Introduction: Portable/ghetto Digital/electronic Drum Set-up Slash/slash
UPDATE!
i recently re-did this project in a MUCH more professional looking way.
https://www.instructables.com/id/less_ghettodiycrappy_electronic_drumset/
check it out!
video on the last page...
ok so geekboxjockey already made a great instructable for a digital drum set at
https://www.instructables.com/id/ERBA0PDKH8ES9J7AOG/
but i don't have the room for a full set, plus i want something portable for when i finally get up the guts to go busking. so i made this heap
hey if anyone reads this, can you PLEASE comment? it's my first real instructable so i'm really wanting to know how to make it better or if it's good as it is.
thank you
oh and if you make one post a picture! i'd love to see what you smarty pants make out of this.
Step 1: Necessities
you will need:
-a drum module. this is the big buy. i got mine used for 150, and supposedly you can get specs to make one on-line but i'm an idiot when it comes to circuitry so i just bought mine. i reccomend the dm5 because it's cheap but NEVER use the internal sounds. just run it into a computer and use ezdrummer
as many of these items as you want pads. aka 5 pads=5 piezos:
-some mouse pads. mine have this weird hard top on them with really heinous lenticular images on them, but i assume normal ones will work too.
-some piezo transducers from radio shack. #273-073. call ahead, alot of them don't stock many of them
-1/4" jacks, also from radioshack. i don't know the number for those, but they're easy to find and plentiful. GET MONO!
-scissors
-an exacto knife that you're not particularly fond of
-wire strippers
-tape
-a piece of wood
-kneeling board for gardening
Step 2: Piezo Party!
ok so grab a piezo and open it up. i actually found an easy way to do this finally.
grab the piezo and push hard on the side with the label. this break the glue seal. then stick your xacto in between that lid piece and the edge and pop it out. then stick your blade through the whole on the other side and push against the piezo inside all around in a circle and it should pop out.
you should be left with little gold discs with wires coming off them.
Step 3: Connectification
now take your little piezos and attach them to your 1/4" jacks.
attach the black to the ring and the red to the tip. basically look at the two spots on the jack that you can attach and the one that connects to the big piece that comes off the back is the tip. it makes sense when you look at it. if you need more clarification ask.
Step 4: Now Cut Up Those Mice
now you cut up the mouse pads.
i kind of drummed on the piece of wood for a minute to see what size and shape pads i wanted. and then disregarded all of that and just cut out some crappy rectangles.
then you smash the threaded side of the 1/4" jacks on to the mouse pad to make a little indent, and then cut out a whole roughly that size. now stick the jack through and tighten the bolt on the other side to hold it in place
Step 5: Now Tape the Piezos Down
now you place the piezo where you want it gold side down and tape it. i'm sure you could glue it or something fancy but whatever. i know this works so i will endorse it.
Step 6: Tape It Up Like a Mummy
do all that as many times as you need and then tape them to the piece of wood.
hook 'em up
rock out.
this project could easily be used as a hand drum set up, or used to trigger samples, or for firewood!
do it on a skate deck and be the illest bomb to ever drop!
Step 7: Other Stuff
i would reccomend getting some wire (any kind works) and 1/4" male components and making cables for each pad, rather than buying them since they're mighty expensive. also with this set up the cords all come off the top and if you make them out of wire they'll be more flexible.
i'm going to try and get some L brackets that the jacks will fit through so that the cords will go out sideways instead of up
for a kick drum i just tape a piezo to the floor still in the plastic container and it works pretty well.
i doubt anyone will read this or care, but if anyone wants i can upload a video of me playing mine.
sorry it's not the most useful instruct, but someone might dig it right?
