Today I started to do some tests to calculate microDrum latency. I used a Behringer UCA 222 sound card as an oscilloscope , the software “Electroacoustics Toolbox” to analyze the signal and, for convenience, a MIDI Thru Box to split the output of the microDrum (this have certainly introduced a delay). I have connected an input between the piezo and the microDrum and the other input to one of the outputs of the MIDI Thru Box. I did several tests using various pads and different values ​​of Scan Time. The Scan Time is the time in milliseconds where the microDrum analyzes the signal before sending a MIDI note. The first question that I have done is, how much time elapses from when the microDrum ends to sample the signal and when the MIDI note is sent?

In all the tests this value is less than 1 ms. In the photo I used a Red Shot Trigger DDRUM and I set the value of the Scan Time 3 ms (as you can see it would be enough less). By analyzing the signals, the distance between the two fronts is 0.9 ms. It seems to me a very good result. Soon I will do the tests using an Arduino Due with 84 MHz ARM processor.

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YouTube Link -

For this new video I used the Medeli dd506 linking it to microDrum and a MacBook Air with Addictive Drums.

I created the new video on the fly, forgive the quality of the result, but, above all, forgive the quality of the drummer. The HH works with Hall effect, but I still have to fine tune the magnet’s distance from the sensor … The crash is Yamaha and the ride is Roland but the rest is the work of my hands.

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YouTube Link - Video 4 microDRUM

At the end of the video you can see microDrum “naked” version, the space between the jacks with the new PCB is not compatible with the old box, I’ll have to redo the holes or change the box…

From now on I will not use more titles taken from songs. I made ​​a video of my new application for iPhone / iPad connected to a pad. Unfortunately, the video is not good, the audio is bad and also the background song I had to distort to avoid problems with Youtube.

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YouTube Link - Video 3

On the other hand I have introduced support for SFZ files, I also ran tests using 100 mb of samples and work well, I could also import the sample on the site of 2Box.

Exactly one year ago I published the first post on this blog. In a year the project has brought me much satisfaction, but also some doubt. Why microDrum more successful abroad than in Italy? How long will I continue to invest money in this idea? It makes sense to release the code as open source?

Meanwhile, happy birthday to all those who are following the evolution of this project, I give you a screenshot of the application for the iPhone that I’m developing.

What do you think? How many of you have an iPhone, iPad, or are thinking about getting one?

Attention: so far I have used two microDRUM: “full” (with Arduino Duemilanove) always connected to the pads, the other “flexible” (with Arduino Uno) to test the firmware and special configuration of the pads. As I wrote in some post long ago the presence of a 120ohm resistor between the reset pin and 5V pin prevents autoreset, today I discovered that for the Arduino One is not enough. On the “official” page suggest a capacitor.
I still have not tested, if it works I will change the schema.

I have a little surprise for you:

The sound is not very good, but it is a problem of the webcam.
I’m starting to work to achieve something like this:

Alesis iO Dock

What do you think? In my opinion this is the future. It’s not that you have an iPad to give me for free?

Finally came the new PCB! They are wonderful … and certainly more accurate than homemade.

Anyone who wants to can buy in the shop. It ‘s the first time I use it, if there are any problems please contact me via email.

Thank to organic io, we have a new video of microDRUM:

What do you think? In my opinion the idea of ​​building a microDRUM without using a soldering iron is great.

I made ​​a video where you see the microDRUM at work:

PS. This is the first post bi-languages…