using dampers/mufflers/tone controls instead of the cross bar for DIY snare/toms??

[ole_hansen]

hey there.

think i just had a good idea.
has anytried tried using an internal (or external) muffler instead of the crossbar, and hoops and blablhalblah to add a trigger to your drums?

ofcourse the drum would be dampened if you wanted the acoustic aspect of it as well..

but i'm thinking of buying a few Pearl Internal Mufflers like this:
http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...734?sku=441601

then take of the muffle-part, gently add a piezo where the muffler would first "hit" the drumhead, put the muffle-part back ontop of the piezo - add jacks, wires.. blabla.. and voila(!) you'd have a ready-to-trigger drum, with the added capability of adding less or more pressure to piezo/head with the mufflers' screw on the outside of your drum.

think about it.
this:

with a piezo underneath it.
a helluva lot easier, quicker to install, and cheaper too.


Patent pending

[Michael Render]

That's like an RT-10S in reverse. http://www.roland.com/products/en/RT-10S/index.html
Go ahead and try it, then let us know how it worked out.

The big drawback would be positional sensing. But if you are not using a module with PS, it should work great!

[ole_hansen]

i only have a TD-3
and my plan was actually to add this to the arsenal of live drum sound.

all the Roland RT-10s, TDrum, Ddrum triggers are essentially mufflers/dampeners with piezo's in them

thanks for the support

[Hellfire]

Great idea! I like this kind of out of the box thinking. I look forward to seeing your prototype.

[bogiesbad]

The price is certainly low...might try substituting foam for the muffle stuff or even a cone.

[cheapthrill]

This is a good idea, but one thing comes to mind. I have read a lot about triggering problems with crossbars which are too thin and have too much flex... The metal that those mufflers are attached to does flex quite a bit, but in this application it will be closer to the rim where the vibration is less. I guess we really won't know how it will perform until it is tried.

[peaceandlove]

when i opened up my star 1964 (before tama was tama-kit) i saw the same type of muffler inside of it. Thought about the same idea, but then didnt bother. I figured that hitting the rim by accident would trigger the headpiezo alot.
You might think about 'rubberizing' the whole thing to make it less rimsensitive. With others words, isolation.

[ole_hansen]

Originally Posted by bogiesbad

The price is certainly low...might try substituting foam for the muffle stuff or even a cone.

yeah i'll definetely add cones or similar sand-block-thingies as shown in so many pics.

[ole_hansen]

Originally Posted by peaceandlove

when i opened up my star 1964 (before tama was tama-kit) i saw the same type of muffler inside of it. Thought about the same idea, but then didnt bother. I figured that hitting the rim by accident would trigger the headpiezo alot.
You might think about 'rubberizing' the whole thing to make it less rimsensitive. With others words, isolation.

yeah i got the idea from my old '52 jazz kit.

but i'll only set it up on the toms for hitting the head directly.
i won't have rim-triggers too. as i don't play/use the rims on my drums (except the snare).


as for the metal on the dampers will flex;
well i've gotten my crossbar-snare-trigger lined up PERFECTLY now, and the cone just touches the mesh head, and i've got no dead zones/spots. not even way out near the rim.
the same thing will (hopefully!) be possible with these damper-triggers.
i've bought a bunch of them now.

i'll keep you updated.

[jem454]

leave the felt on, and place the piezo directly on it so the brass touches the head. My diy was made almost like that except I used an L bracket with foam. Very sensitive and triggers perfect, although I was using mesh heads. Mylar heads may have to be dampened a bit more to prevent mistriggers from excess vibrations. Probably a set of dampening rings on top would work, but you will still here the accoustic sound.





I do not like center mounted piezos at all. (Damn hotspots)
I would do this design myself, but dont want to drill into my new maple shells.

[ole_hansen]

"leave the felt on, and place the piezo directly on it so the brass touches the head."

i just can't see that working?

wouldn't that add to excessive amounts of triggering???? isn't foam there to let you SMASH your drum without breaking the piezo AND to control the piezo output?

and still the dampers i have touch the heads (mesh heads - i don't use the acoustic sound) at a slight angle, so i will need some foam or at least foam underneath the piezo to get the angle right.

any more ideas?

[Gastric]

I considered these when approaching my 2nd DIY, mostly as a cost savings. But for $5 each I thought they were too flimsy and about the same cost as a more versatile DIY crossbar. I'm also not sure how you would address the off-angle of the muffler.

But it is an interesting concept.

[jem454]

Leave the felt or replace it with foam, either or, as long as the piezo is sitting directly on the head. You just have to be sure not to smack the piezo, which shouldnt be a problem since its close to the rim.

This is the same type setup I had.
Triggers perfect.
Have a listen to mine.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/defa...?bandID=515777

If you crank the tensioner up a little it should straighten out on the head.
That or if you bend the arm a little it will straighten the angle.
It will work, Im just not sure if you should leave the felt, or replace the felt with SOFT foam.
My piezos were attached to soft foam, not the kind to make a cone.

[jem454]

Now that you got me searching I may use Pearl's external muffler (didnt know they made those) so I dont have to touch my shells.

[Hellfire]

Originally Posted by jem454

Now that you got me searching I may use Pearl's external muffler (didnt know they made those) so I dont have to touch my shells.

After seeing the Pearl external muffler, I would have to agree that they are the best way to go. The Pearl muffler is built a lot like ddrum trigger housings and they are only $20 each from Musician's Friend.