ddrum4 ride cymbal chokes on its own

[lite]

Hi,

I have some choke trouble with my ride cymbal. The ride cymbal chokes on its own frequently. When I play the sound is cut-off as if You would choke it with your hand. If I play it very softly I can avoid this failure. But most of the regular hits get choked.

I've tried different sensitivity settings, tried with a 2nd ddrum4 module and different mountings. No difference. I have two ddrum cymbal pads. No matter which one I use as ride cymbal, both of them start to choke on their own frequently.

Has anybody experienced this problem?

Thank You.

[betoiervo]

Hi!

I have exactly the same problem, now for a couple of years, and it drives me crazy. I even got to the point where I bought a new module (due to other issues as well) and it soon started again.

So I though it could be the pads, or cables, but even if I unplug all cables, it happens when I touch the sound button in the module. I also tried different computers (all of them using Windows XP though). Lastly, I also tried many different sounds.

Right now, the only thing that works, is to turn it off and on again.

So my theory right now is that it could be because of the Windows XP (I didn't manage to get a Windows 98 computer to try), or perhaps the midi connection to Ddrum (I use a Midisport 1x1) and/or cables.

Did you find a solution? Does anyone know what it could be?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

[sam(otacon28)]

I'll have to check through my settings on my ddrum4 module , I remember having something of an issue like this in the past and I switched a few settings and things worked fine . Not sure if it will fix your problems but it may be worth a shot . Let me see if I can pin point what settings in particular I changed and then I'll post another reply to this topic .


sam(otacon28)

[lite]

I've never managed to solve this issue by 100%. I've switched modules, tried another cymbal pad, different cables, different cymbal mountings, even ordered and installed cymbal springs. Notng really worked. However for the time being it does occur very rarely.

Interesting point to check the data transfer. Because it's the only thing which hasn't been exchanged so far.
Only difference is I don't get this failure when I call the sound with buttons on the module. Just by playing the sound with the cymbal.

[lite]

By the way, in another thread someone had the same issue. I think the problem was a faulty soldering contact in the plug/socket at the cymbal pad/cable. As I've tried different pads and cables I have scratched this as a possible problem in my case.

[betoiervo]

Hi Lite and Sam,

Thanks for your messages. Indeed, this is a tricky one.

Lite, differently from you, the problem for me occurs even when I press the sound button in the module, so I eliminated the cymbal pad as a potential problem. But who knows, it could be that the pad is sending a weird signal to the module, and then even when I push the button, it shows the problem. The problem is happening every time I turn the module on, and if I turn it off and on again, then it is usually solved. Now yesterday I found a new trick: if I choke the cymbal with my hands and then release it, it also solves the issue. Again, maybe it is a sign that contrary to my initial belief, the pad might be playing a role.

Sam: if you find the solution you mentioned or any other thread related to it, could you please share? It would be of great help. Thank you!

Roberto

[kyrrinstoch]

I had this problem a couple times when I first got my setup. Turned out it was simply the angle of the pad. Once I adjusted the pad so it was angled a little more flat, the self-choking problem went away.

Yeah, sometimes it can be just that simple....

[Deleted]

Just a thought: If there are any capacitor in series with signal path on the inputs, leakage could perhaps create a signal on the input that is similar to the choke signal. "Leaking" capacitors can occur when they get old. Solution would be to replace those caps. It's a longshot, though.

[lite]

That wouldn't explain that it happens with different modules. I had (and still have sometimes) the problem even after switching modules, pads, cables, etc. :-(

I think the angle the pad ist mounted and played could be a starting point. Because this is the only thing I've never changed.

[betoiervo]

For me, I know that the pad angle is not the issue. I did the whole process (resetting, uploading, testing) without having any pad or cymbal link attached to it. And I still have the issue when pressing the channel button in the module. Interesting to see that if I press the sound button, it sounds ok.

So, I am getting nuts on this issue ... I can still play, but it bothers me and makes me nervous to think that the module is starting to break down. I had another module that I used for 10 years and it started to slowly malfunction, triggering on its own :-( Hope this is not what's happening in this case.

That's why I posted today in another topic (link below) a question on how to upload Ddrum 4 sounds with a software other than the Ddrum4Tool. I am having a suspicion that the combination of Windows XP and the Tool could be the issue (only variable I still didn't test).

unofficially-ddrum.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=sampleuploading&thread=124&page=1

[Deleted]

Have you tried uploading to the ddrum4 the ddrum3 sounds that loop? These are: Loop kick1, Loop kick2, Noise, Wave1, Wave2, Wave3 and Wave4. I think they are available in a secion here at the forum for download.

[betoiervo]

Well, now I think I've been through 95% of all the possible causes. This weekend I finally managed to send the sounds to the module using a different software than the Ddrum4Tool (I used Cakewalk), but still, I have the same issue. The cymbal chokes on its own with or without a cymbal attached. I need to turn the module on and off a few times, and then I can play.

The only things missing are: changing the USB midi interface (I am using an M-Audio Uno) and/or change from Windows XP to 98 (which is very difficult, because current motherboards can not run W98).

Any other suggestions are welcome ...

By the way Krillo, thanks for the suggestion on Ddrum3 sounds. Will try, but my preference is to still use the Ddrum4 sounds.

Thanks

Roberto