Using Drum Pads and Triggers

 

Designed by RMS Prod./Design

  •  No MATERIALS are needed for this lesson.
  • This pagewas designed to give it's viewers enough information on how drum triggers and pads operate before they step into actually using them
    		•  Objective - This page was designed to help Educators learn about the use of Drum triggers and pads. Enabling the learner to trigger not only drum sounds but many other sounds as well.

     Audience:

    Beginner to advanced Educators

     Related Links

    ddrum

    DrumTech

    Interstate Music

    Latin Percussion (LP)

    Mars Music.com

    Peavey

     Triggers

    • Triggers like the one picured here are used simply as striking devices that when hit allow a MIDI signal to be sent telling a particular sound sample to be summoned.
    • Triggers can also be added on to your acoustic drums by using ones like the one shown in the second picture here. They are attatched to your drums by an adhesive or with double sided tape.
    • Small so it adapts easily to current acoustic drum set-up.
    • Construction provides years of use.

    PineTech

    Roland corp

     Sam Ash

    Triggerhead

    Universal Percussion

     

     Pads

    • Larger surface resembles a drums size and makes an easy target.
    • Construction provides years of use.
    • Some have more than one input jack.
    		 

     Input /Source

    • The most common type of input for all types of drum pads and triggers is the common 1/4 inch instrumnt cable!
    • Although some may use another type of input such as a MIDI cable it is very uncommon.
    • The cable is plugged into the end of the trigger or pad and the other end of the cable is plugged into the input for the proper channel.
    		 
     

     Usage

    Triggers

    • These are used often to add to acoustic drum sounds (or any other instrumentalists) set-up.
    • They can be added to a drumset with cymbal stand attatcments.
    • This allows for sounds that may not be drum sounds. such as traffic, nature and other sound effects!

     

    Pad Sets

    • The idea behind the pads was to create objects that would duplicate playing the drums enabling recording quality drum sounds to be obtained easily without the use of expensive microphones and processors.
    • Imagine the amount of set-up time that is saved!

     

     

     A special "Thank You" to:

    The Bohning Company, Ltd.

    They used to pioneer this idea as it developed but unfortunately have since stopped manufacturing their products. They sent me the Trigger pictures when I first got some prototypes of them in 1995. I scanned those photos for this page.

     Your ready to go!

    • It's that easy! Just take a look at your sound source or samplers output and your ready they are that easy to use.
    • My children at the North End Middle School love to use them. So much that I use them as a motivational tool!

    I was an Artist/ Clinician for them from 1994 (when they began) until 1998 when they stopped producing the Trig and their sound absorbing Eliminators all of which I still use.

    Also "Thanks to:" The Roland Co. and TriggerHead for the set padset photos and the pad picture respectively.

     

    Thank you for visiting ...

    Your full name:
    Your email address: (e.g.: you@aol.com)

    Feedback or Suggestions...

     

     

     Technology and Music

    We go together !