TCRT5000 Hihat Controller - VDrums Forum

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• tommyCUHM Registered Member
  • Join Date: 02-2020
  • Posts: 27
  #1

  TCRT5000 Hihat controller

  04-26-20, 06:28 AM Hi, I made Hihat controller from my acoustic Hihat stand with a TCRT5000 sensor. I used the method in the following link: https://open-e-drums.tumblr.com/post...h-roland-td-10 It works amazing and is very simple to make. I've put the breadboard with the sensor under my pedal and glued a white foam patch to the underside my pedal. I use a TD-6V module as a MIDI controller for superior drummer 3. It goes very smooth from tight to full open with everything in between. But I have one problem. The MIDI velocity of the closed pedal sound (note 44, pedal hihat) is always very low. I can't get a velocity higher then 30. I can set the velocity curve in SD3 so this produces a loud sound, but then I loose all dynamic range. Anyone has an idea how to fix this? Thanks! Tags: None 👍 1
• angr77 e-drummer
  • Join Date: 10-2010
  • Posts: 1006
  #2 04-26-20, 02:00 PM Looks like a good idea. I made a similar hihat test based on the same ir sensor for my 2box module a year ago. https://youtu.be/VteR6QWk5EA regarding your problem - is it a bow piezo hit that only generates a velocity on max 30...or is it the pedal which has its max on 30? best regards Anders / Www.zourman.com Last edited by angr77; 04-26-20, 05:57 PM. Pearl CrystalBeat and Sonor Safari, Roland CY-14/13R/15R/12CR,RT-10/30,BT-1,VH-11/12/13 & KD-10, Dingbat,Triggera D14, D11, ATV AD-h14, PCY-155, 120MHz MD with PS board, 2box 3/5/5MKII, dd4SE, Yamaha DTX502, Addictive Drums 2.1.19. All ADpaks, Microsoft Surface PRO, Macbook, Pearl Throne Thumper, Zourman HH & Ride Conv Kit www.zourman.com

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• tommyCUHM Registered Member
  • Join Date: 02-2020
  • Posts: 27
  #3 04-27-20, 09:56 AM Hi, Thanks for your reply it's the pedal which has a max velocity of about 30 (I got it to 80 once, but then I really had to put my foot down :-) The Hihat cymbal works fine (only bow for now, its also DIY and didn't find the time to make an edge sensor yet). So it's something with the TCRT sensor. Maybe I should try one on a board with a trimpot? Like this one: https://joelektron.com/sensors/106-t...eflective.html (with the analog out pin) What do you think?

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• frankzappa Registered Member
  • Join Date: 11-2010
  • Posts: 2613
  #4 04-27-20, 11:20 AM Originally posted by tommyCUHM Hi, Thanks for your reply it's the pedal which has a max velocity of about 30 (I got it to 80 once, but then I really had to put my foot down :-) The Hihat cymbal works fine (only bow for now, its also DIY and didn't find the time to make an edge sensor yet). So it's something with the TCRT sensor. Maybe I should try one on a board with a trimpot? Like this one: https://joelektron.com/sensors/106-t...eflective.html (with the analog out pin) What do you think? I think it might me something with the way superior triggers foot chiks. I don’t think they are using the module signal. They use the speed of the hihat going down or something like that. I think it can be turned off. I would just change the sensitivity in superior. Believe it or not but 30 velocities is still more than what humans can percieve. 127 velocity layers is way overkill. That’s why midi is still used, no reason for more resolution.

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• tommyCUHM Registered Member
  • Join Date: 02-2020
  • Posts: 27
  #5 04-28-20, 07:16 AM Originally posted by frankzappa I think it might me something with the way superior triggers foot chiks. I don’t think they are using the module signal. They use the speed of the hihat going down or something like that. I think it can be turned off. I would just change the sensitivity in superior. Believe it or not but 30 velocities is still more than what humans can percieve. 127 velocity layers is way overkill. That’s why midi is still used, no reason for more resolution. Hi, I think SD3 does get a note from the module. I've attached a screenshot of the MIDI screen from SD3. As you can see, SD3 receives note 44, which it converts to 10, the pedal closed sound. The velocity gets set to 127 because I changed the velocity curve in SD3. It is not that big of a problem, my playing with the foot 'chick' isn't that subtle (yet :-), so I don't realy need the dynamic range. But it bothers me that it doesn't function the way it should. When I build something I want it to function properly. MIDI screenshot SD3.PNG Last edited by tommyCUHM; 05-02-20, 06:02 PM.

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• tommyCUHM Registered Member
  • Join Date: 02-2020
  • Posts: 27
  #6 05-11-20, 03:17 AM Hi, For those interested, i've managed to solve the problem. I extended my hihat pedal with a 20cm long piece of aluminium and put the sensor under the end of this piece. This way, the velocity of the 'pedal' coming down on the sensor is bigger. the velocities I get for note 44 are more or less normal now. The piece of aluminium is so light it doesn't influence the feel of the pedal. Looks like crap though :-) but it's only for practice!

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• frankzappa Registered Member
  • Join Date: 11-2010
  • Posts: 2613
  #7 05-11-20, 10:48 AM Originally posted by tommyCUHM Hi, For those interested, i've managed to solve the problem. I extended my hihat pedal with a 20cm long piece of aluminium and put the sensor under the end of this piece. This way, the velocity of the 'pedal' coming down on the sensor is bigger. the velocities I get for note 44 are more or less normal now. The piece of aluminium is so light it doesn't influence the feel of the pedal. Looks like crap though :-) but it's only for practice! Why not just make it under the hihat? Do you have a 3d printer? If not there is the option for someone to print it for you on 3dhubs. Basically anyone with a 3d printer can join 3d hubs and offer 3d printing service. I remember before I got a 3d printer I found a guy who would print parts like this for maybe 5-10 dollars.

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• angr77 e-drummer
  • Join Date: 10-2010
  • Posts: 1006
  #8 05-11-20, 01:15 PM If you check my post above...and the video...you will see my 3D printed hi-hat pedal implementation... A similar example can be found here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2805521 best regards Anders / www.zourman.com Last edited by angr77; 05-11-20, 01:17 PM. Pearl CrystalBeat and Sonor Safari, Roland CY-14/13R/15R/12CR,RT-10/30,BT-1,VH-11/12/13 & KD-10, Dingbat,Triggera D14, D11, ATV AD-h14, PCY-155, 120MHz MD with PS board, 2box 3/5/5MKII, dd4SE, Yamaha DTX502, Addictive Drums 2.1.19. All ADpaks, Microsoft Surface PRO, Macbook, Pearl Throne Thumper, Zourman HH & Ride Conv Kit www.zourman.com

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• tommyCUHM Registered Member
  • Join Date: 02-2020
  • Posts: 27
  #9 05-12-20, 05:47 AM Thanks, great idea. But this is for the arduino version (it's actually made by the same guy I got the original idea from), so I will need an extra input for the 5V power source to power de IR LED. I think my Roland module cannot power the LED.

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• angr77 e-drummer
  • Join Date: 10-2010
  • Posts: 1006
  #10 05-12-20, 12:07 PM Originally posted by tommyCUHM Thanks, great idea. But this is for the arduino version (it's actually made by the same guy I got the original idea from), so I will need an extra input for the 5V power source to power de IR LED. I think my Roland module cannot power the LED. The hint above was for the 3D part of the hh sensor. You said in previous posts that you already had solved it and got the IR to work with TD-6...(so No need for the Arduino stuff here) So if you need a nice sensor box to use under your hi-hat pad...the link shows it. best regards Anders / www.zourman.com Pearl CrystalBeat and Sonor Safari, Roland CY-14/13R/15R/12CR,RT-10/30,BT-1,VH-11/12/13 & KD-10, Dingbat,Triggera D14, D11, ATV AD-h14, PCY-155, 120MHz MD with PS board, 2box 3/5/5MKII, dd4SE, Yamaha DTX502, Addictive Drums 2.1.19. All ADpaks, Microsoft Surface PRO, Macbook, Pearl Throne Thumper, Zourman HH & Ride Conv Kit www.zourman.com

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• frankzappa Registered Member
  • Join Date: 11-2010
  • Posts: 2613
  #11 05-13-20, 07:11 AM Originally posted by tommyCUHM Thanks, great idea. But this is for the arduino version (it's actually made by the same guy I got the original idea from), so I will need an extra input for the 5V power source to power de IR LED. I think my Roland module cannot power the LED. It should work with a roland. Here is the link for how he did it: https://open-e-drums.tumblr.com/post...ler-for-roland Last edited by frankzappa; 05-13-20, 07:12 AM.

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• tolis Registered Member
  • Join Date: 02-2020
  • Posts: 16
  #12 07-09-21, 07:22 PM Since there is already a thread about the TCRT5000 MODULE here, i'll post my problem here. I made exactly this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABTqpp5YiYo Everything as demonstrated in the video. The sensor is not capable of producing a tight closed sound. The meter shows the line alligned with the moving part on my TD-17 graphics but the sound is almost closed. The meter is going even past graphics point when i use a Goedrum controller or a DIY softpot controller producing the closed sound fine. I tried white,off white,yellow, metallic silver as a reflector. My soft pot is 10kohms, Maybe not enough resistance with the optical sensor? What can i do? Frankzappa shed some light please.

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• frankzappa Registered Member
  • Join Date: 11-2010
  • Posts: 2613
  #13 07-09-21, 08:48 PM No clue, try making the distance from the sensor to the white reflector smaller. Add a small washer or something.

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• tolis Registered Member
  • Join Date: 02-2020
  • Posts: 16
  #14 07-10-21, 08:27 AM Originally posted by frankzappa No clue, try making the distance from the sensor to the white reflector smaller. Add a small washer or something. Before even assembling the controller, i tested the sensor on its own and i found that no matter what i do, i get the same results. Ive tried every possible distance in combination with every trimpot setting. The video you posted uses two resistors in the diagram, maybe i should try that.

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• frankzappa Registered Member
  • Join Date: 11-2010
  • Posts: 2613
  #15 07-11-21, 07:23 AM Originally posted by tolis Before even assembling the controller, i tested the sensor on its own and i found that no matter what i do, i get the same results. Ive tried every possible distance in combination with every trimpot setting. The video you posted uses two resistors in the diagram, maybe i should try that. You need to know the resistance range the module expects and then make sure the range the sensor outputs is the same. Obviously if there are resistors in the schematic you can’t omit those. Last edited by frankzappa; 07-11-21, 07:25 AM.

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