It is very simple to build a trigger. It is not more than a piezo, a cable and a plug. A trigger like that can be connected to an Interface or a drum module. That is all.
It doesn't matter what kind of cable and what kind of connector you are using. It makes sense to go for a jack connector since it seems to be the standard for most interfaces and modules. The cable can be thin or thick, that doesn't matter either because it will not transport sound (only a sinus shaped pulse). On the next picture you see a thin cable and connector on the left side (which I use inside pads), a thicker cable with male male connector on the right side (which I use inside triggers).
|
How can I build a trigger?
Use solder and a soldering bolt to connect the cable to the piezo at one end and the cable to the connector at the other end. When the cable and the connector have only two pins you can't go wrong (switching the two won't matter, because it is a sinus shaped pulse).
|
|
You might want to use a cheap jack-jack cable instead of a separate cable and connector. Instead of soldering two parts together, you could cut off one connector. Solder the piezo at the one end and you'r done. It saves work and a moulded plug is more reliable (generally speaking)!
|
|
Soldering the piezo can be tricky at first. One contact should be made at the outside (on the copper), the other in the middle. Make sure you work fast when soldering the middle contact, because the surface of the piezo might melt if you heat it for too long!
|
|
|
|
Now you can test the trigger by connecting it to your Interface or drum module . In 99 out of a 100 times the trigger will work fine, but just for that one exception it is nice to know now, before you proceed. If the trigger works fine, cover the piezo with glue to secure the connections.
|
A PVC housing
If you intend to use the trigger multiple times (for example on a drumheadof an acoustic drumkit), or when you want to mount the trigger on the outside of an object, it is be wise to protect the trigger. One way for doing that is to make a box or housing around it, consisting of two parts.
|
|
If you want to make a plastic housing, PVC is very suitable. it is easy to cur and easy to glue. If you make room for the cable, and glue the two parts together it will make a very robust product. Below a picture of one of my earliest products. On the second picture you will see the finished product, with company logo and thicker cable.
|
Bescherming met stof
I wouled like to give two more examples of housing a trigger. You could use a cotton like fabric and attach velcro to it. That way it wille be easy to attach the triggers to clothing. Because clothing is very soft, you may need to tap the triggers very clos to the piezo because it might not respond if you hit it a few inches away from the trigger. However: using triggers with clothing means it is unlikely you will encounter crosstalk (hitting one trigger and false triggering another).
|
|
A simular idea is the next one, a cotton fabric with velcro that can be positioned around my leg. To give the piezo a playing surface, I inserted a piece of a plastic flower pot. That is flexible and round. That way, you do not need to tap directly on top of the piezo.
|
|
These samples will gie you some idea of what is to come on the following pages. . Once you know how to build a trigger, you can build anything! In fact a drum pads is not more that a body with a trigger inserted. The biggest challenge is to make a body that provides you with a good surface and good electronic response!
|
|