the image, an I will appear in the top corner. Click this I, and it will take you to a larger image

[siddiq4321]

Well....try enlarging the image.....or open it into new window...
If not....reply with u r email id....i may mail u the pdf...:-)

[mario3444]

Can i also use this to connect piezos to my logitech usb gamepad controller .

[wdowski]

Guys can someone add a proper schematics? I doubt it's gonna be hard for someone with tech knowledge. I don't have it. Can do the drums but need proper schematics. Thanks again.

[siddiq4321]

Plz wait. For the new one....as i say experiment u r own way.....as i did it accidently...
For now... I can say it is a opamp as comparator...without any driving power....the feed back is 220 ohms fixed.....individual sensitivity is 470ohm trimmer i.e. Variable one....and group sensiivity is 4.7k variable...see the schematic and my completed circuit carefully....sorry

[dfariz]

Hi,

The other potentiometer , what is the value. I saw it like 5000 K ohm.
The one more thing, the component between the -ve and +ve line on the upper right hand side, what is it?

If instructables reduce the pic quality, can I be a member and get the high quality diagram?

[dfariz]

Cannot see the diagram clearly.

Is it 470ohm or 470K ohm. 220 or 220K ohm. Can you post a clearer diagram. Thanks

[siddiq4321]

For now...its is 220 ohm and 470 ohm which we write as 220E
The pixils of the image r lowered by instructable

[ficogiano]

I like it, but I don´t understand how to make the circuit 741. Can you do it again? Thanks from Argentina!

[siddiq4321]

Yes t is very necessary. U can use trim pot / trimmers / potentiometers in place etc...

[ficogiano]

but i can use this? http://www.sourcingmap.es/smapimg/es/n/11c/1000-unidades-150v-16w-47k-ohm-axial-lleva-resistencias-pelicula-carbon-150862n.jpg

[siddiq4321]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Potentiometer.jpg/225px-Potentiometer.jpg

or

http://www.digitaldandt.org/db/uploads/data_sheets_rev/Resistor_files/resistor4.jpg

[siddiq4321]

no ...
u can use this

http://www.digitaldandt.org/db/uploads/data_sheets_rev/Resistor_files/resistor4.jpg

or

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Potentiometer.jpg/225px-Potentiometer.jpg

[ficogiano]

thanks

[siddiq4321]

See. It carefully.... Study the ic...opamp as comparator is being applied here..between terminals 2 and 3. ..or ur self thnink about a new idea...

[ficogiano]

what is 470E presets ( fine )? thanks you.

[siddiq4321]

Its the 470 ohms trimm pot or the trimmer like the potentiometer. Any may work.
Fine is for fine sensitivity...

[ficogiano]

But is it necessary?
another question, Does the 4.7k preset has to be potentiometer necessarily? thanks

[charithl]

i tryd did it bt i got some prob about making signal amp..so if u can pls upload a some video or pls mail me your pdf file.
thank you and nice job..

[siddiq4321]

See the single piezo cicuit carfully. Or try u r own methods. I m not sure this would work with u.

[doggyd69b]

I used a First Act electronic drum (table top set) sold at Target for about $ 80, you can use that and connect it to to the computer via USB but I for some reason was not able to get the software to recognize it.
I gutted it and basically added 1/4 female connectors (soldered each piezo to a connector) and mounted the connectors outside they can be plugged to a drum module and played with the module sounds or with VSTs.
much better sounding than the original set, but I am adding a real hi hat pedal and a DIY bass drum so it is more than 80 dlls but totally worth it if space is a concern, also particularly useful for non drummers laying down tracks on software drums. tutorial soon.

Very nice and effective way to get started, but as budget permits, upgrade components and improve the prototype. DIY drumming is a never ending pursuit of perfection.

[siddiq4321]

plz be more specific.....
any way do u have any other easier circuit to convert piezo signals to short the keyboard ic terminals ?......

and about the budget .......this instructable is foe those backward villagers like me living in India ....having no drum acc. and module ......
thankx

[doggyd69b]

I was referring to a small table top drum set, with a USB connection, Yamaha and Roland sell those for about 100 dlls maybe in India as well, not sure how remotely located you are..
Ebay can be a good source for stuff like that on a small budget. again not sure if Ebay is available in India.
I don't know of a cheaper or easier way to convert piezo signals into midi signals without a USB enabled (musical keyboard) I guess you could use a typing keyboard but it would be a little harder to accomplish.
I know it's possible because I can play vst instruments with my laptop's keyboard, but it is not really convenient to make music, small beats perhaps but not full songs. and about the budget.... I guess you could find one of those units used (keyboard, or table top drum set) or even use one of the video game drum sets and convert it into a real drum set. Again I don't know what you have available where you live. I do however appreciate the creativity and effort shown by you and how you are willing to overlook the limitations in pursuit of your goal. keep up the good work and upgrade as you come across better ideas/parts.

[siddiq4321]

No i dont get that on ebay. But i get an midi usb key board for cheap. U have any idea for how to that with a casio wich is midi and usb without damaging much the casio...? Help appreciated.......kepp telling such shortcut ideas

[doggyd69b]

If you have access to a Casio keyboard that has USB connectivity, you don't need to make any changes to it, it will connect to your computer via USB and you will be able to control software drums. Basically the USB connection allows the keyboard to be used as a MIDI controller thus controlling the software via midi messages when you press the keys on the keyboard. it is hard to play drums that way because you play keys instead of physical drums but you can still lay some tracks on a recording program such as Audacity (free on the net) or Reaper $ 40.00 also on the internet. (I highly recommend Reaper due to the high amount of options and easy of use, not to mention that $ 40 is not budget breaking for most).

[siddiq4321]

thankx dude....but one more thing ......i want to play on my physical drum set ...similar to to the instructable ....i wanna enjoy it and play live all instrments....
can i do this wiring each key from the casio to a piezo beneath the drum pad?
and is it velocity sensitive ?
help appreciated

[doggyd69b]

Most inexpensive keyboards are not going to be velocity sensitive, if you are going to spend $100 dlls to get one that is (Velocity sensitive) you will be better off getting an Alesis I/O. it is not a module but it is a trigger to midi interface meaning it receives the input from the triggers (piezo sensors) and it converts it into MIDI and then you connect it to the computer via USB the midi information is then picked up by your drum software and played through headphones or speakers. the only issue there besides the fact that you have to spend $$ for the Alesis I/O, is that you will probably need an external sound card to avoid latency, but a cheap usb card should help. so, for about 150 dlls for everything new or less if bought used, you can get a pretty decent setup. or you could try to find a used module.

[siddiq4321]

ohh.....thankx that will help me a lot ....and help me go a professional way......thumpsup !!!

[siddiq4321]

PLEASE rate and comment

[siddiq4321]

how was that ?
did any 1 try it ? plz comment ....

[ramicaza]

Wow that's really awesome! The idea of using a hacked keyboard was really smart.... i smell a featured project :D