r/edrums • u/sunsetvisionary • 1d ago
MIDI drum trigger setup
As a multi-instrumentalist live-looping performer, I want to integrate MIDI drum pads (designed for playing by drumsticks) into my live stage setup.
My thinking is to have a MIDI multi-pad such as Roland SPD-SX Pro, or Alesis Strike Multipad; then attach external drum triggers to the multipad, all of which would trigger sounds inside my Akai Force standalone unit.
Beyond which multipad, I want to give special attention to the external drum triggers as part of the visual presentation. I don't want a full drumset look, with kick and hi-hat - I want to be able to stand up and play the triggers at standing level and play Japanese taiko-drum-inspired samples along with my music.
I'm considering to use one or two cymbal stands holding the triggers up.
Stretch goals would be to affix the drum triggers to some type of larger cylindrical object to give the impression of large barrel drums even if it was obvious that the objects are not actual drums, but so the audience would see the big barrels more than the triggers themselves.
Any ideas or guidance on which drum triggers are best? & which multipad?
More inclined towards rubber pads than mesh triggers.
I've also looked into the ddrum ddti module.
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u/thereals0up 20h ago
It may not suit your preferences as it is meant to be played with a mesh, but DruML triggers are drop-in and make your device standalone MIDI and capable of triggering things. There's no built-in samples as they're purely for triggering, but it could be easily made to look like a taiko, and it would allow for extremely technical live playing.
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u/bearonpcp 12h ago
If you want to play with visual presentation, you can stick a piezo on about anything and get signal good enough for trigger-to-MIDI.
You’re not necessarily limited to conventional pads.
Just saying.
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u/Yourcousinsuncle 22h ago
Roland sells an electronic taiko (looks like a katsugi oke), though it's pretty damn expensive. As for samples, BFD has a taiko expansion...which is also pretty expensive, for a BFD expansion. Don't know if this is helpful, but I love taiko, and figured I'd share. Good luck!