WTB: Cast Hi-Hat pad (non-working is fine.)

[necroticus]

We are looking for a used non-working Cast HH pad. 
Essentially, we're going to reverse engineer this device, and use the information to design a stand alone foot pedal unit since Clavia and ddrum/Armadillo do not support the ddrum4.
There are tons of these out there without the ability to fully utilize the hi-hats.
One of us is a drummer, the other is a guitarist who is an Electronics engineer, and one of our friends is a guitarist who has a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering from MIT.
So, between the three of us, we're fairly confident that we'll be able to come up with something that will work.

Thanks!



Necroticus

[kjob3022]

Hi Necroticus,I am curious about your venture into the Ddrum4 hihat.Certainly still the best sounding,triggering pad ever produced.It is my relationship with the whole Ddrum4 line that keeps me smiling when I sit down to play.If you're looking to build a pedal that will replace the current set-up,that is different from the other one by Zourman box for Roland and 2box adapters then please respond with your general idea and what it would do or replace for those of us still using the cast and magnet unit.I will try to keep a look out for a non working pad.Do you need one without the magnet, that is not red and black like the SE version?Exactly what will help you?Thanks and good luck and let me know what to look for......Hopefully yours,Ken

[kenjwright]

Hi Necroticus, are you still pursuing this project?

[necroticus]

Sorry I haven't been back around. I've been out of work and trying to find something online.  Right now, I am doing virtually nothing thanks to the Pandemic.

I have a friend - he was dating a female friend's older sister. It turns out he is an Electronics expert. The guy is a genius, literally. He works for some kind of robotics manufacturing firm, and they fly him all over the world to repair robotics that are used by manufacturing companies. Anyway, he told me to find a used ddrum cast-hat that we can destroy, and he is going to reverse engineer it for me and design a new circuit that will be "inspired" by the ddrum4 circuit , and we will build it into a pedal. Once we make one, then we will set up a go-fund me page and see if we can come up with funding to go into production.) The circuit will be built into a foot-pedal similar to the old Roland #FD-7 Hi-Hat pedal (has a mini "hi-hat pull rod" built in. We're going to have the "clutch" enclosed inside the pedal, so that it can't be lost). So you'll plug the hh pad into the pedal, and then plug the pedal into the ddrum4 module.

It won't be the exact same design as the ddrum4's electronics, it will definitely have more electronic parts in it, but will work in the same electrical range as the original so that it will function as well as the original. This will allow you to plug any cymbal or drum pad, or whatever you want to use for the "hh cymbal" into the pedal.


It will do nothing for you if you have a functioning cast-hat. This is for people who have the modules, but don't have a hi-hat. 

[kenjwright]

Hi Necroticus, sorry about your work situation. This pandemic sucks for sure ;-{

Since I last inquired about your project I acquired a dd4 hi-hat in great condition and am quite impressed with the action and articulation. I like your idea for a foot pedal though because it rounds out the choices. 1) ddrum4 physical unit, 2) Zourman module to translate modern physical units (Roland, etc. i.e., expensive hats!!), 3) Yours (separate pedal with any pad) emulating original ddrum4 unit. I have a background in manufacturing (original career as a Machinist) so could possibly assist with prototypes.

One design suggestion I would offer is to integrate a foot activated mechanism to release/engage the clutch. The magnet in the ddrum4 unit makes it challenging to have a physical release but an electronic release could be a good alternative, and possibly with a way to set which layer in the sound file within the articulated range is triggered, like semi-closed as with real brass.

Cheers!

Ken