KVR Audio

Green Red Brownell · Post by **Green Red Brownell** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 8:31 am

This was on the front page of KvR, and I thought it sounded kinda neat. it's a VST host that allows your computer to be the "brain" for a MIDI e-drum kit. They're looking for Beta testers right now.

http://www.ferrarapercussion.com/

Apparently, you connect each drum pad or trigger to an audio input of your sound card. I don't know a lot about e-drums... wonder how that works?

Now, if this thing was a VST Plugin, it would rock even more, I thought. But even as a host, I think it could have its uses. Anyone else think this lowers the barrier to connecting MIDI drums to your computer?? Is there any existing VST that can do the same things this host can do?? Seems like that would be outside the spec....

Opinions? Seems like this could be something that would majorly lower the cost of an e-drum setup, since a lot of the cost is in the "brain".

Here's a thread over on edrumming.com about this product. Doesn't look like anyone has had their hands on it yet...

http://www.edrumming.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1336

Here's another thread from vdrums.com

http://www.vdrums.com/forum/showthread. ... adid=17215

-- Green

Green Red Brownell · Post by **Green Red Brownell** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 6:31 pm

Guess there's no drummers in the house, eh??

jones-y · Post by **jones-y** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 7:10 pm

Green Red Brownell wrote: Apparently, you connect each drum pad or trigger to an audio input of your sound card. I don't know a lot about e-drums... wonder how that works?

Green,

Basically a drum trigger creates a very loud and very short burst of audio (Think tapping a dynamic mic with your fingernail, times 1000). A drum brain converts that audio into MIDI. Very simple concept. You would need a soundcard with a lot of audio inputs to cover a whole drum kit.

Also, using something like apTrigga, you could do the same thing within your host, although probably not as elegant.

Green Red Brownell · Post by **Green Red Brownell** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 9:00 pm

Ahhh... thanks. I was interested to see if there was a VST that could do the same. I'll look into apTrigga.

The threads that I linked to made some of the same points that you did... it would take a *lot* of audio inputs to process a large drum kit. It is possible, though, and multi-input audio cards should be coming down in price, so I still think this might be the wave of the future.

On the plus side, plugging the drum pads or triggers into your computer would tend to reduce the latency introduced by a drum brain. Both apTrigga and D-Trig promise zero-latency operation, it seems.

The reason that I'm interested in this (and there should be others who feel the same) is that I could never imagine spending $2000 - 4000 for a e-drum setup. It just isn't happening. But if there's a way to get 2 or 3 or 4 drum triggers and connect them *directly* to my DAW using software, that should be do-able, financially. Then, I could inject a little "live feel" into drum tracks, etc, for not a lot of money.

Anyway, I will be following these 2 apps with interest. Thanks for the info. If anyone else has things to add here, please feel free!!

- Green

Andywanders · Post by **Andywanders** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 5:06 am

Green Red Brownell wrote:
On the plus side, plugging the drum pads or triggers into your computer would tend to reduce the latency introduced by a drum brain. Both apTrigga and D-Trig promise zero-latency operation, it seems.

The reason that I'm interested in this (and there should be others who feel the same) is that I could never imagine spending $2000 - 4000 for a e-drum setup. It just isn't happening. - Green

If you want a good, in-expensive drum pad setup, try to get hold of an Alessi DM5 drum module very cheap secondhand now. It has 12 trigger inputs and sends MIDI out too. As well as 500 or so excellent drum and percussion sounds.

Then take a stroll down to your local electronics shop and buy 12 transducers (very cheap), some shielded cable, and 12 1/4in jack plugs.

Next you will need something that you want to hit. If you plan to use real drumsticks you will probably need some 1/8in plywood, cut to about 6in square, then covered in Neoprene (the stuff that wetsuits are made from), or thin rubber. However, if you want to play with your hands you can use just about anything - an empty tin-can, a tupperware container, a shoe... etc.

Glue a transducer to the bottom of the drum pad. Attach some cable and a jack plug. Plug in to the Alessi DM5 and play. Hey presto...!

I knew a guy in London years ago that fitted transducers to a pair of shoes and, via a DM5, triggered samples for this weird "dance performance" stuff he was into.

There are probably other similar things to the DM5, I don't know. But the point is: you really don't have to spend thousands of bux to do this.

Green Red Brownell · Post by **Green Red Brownell** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 6:31 am

Yeah, there are forums on the 2 different e-drumming boards that I posted links to earlier, explaining how to "build yer own". So I'm aware that it can be done.

The other point is that most hardware brains that output MIDI have a certain amount of latency translating to MIDI. I assume that is true for the Alessi?? If so, the PC approach might still be preferable, in my eyes.

I will keep in mind what you said about making your own pads, though.... sounds like a great idea. Thanks!

Anyone else ever try D-Trig or apTrigga??

-- Green

efluon · Post by **efluon** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 6:55 am

also you might save audio-inputs by using ktdrumtrig (by koen of smartelectronix); try it with a microphone..

Andywanders · Post by **Andywanders** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 7:34 am

Green Red Brownell wrote:The other point is that most hardware brains that output MIDI have a certain amount of latency translating to MIDI. I assume that is true for the Alessi?? If so, the PC approach might still be preferable, in my eyes.

I used the Alessi for a few years and never experienced any noticable latency. It was designed specificlly for this task (well, the trigger inputs were) and always performed flawlessly.

Any latency you might get is more likely to come from the computer, but if you have a decent soundcard/driver that shouldn't be a problem.

Anyway, I hope you get it sorted. A bit of "live" drumming along to sequenced tracks can really spice things up a lot.

This thread has made me regret selling my DM5 now...

Green Red Brownell · Post by **Green Red Brownell** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 8:19 am

Not to take this thread too off-topic, but here's another MIDI tempo tracking tool that's a little different. It's called InTime, and it tracks MIDI (nt audio) input and creates a tempo map.

http://www.circular-logic.com/index.html

Nobody mentioned D-TRIG?