Nord Drum : custom hardware kit ?

[Frantz]

Can someone please confirm if one can plug a dynamic microphone into a ND, as a trigger ?
Can it be calibrated in order to get full velocity range ?
Has someone already done any custom triggers/kit for the ND ?

[wartaler]

I doubt it... but I'm not 100% sure, why would you want to use a dynamic mic?
A piezo will definitely work, drum triggers and pads are built around piezos - and you can buy them cheaply
from what I've read about them they differ greatly from dynamic mics, not only in how they work, output voltage & impedance are much higher,

However, if you do want use a dynamic mic, you perhaps first need to amplify the signal with a pre-amp - e.g. on a mixing desk, then use the direct-outs
(line of reasoning: audio outputs of drum machines can also be used to trigger the ND ) but I'm not an engineer so perhaps best if someone else answers your question before you fry anything (!!)
And perhaps I'm wrong in assuming it won't work directly, -anyone?

Piezos however will definitely work, check these links about DIY triggers and pads, see what piezos they're using and go from there:
http://www.edrums.info/
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/apr11/a ... -happy.htm
http://www.drummagazine.com/plugged-in/ ... -triggers/

Cheers,
Albert

[Frantz]

Thanks very much Albert
The edrum website is very informative.

I'll post back pics of a kick pedal I made using a piezo.
It's acoustic, I have it under my keyboard and plugged into mic channel on a mixer.
I think I just have to plug it into a Nord Drum 2 to make a foot/kick trigger.

Imho Nord should communicate more about compatible triggers.

[wartaler]

I'll post back pics of a kick pedal I made using a piezo. It's acoustic, I have it under my keyboard and plugged into mic channel on a mixer.

That would be great, - interested! so you are now using the audio from the piezo right? -
just one remark on that: piezos require very high impedance inputs, (at least 1MOhms I read), otherwise they will sound thin, because impedance mismatch here causes high pass filtering,
there are some very cool websites on how to build your own very high impedance piezo pre-amp for audio recordings - hiZ instrument inputs also work ok-ish - how does your bass drum sound thru the mic input?

I think I just have to plug it into a Nord Drum 2 to make a foot/kick trigger.

Yes, you can connect this piezo directly to your ND2, you'll just need to experiment with threshold and sensitivity settings to suppress spontaneous and double triggering etc. If you want more triggers and don't feel like soldering more piezos, Korg makes some piezo clips that might be fun with the ND2, they come with their 'cliphit' drum-blob - but are also sold separately - and are cheaper than the ddrum and roland drum triggers

Imho Nord should communicate more about compatible triggers.

Here's what they mention on the website: "The 6 generic inputs can be connected to almost anything you like, electronic drum pads, acoustic drum triggers, a contact microphone, the outputs of an old drum machine and much more. Setting the Input and Threshold is easy and we’ve added a selection of presets for popular pads and triggers. " - I agree they don't give detailed technical data, but I tried many types of triggers and contact microphones, and they all worked fine with the ND2 after some tweaking...

Cheers,
Albert

[Frantz]

Got rehearsal tonight, so I'll post pics tomorrow.
Indeed I push down the the Hi-Z (guitar) button on the mixer (Mackie 402VLZ4).
I chained 2 piezo.
It's interesting to have it acoustic because you can tweak the sound with different material / hammer.
In short, I made a custom hammer with a tennis ball and some neoprene (from a sea-surfing suite).
Synth possibilities is nice, but if the ND2 had simple sample playback capabilites then I'd be less hesitant ...
I could still use the midi out to trigger samples ... but I'd like to keep things simple, a NE4D, a foot pedal, maybe one drum module.
I was too newbie to understand the lines on Nord's website, I was missing examples or compatibility list, I feel that we're a bit left to trial & error method, but it's ok now.

[wartaler]

In short, I made a custom hammer with a tennis ball and some neoprene (from a sea-surfing suite).

I'm really looking forward to those pics!!!

but..and.. why do you want to trigger samples?! ; )

[Frantz]

I'm glad to present you MrKick and his friend MrShaker :

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F.

[Mr_-G-]

MrKick box reminds me of Huckleberry Hound!

[wartaler]

Nice! Cool idea!
I bet purely acoustic and sonic considerations for placing the felt patches as you did - right?
It looks very well made & with readily available materials, excellent!

[wartaler]

You're using a Pearl Demon pedal to beat MrKick in it's face right? -nice!