Vintage Simmons Drums (UK) Users Group

Hello everyone:

I was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts on how one would go 
about making an interface for the SDX pads, that would output midi note 
number, and the positional control change number, just as the SDX 
itself does.

I have been using battery3, and would like to use the SDX pads to 
control it, but I am not interested in hauling around my SDX anymore, 
as its too fragile.  

It doesn't seem like there would be too much to it, but at the moment, 
I don't have the know how.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

John

Hi John,
here is some documentation of the FSR technology provided by the
original company which supplied SDX with these trigger foils: 
http://www.simmonsmuseum.com/?area=searchresult&searchstring=fsr
Probably you can find some information. On the other hand I don't
think that the basic idea is that magic. Instead of a single trigger
voltage you receive two discrete signals (thererfor the stereo jack)
what you might translate into a zone information and than into a midi
note.
Bye
Wolfgang

--- In Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com, "shuttlejohn1" <john@...> wrote:

>
> Hello everyone:
> 
> I was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts on how one would go 
> about making an interface for the SDX pads, that would output midi note 
> number, and the positional control change number, just as the SDX 
> itself does.
> 
> I have been using battery3, and would like to use the SDX pads to 
> control it, but I am not interested in hauling around my SDX anymore, 
> as its too fragile.  
> 
> It doesn't seem like there would be too much to it, but at the moment, 
> I don't have the know how.
> 
> Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
> 
> Thanks
> 
> John
>

Hm, I am really no talented tech, but reading the first page of the
FSR doc tells me that the higher the force, the higher the resistance.
 So technically naive as I am I could imagine that a permanent voltage
runs through the SDX pads and when hitting the pad we get a voltage
holler instead of a pulse. Is that possible?

--- In Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com, "superwolle70"
<superwolle70@...> wrote:
>
> Hi John,
> here is some documentation of the FSR technology provided by the
> original company which supplied SDX with these trigger foils: 
> http://www.simmonsmuseum.com/?area=searchresult&searchstring=fsr
> Probably you can find some information. On the other hand I don't
> think that the basic idea is that magic. Instead of a single trigger
> voltage you receive two discrete signals (thererfor the stereo jack)
> what you might translate into a zone information and than into a midi
> note.
> Bye
> Wolfgang
> 
> --- In Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com, "shuttlejohn1" <john@> wrote:
> >
> > Hello everyone:
> > 
> > I was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts on how one would go 
> > about making an interface for the SDX pads, that would output midi
note 
> > number, and the positional control change number, just as the SDX 
> > itself does.
> > 
> > I have been using battery3, and would like to use the SDX pads to 
> > control it, but I am not interested in hauling around my SDX anymore, 
> > as its too fragile.  
> > 
> > It doesn't seem like there would be too much to it, but at the
moment, 

> > I don't have the know how.
> > 
> > Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
> > 
> > Thanks
> > 
> > John
> >
>

the best resource on the net is 
www.ucapps.de
there is a schematic with aproxx 64 analogue inputs
maybe that's a start

BERK!
>-- Oorspronkelijk bericht --
>To: Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com
>From: "shuttlejohn1" <john@shuttlecockohio.com>
>Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2007 15:39:29 -0000
>Subject: [Simmons Drums] Thoughts on interfaces.
>Reply-To: Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>Hello everyone:
>
>I was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts on how one would go 
>about making an interface for the SDX pads, that would output midi note

>number, and the positional control change number, just as the SDX 
>itself does.
>
>I have been using battery3, and would like to use the SDX pads to 
>control it, but I am not interested in hauling around my SDX anymore, 
>as its too fragile.  
>
>It doesn't seem like there would be too much to it, but at the moment, 
>I don't have the know how.
>
>Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
>
>Thanks
>
>John
>


________________________________________________________________________________________
12move ADSL: Voordelig, snel en onbeperkt internet. 
Meer informatie vind je op http://adsl.12move.nl

--- In Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com, "superwolle70" 
<superwolle70@...> wrote:
>
> Hm, I am really no talented tech, but reading the first 
> page of the FSR doc tells me that the higher the force, 
> the higher the resistance.

Actually it's just the opposite.  The harder you press on them the 
less the resistance.

> So technically naive as I am I could imagine that a 
> permanent voltage runs through the SDX pads and when 
> hitting the pad we get a voltage holler instead of a 
> pulse. Is that possible?

You get a sudden drop in resistance.  That can be converted to a 
voltage spike, vaguely similar to what a piezo produces.  There's a 
circuit in the FSR pdf from earlier in the thread (page 23?) that 
does that.  

Dave

P.S.  This is my third attempt to post a response to this. Is anyone 
else having posting issues?

--- In Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com, "superwolle70"
<superwolle70@...> wrote:
>
> Hm, I am really no talented tech, but reading the first page 
> of the FSR doc tells me that the higher the force, the higher 
> the resistance. So technically naive as I am I could imagine 
> that a permanent voltage runs through the SDX pads and when 
> hitting the pad we get a voltage holler instead of a pulse. 
> Is that possible?

That's pretty close.  The FSR resistance actually decreases as more
force is applied.  And yes, there is a small voltage going through the
FSR when the unit is powered on.  From what I've seen while working on
my DrumKat, the resistance changes very quickly, and produces a
cleaner signal than a piezo since there's no 'ringing' involved.  

Does that make sense?

Dave

--- In Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com, "superwolle70" 
<superwolle70@...> wrote:
>
> Hm, I am really no talented tech, but reading the first 
> page of the FSR doc tells me that the higher the force, 
> the higher the resistance.

That's the right idea, but it's the other way around.  The harder 
you press on them the less the resistance.

> So technically naive as I am I could imagine that a 
> permanent voltage runs through the SDX pads and when 
> hitting the pad we get a voltage holler instead of a 
> pulse. Is that possible?

You get a quick drop in resistance and quick recovery.  It's not 
sluggish like I thought it might be.  That resistance change can be 
converted to a voltage spike, similar to what a piezo produces, but 
without the "ringing".  Does that make sense?  There's a circuit in 
the FSR pdf from earlier in the thread (page 23?) that produces a 
voltage trigger.  That would be a good starting point.

Dave

--- In Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com, "superwolle70" 
<superwolle70@...> wrote:
>
> Hm, I am really no talented tech, but reading the first 
> page of the FSR doc tells me that the higher the force, 
> the higher the resistance.

That's the right idea, but it's the other way around.  The harder 
you press on them the less the resistance.

> So technically naive as I am I could imagine that a 
> permanent voltage runs through the SDX pads and when 
> hitting the pad we get a voltage holler instead of a 
> pulse. Is that possible?

You get a quick drop in resistance and quick recovery.  It's not 
sluggish like I thought it might be.  That resistance change can be 
converted to a voltage spike, similar to what a piezo produces, but 
without the "ringing".  Does that make sense?  There's a circuit in 
the FSR pdf from earlier in the thread (page 23?) that produces a 
voltage trigger.  That would be a good starting point.

Dave

Hey
according to the scematics off the sillicon mallet there is some sort invertor
function for the fsr 
I'm also very curious how it works but it's a lack off time to really figure
it out

good luck BERK!

>-- Oorspronkelijk bericht --
>To: Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com
>From: "Dave B" <bongo2001@yahoo.com>
>Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2007 15:57:50 -0000
>Subject: [Simmons Drums] Re: Thoughts on interfaces.
>Reply-To: Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>--- In Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com, "superwolle70" 
><superwolle70@...> wrote:
>>
>> Hm, I am really no talented tech, but reading the first 
>> page of the FSR doc tells me that the higher the force, 
>> the higher the resistance.
>
>Actually it's just the opposite.  The harder you press on them the 
>less the resistance.
>
>> So technically naive as I am I could imagine that a 
>> permanent voltage runs through the SDX pads and when 
>> hitting the pad we get a voltage holler instead of a 
>> pulse. Is that possible?
>
>You get a sudden drop in resistance.  That can be converted to a 
>voltage spike, vaguely similar to what a piezo produces.  There's a 
>circuit in the FSR pdf from earlier in the thread (page 23?) that 
>does that.  
>
>Dave
>
>P.S.  This is my third attempt to post a response to this. Is anyone 
>else having posting issues?
>
>


________________________________________________________________________________________
12move ADSL: Voordelig, snel en onbeperkt internet. 
Meer informatie vind je op http://adsl.12move.nl