ddrum kick trigger problem

[studiotte]

I bought a ddrum Acoustic Pro Tigger for Kick drum. It work good for the first 2 bands I used it on. Then it starts missing hits and it stops triggering anything. Each time I would readjust it, it would work for about 30 seconds and then it wouldn't trigger. Is this a common problem. I've heard these things break easy, but this is a little crazy. Any help or advice would be appreciated.

[Screwdio]

first thing i would do is try it with a different cable. then try it into different trigger inputs on your sound module/brain. if the results are the same, i would say that it sounds like an internal wiring issue in the trigger or the piezo itself. if you feel handy, crack it open and take a look--or ask someone technically inciled to have a look for you.

[studiotte]

I tried a different cable, didn't work. I'm kinda curious if these triggers are really this shitty, or do I just have a bad trigger.

[RawDepth]

They are usually real good quality. Perhaps you just got a lemon.

I've been using the ddrum Red Shot triggers for four or five years and never had a failure yet. They are all still original.

[liquidorange]

the censor is like a 50 cent part. its possible you got a bad one. with heavy use you should get a couple years normally as long as you dont over tighten. let the foam float kinda loose. i repair my own.

[Kiwiburger]

Sure it's not the drummers technique??

They are just a cheap microphone. Record the audio output, so you can hear what's going on - maybe with a mic alongside for comparison. If the signal is cutting in and out it will be very obvious, and a sign of a faulty trigger/cable/connector.

Recording the trigger to an audio track is a cool idea anyway (rather than using it to trigger a midi device). Because you can massage the audio signal with compression & eq and gates to clean up the trigger signal. Software sound replacers can offer much tighter triggering of samples than a sloppy external midi box.

Apologies if that is what you are doing already - I couldn't tell from a quick read of your post.

[RawDepth]

Originally Posted by Kiwiburger

Sure it's not the drummers technique??

They are just a cheap microphone. Record the audio output, so you can hear what's going on - maybe with a mic alongside for comparison. If the signal is cutting in and out it will be very obvious, and a sign of a faulty trigger/cable/connector.

Recording the trigger to an audio track is a cool idea anyway (rather than using it to trigger a midi device). Because you can massage the audio signal with compression & eq and gates to clean up the trigger signal. Software sound replacers can offer much tighter triggering of samples than a sloppy external midi box.

Apologies if that is what you are doing already - I couldn't tell from a quick read of your post.

I don’t think it is a mic, albeit something similar. It is a thin piezo wafer that generates a small voltage when vibrated. The voltage varies with strike force. If you recorded it, I would imagine you would only get short faint clicks because the voltage is in the millivolt range. Besides, it might only be DC current. Mics are AC.

Studiotte,
If a lead cracks or breaks, it would probably make intermittent contact due to the physical movement.