News
22/11/2008
Elrules has released a multiplatform MegaDrum Config
Tool. You can now control MegaDrum settings from Windows, Linux or Mac
OS X. See http://www.megadrum.info/configtool/ for details. 
20/10/2008
Released a new firmware which adds support for 3 zone Yamaha style
cymbals. Support for 6 zone Alesis style cymbals is on its way.
16/10/2008
I'm working on a support for 3 zone Yamaha style
cymbals. For those who don't know these cymbals use only one
input rather than Roland style 3 zone cymbals which require 2 inputs to
be used. Watch this forum thread for updates.
09/09/2008
I'm putting for an auction a complete MegaDrum 32
module in a rack mountable case to recover some development expenses.
See details here.
18/07/2008
A lot of things has changed. I added support for
rotary encoders as alternative to keys. Added support for quick drum
maps switching (for live performances?). Got rid of an LCD contrast
pot, contrast is now controlled by MegaDrum itself. I switched from
DipTrace to KiCad for schematics and PCBs design. All schematics have
been updated. Some other things I don't remember right now.
01/06/2008
Added support for 3way triggers like CY-12/CY-15.
Added support for high impedance HiHat pedals/controllers. Small
changes to the schematics.
01/05/2008
A few new features have been added to MegaDrum - SysEx Chain ID, MIDI signal compression and shifting. See detail here.
06/04/2008
A new firmware has been released and it can be found in the usual place. It adds per input adjustable "Dynamic Threshold" parameters: Dynamic Threshold Level and Dynamic Threshold Decay Time.
24/03/2008
There was a pause in MegaDrum development, mainly due
to the fact that I've implemented all main features and I just wanted
to get feedback from people who built MegaDrum, but also because my
development laptop died a while ago. Now it's been replaced and a new
firmware version is available. The main feature added is per input
Crosstalk suppression level rather than a global one. Also now you can
see much more professionally built (but still DIY!) MegaDrum modules.
See MegaDrum Gallery and a Finger Drum.
09/02/2008
New firmware version which introduces a new setting called MinScan -
Minimum Scan time. It sets minimum scan time to sample input signals
for each input. In the menu it is shown/measured in 1/10th of
millisecond. It can be changed between 1 and 100 which correspond to
0.1ms and 10ms respectively. This version also has substantially
modified algorithm for sampling input signals. In short it does a
kind of "caching" for choosing inputs to sample and trigger.
27/01/2008
It might be old news for you if you follow discussions on the
forum. Thanks to Synthex MegaDrum is now even simpler to build if you can buy
74HC4851 or MAX4558 instead of 4051. Using these ICs you can omit all BAT85
diodes and
100 Ohm ESD protection resistors. It is 96 less discrete parts
for 32 inputs version of MegaDrum! Follow these threads:
http://www.megadrum.info/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=96
http://www.megadrum.info/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=108
25/01/2008
Another
update to firmware. It improves "dynamic threshold" algorithm and
positively effects rolls and "ghost notes" suppression.
And one more thing.
Thanks to estregan from the MegaDrum forum you can now
watch MegaDrum in action! Check this
thread.
13/01/2008
MegaDrum is now Windows Vista ready!:)
Synthex has updated the firmware for PIC18F2550 USB MIDI board which resolves a
problem when connecting MegaDrum to Windows Vista.
20/12/2007
A 32 inputs
version of MegaDrum is now available! It uses the same Digital
board. A schematic and a PCB design for a new Analogue board are
on the Download and Schematics pages. An alternative PCB design for the new
Analogue board, developed by Synthex, is available on the forum. It uses schottky diode array and simplifies the
Analogue board even more.
05/12/2007
Important firmware
update: incorrect LCD handling caused problems with fast drum rolls. This
version has the LCD handling revised and there should be no problems with fast
drum rolls. This time I'll keep secret where to download this firmware
version.
03/12/2007
A new firmware version in the usual place.
27/11/2007
Small but
important changes to schematics:
In MegaDrum32 Digital board: R26 - from 220
to 4k7
In MegaDrum8 Digital board: R21 - from 220 to 4k7
In AVR-CDC USB
board: R4 - from 470 to 1k
In PIC18F2550 USB board: R4 - from 470 to
1k
With old values MegaDrum might experience resets when receiving Sysex
configs.
24/11/2007
MegaDrum now complies with, and even exceeds,
PSSDM (Power Saving Standard for Drum Modules) - check out Downloads.
21/11/2007
I was made aware of a
virus which somehow got into the previous firmware version and was causing
MegaDrum to start sending unauthorized e-mails after an hour of drumming. The
latest release of the firmware fixes it and can be found in the usual place.
18/11/2007
I had to recall all
MegaDrum modules manufactured before today due to a firmware bug which can only
be fixed at a factory. All these modules will be re-programmed with a latest
version of the firmware available on the Downloads page and
returned to customers free of charge.
18/11/2007
There was a small
error in previous firmware version which was causing slightly higher
latency (~9ms). I've updated all firmware versions on the Downloads page. In the new version latency is below
4ms( between 2 and 4 ms).
08/11/2007
Great news! Thanks to Synthex,
not only one of the first to build MegaDrum but to make a contribution to the
project, MegaDrum is now fully plug-n-play with a PIC18F2550 based true USB MIDI
Board. Synthex developed the board schematic and, most importantly, a USB
MIDI complaint firmware for it. You can see how it happened in these
threads:
http://www.megadrum.info/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=31 and
http://www.megadrum.info/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=38
In
true spirit of MegaDrum project you don't need to build a special programmer for
it but a simple cable with 3 resistors and 2 connectors. Details on how to
program the chip using this cable will follow soon.
The schematic and the
firmware are respectively on Schematics and Downloads pages.
02/11/2007
Another
firmware update. There was a small bug in the last firmware release, which could
potentially cause drum pads/cymbals overheating. So I updated all firmware
versions accordingly:)
31/10/2007
I've made some improvements in
the code so I've updated all firmware versions. In fact it's not the first time
I did it:) So if you downloaded the firmware a while ago I advise you to do it
again.
Also I wanted to let you know that the work on 32 channels version is
progressing well. Here are some pictures of all boards connected together
(Digital board, two Analogue boards each with 16 channels, AVR-CDC USB Board).
You can notice that I made myself proper PCBs for the new Analogue boards
and I must say I'm proud of that:)
06/10/2007
Thanks to
aquawicket and his Edrum
Monitor project MegaDrum32 can now be controlled from a PC. For now it
is a standalone application, MegaDrum Controller, which you can use to control
all the settings on MegaDrum.
With it you can:
- get current settings from MegaDrum
- apply settings to MegaDrum
- save settings into permanent memory on MegaDrum
- save/load settings to/from a file
- redirect output to a MIDI port, e.g. to a virtual MIDI port to be processed by a sequencer. This way you can control MegaDrum and send MIDI notes to a sequencer at the same time.
19/09/2007
I've updated the documentation section with pictures of assembled MegaDrum32.
See larger pictures there.
Also I want to invite anyone who has experience with any of Roland, Yamaha, Alesis and etc Drum Modules to test MegaDrum at my place (with my kit) or at your place (with your kit) to provide an independent feedback/review to the E-Drum community. E-mail to me at d_skachkov@yahoo.com and we will arrange time and place. One condition though:) You will be willing to travel to Oxfordshire area or live not far from it. I'm away on a holiday until 24th, so I'll be able to reply only after this date.
11/09/2007
All schematics and PCBs (except ft232 USB board) are now in DipTrace format. Off course you can modify the PCBs to your liking using free version of DipTrace. Also check out this version of PCB contributed by BlueDragon. It combines MegaDrum32 Digital Board and AVR-CDC USB interface in one PCB.
07/09/2007
I've now converted schematics for MegaDrum32 Digital Board and Analogue Board. The rest of the schematics will be converted later. The whole purpose of this conversion was to create PCBs for MegaDrum. On the Schematics page you can now download PCBs in DipTrace format. This is my first attempt at PCBs and the may not look ideal. But now you can download schematics in editable format and can create your own versions of PCBs:)
02/09/2007
You probably know about Edrum Monitor which is a great addition to any MIDI drum module. There is a special version in development which, when ready, will work in tandem with MegaDrum and even will allow to ommit LCD from MegaDrum schematics. Check out this thread on the forum there.
29/08/2007
Updated documentation section to include information about installing USB drivers. Also added AVR-CDC firwmare in the downloads section.
28/08/2007
Updated MegaDrum Configuration guide with SysEx messages description.
27/08/2007
Updated documentation section. I just added a preliminary version of MegaDrum Configuration guide.
21/08/2007
I have just come back from my holiday so I'm resuming my work on the project. First, I was advised to add 100 Ohm resistors on the 4051 inputs to protect it from static electricity. I've updated the Analogue Board schematics accordingly. I should mention that my test Analogue Board is running fine without those resistors but to be on a safe side I'd recommend to use them when you build your Analogue Board.
5/08/2007
I'm away on holiday for two weeks from tomorrow. I won't update
this site during this time (there is still a lot to add in the doc/faq section)
but I'll try to answer questions.
1/08/2007
MegaDrum is made public.
