Re: Any way to build a drum without a drum sound module?

[gastric]

Obviously you could just buy a retail module such as the Alesis Trigger IO which is only $149 retail, and as low as $129 new usually on eBay. But I would personally try the MegaDrum, and I personally plan to at some point in the near future. On the surface it does look difficult. But in reality it’s not a particularly difficult task. You can look at the photos and see people that use solderless breadboard and go to town that way. Others go for a more professional result with etched boards which you can do with a laser/LED printer using the supplied schmematics available right on the site. You can also purchase most, but not 100%, of what you need via the “all-in-one” kits available for sale on the site. But that significantly increases the total cost of building one. Plus you have to wait quite a while for the kits to be delivered since they’re overseas.

If you really wanted professional boards I’m sure you could hire a local electronics company or individual with experience to do it for you cheap. Maybe even build the entire thing for you. Seriously, it looks like you just take a blank PCB, print the schematic, iron it on, and acid etch it. Then go to town soldering the components onto the board, which is now nicely laid out and labeled. Suprizingly simple, at least when I write it out like that. 😉 

But regardless based on my research it seems to be a VERY robust TMI and superior to the Trigger IO in a variety of ways. Now, whether or not it really performs is a different story. But I see no reason why it wouldn’t.

Christopher Graham