Drum Wagon - present

Getting a Wireless Zendrum To Play Nice With a Wired Roland Module

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:16:00 -0700

One of the best upgrades you can get for your Zendrum is the integrated wireless option. This adds an internal MIDIJet board along with a battery compartment for a single 9-volt that powers both the Zendrum board and the MIDIJet. I cannot say enough good things about this setup, it simply rocks. Once you've tried it you'll wonder how you ever got by being tethered with a MIDI cable! Of course keeping the option to go back to being wired is important too, if for nothing else than to have a "plan B" should things go wrong. For instance you may have forgotten to bring or charge your batteries, or perhaps there is too much radio interference at the gig. Whatever the circumstances, it's important to be able to go back to using a wired connection at will. Which brings us to the point of this article, because if you have one of the first crop of Z4 boards and utilize any Roland drum modules, you probably have discovered that a wired connection (i.e. not using the MIDIJet) simply no longer works! The Zendrum powers up fine, but no amount of banging on the triggers will register with the Roland unit. The official explanation for this that I've received from the Zendrum folks is that the Roland units expect just a slightly higher electrical current than the Z4 is providing at the MIDI port, even though the Z4 is adhering to the official MIDI specification. One workaround for this that I stumbled on is to rectify the MIDI signal before it reaches the Roland unit, by doing a pass-through on another unit. In other words, by placing an additional MIDI device between the Zendrum and the Roland unit, the MIDI data signal is boosted to a level that Roland can pick up on. This would seem to contradict the notion that the Z4 board is operating correctly and that it's the Roland unit that is at fault, but i can't speak to that -- I only know that using a middle-man approach here works. Of course that adds a bit of complexity to your rig, and it's not always practical to drag around secondary MIDI devices, so it's less than an ideal solution. I've received information from one of the Zendrum electrical engineers on how to affect a more permanent fix, as I will describe here. This fix involves opening up your Zendrum and taking a soldering iron to it. If you're not comfortable doing either of those things, then stop reading now. Even if you *are* comfortable doing this, I would encourage you to first contact Zendrum corp and discuss your options. I'm making no warranty against performing this fix, and I certainly won't take responsibility if you brick your axe. Nuff said. The fix involves shorting out one resistor on the main Z4 board, either R10 or R13. Removing one of these from the circuit path with increase the amount of current that leaves the MIDI port, bringing it in line with what Roland modules expect. The simplest way to short out one of these resistors is to place a blob of solder on top of it. As long as you are very careful about not getting solder anywhere else on the board it should be a piece of cake. Details of the fix plus photos of my axe under the knife... One thing I learned about my Zendrum is that the leads to the battery case are very fragile. It turns out that every time you swing the battery compartment out, the wires that are soldered to it twist a tiny bit. One of mine was just barely hanging on and indeed snapped off during reassembly. Call me paranoid, but I would try to limit how often you open and close the battery compartment. Over time I'm sure the lead will snap off on its own. If you ever find that your axe no longers powers up from the battery, this would be the first thing to check.

ZenEdit 1.0 Now Available

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 20:16:00 -0700

Announcing the immediate availability of the foremost GUI editor for your Zendrum -- ZenEdit! ZenEdit takes the hassle out of programming and calibrating your Z4 based Zendrum. It also allows you access to features that you simply can't get at any other way. Features such as programmable crossfade instruments and trigger level control over noise floor and response curves. ZenEdit is now available for immediate download at:
http://nebiru.com/zenedit Supported platforms are Windows(r), Mac OS and Linux(r). Start unlocking the power of your Zendrum today, with ZenEdit!

Newly Posted Audio

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 07:52:00 -0700

I've posted some new demo tracks from a group I've recently joined called MayFly & the BlueNotes. We're starting to get some traction and may be playing live in-studio at a local radio station within the next month or two!

Announcing the Nebiru JS Effect Library for Reaper

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:32:00 -0700

While I've been Reaper fanatic for some time now, I've only recently begun to dig into programming my own effects, purely out of necessity. I've decided to make the fruit of these efforts publicly available at no charge, under the Creative Commons license. The library is still in its infant stages. It presently has but one humble effect, though as I gather ideas for more I will be adding them. The initial effect is one that is extremely useful to me personally (and I suspect other Zendrummers as well). It's a MIDI filter that will turn specific CC messages into MIDI note-on messages. For instance, this enables you to choke cymbals in various VSTs using the momentary switch on the back of the Zendrum. Please feel free to download and use the library. If you find it useful, then please consider throwing me some loose change. A link to donate via PayPal is on the library page.

Upgraded Zendrum

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 21:09:00 -0700

My Zendrum returned to me over the holidays, after trekking across the country for some upgrades.

This was absolutely the best decision I've made in some time as while I was pleased as punch with my Zendrum to begin with, its upgraded form has me absolutely giddy! Here's what all I had done to it:

Upgraded controller and firmware. There's been alot of hype around the new 4.0 Zendrum and its improved sensitivity, and while I was keeping my expectations low as to not be dissapointed, I needn't have worried -- the new board is 100% as awesome as claimed. The sensitivity is absolutely mind-blowing! Every little nuance of my playing is picked up, even 32nd notes at top speed.
New wireless capability. I can now ditch the cable completely and go wireless, without needing any external battery packs or antennae -- it's all built right in and powered off a single 9-volt.
Six extra triggers. The new board can handle a maximum of 30 triggers, so I of course had to max mine out :)
New CC control knob. In addition to the stock momentary switch on the back, I now also have a variable CC knob. I'll more than likely be using this as a volume knob, seeing as since now that I'm wireless, I'll probably be some distance from my rig.

There are some pictures of my upgraded axe in the slideshow.

Zendrum Surgery

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:52:00 -0700

Here's a sneak peek of my Zendrum customizations. It's currently under the knife back in Atlanta getting 6 triggers added, an upgraded controller and internal wireless capabilities. I'm also having a volume control and extra CC switch added to the back. Can't wait to get it back!

Couple More Shots From The Hard Rock Gig

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:18:00 -0700

Some additional photos from this month's Hard Rock gig.

Hard Rock Gig

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:40:00 -0700

Some photos from last weeks' Hard Rock gig. [More]

New Audio Files

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:27:00 -0700

I've added some new tracks to the the audio page, this time from a pseudo-blues project I was involved with earlier this year. These were all done with the Roland TD-20 and SPS-S.

Show Etiquette

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:37:34 -0700

One of the groups I play with recently headlined at the Last Day Saloon. The way this venue is setup, all acts need to arrive early for load-in. There is only one stage, so each group needs to setup their equipment off stage in such a way that the promoter and sound crew can progressively cycle the bands on and off. Being the headliner and with two other opening acts, we naturally had to be there early so as to the be the first group to load-in. This then meant that we, along with our entourages, needed to sit through the two opening acts. This is something we would have done anyways. It's just the way things are done -- you always support the other bands you play with. You loudly applaud each song (even if you don't like the music). You ask all your fans that are coming to see you to also stick around and support the other acts. These things are just basic courtesy. Unfortunately 'courtesy' was not part of the openers dialect. I'd never before seen such an unprofessional display. These guys just rolled in right before curtain time, took the stage, played their tunes and then split. Without a word. I often hear people complaining about the fact that there no longer is a strong live music scene here in the North Bay. Heck I've even been guilty of bemoaning this myself. But how can we as musicians expect people to support and back us if we don't first do the same to each other? Common courtesy can really go a long way.

Upcoming Acoustic Gig

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:11:00 -0700

This Friday I'll be playing my first gig with Voodoo Saints, at The Viking in Novato. While going through and getting all my equipment ready, it dawned on me that this will be my first gig on acoustic drums in at least a decade! It'll be interesting to see how well I can slip back into it. Not that playing gigs with acoustics is at all physically different than with electronics, but there definitely is a different mindset to it. Particularly since this is a small enough venue that I won't be being mic'd at all and will have to rely on the sheer volume of my kit. Lucky me that I hung onto my 'rock' kit all this time -- it'll have no problem cutting through the amps :) All in all it should be an absolute blast! So if you're looking for some fun this Friday in the North Bay, drop on by The Viking and say "hi" -- we'd love to see ya! Shows starts at 9PM.

Zendrum Trigger Template

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:52:00 -0700

I threw together a quick template for jotting down mapping ideas for the Zendrum. I find it more useful to work out ideas on paper rather than by fiddling with trigger settings or sysex directly.

Use it in good health.

Weekend Jazz

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:48:00 -0700

So I've been trying for the past month or so to get a Jazz combo going on the side. I need more Yin to balance the Yang of the other two groups I'm working with and the moment (Blues and Hard Rock). Things are starting to pick-up and the first decent tracks from this outing are up. Some random thoughts from someone who hasn't played any serious Jazz in nearly 20 years:

20 years is too long to go without! It's going to take a bit for my chops to come back it looks like.
I'd forgotten just how fun and liberating Jazz can be. This is just what the doctor ordered right now!

I really can't wait to see how far we can take this.

New Toy - Zendrum ZX

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:54:00 -0700

My new rock maple Zendrum arrived the other day! I truly haven't been this geeked about getting a new instrument in a long time, I feel like a five year old on Christmas morning! The learning curve will be steep -- general consensus is that it takes about a month to become proficient -- but it's going to be a fun, rewarding journey for sure! It won't be suitable for every gig of course, but for ones where it is, the benefits are simply huge. I won't have to tear down my kit, shove it in the car, unload and setup it up, etc. Nope, I'll be able to gig outta just one or two bags. What's more is I won't have to sit behind a kit to perform, after already having to sit in the car for an hour to get to the gig in the first place. Ergonomics and back pain avoidance aside though, it's pretty clear after fiddling around with it for only a short while that the Zendrum is going to allow me to do things that I couldn't do before, even with my electronic kit. Likewise there are things I won't be able to do at all with it, at least without some trickery (cymbal swells and press rolls come to mind). But I think that this just reinforces the fact that this isn't meant to be a drumset replacement, it's a completely different instrument. This is gonna be fun!

Shady Dealings

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:43:00 -0700

So despite my previous dragging of feet, I finally went ahead and preordered a TDW-20 after I heard through the rumor mill that Full Compass was offering them for around $360 USD, shipping included. What really gets my goat though is why this isn't their advertised price? At the time I placed my order, their reported list price was $599 and the price they were offering under their "low price guarantee" was $495. I'd never before encountered a situation before where phoning in an order resulted in a nearly 30% savings over an Internet price, especially one that claimed to have a "low price guarantee". Look, I'm not complaining -- $360 was low enough for me to take the plunge and buy the card. It does make me wonder though how many times I've gotten the shaft by paying what seemed to be the lowest price on the Internet. I guess we should all start getting quotes over the phone again.