is this possible

hmm. If they were electronic drums and implemented midi, then you could run it to the dmx controller, but becuase they probably arent i dont know.

A sound-activated chase controller? You'd have to position the chase pack very close to the kick drum and fidget with the sensitivity setting.

Hmm.. i dont know about that.

Well... How good are you with electronics?? I don't really know how to do this with off the shelf stuff but it IS possible. I "created" lightning using a method that could probably be modified to work for your kick. To create lightning I used a cheap color organ "U Build it Kit". Of course I hooked to speaker leads of the color organ circuit to the speaker lead of the stereo that was playing my thunder and lightning sounds. Thats the easy part! Next, I took the high frequency output of the color organ (where you normally would plug the red light in) and plugged a 9 volt transformer in it (the output of the color organ is NOT sufficient to drive a strobe light!!). I hooked the 9 volt line to a relay that could handle 120 V (this is where you have to be at least a little comfortable with electronics!!!). The relay then controlled a 120 volt outlet where I plugged TWO strobe lights in. I set the strobes to two different flash rates to simulate the random lightning flashes (also, one was a small low power strobe and the other a much higher power to get two different flash brighnesses). I set the sensitivity of the color organ such that it triggered when the big thunder and crashes played. The color organ would then trigger the 9 v relay turning on/off the power to the 120 v outlet that the strobes were plugged into. When the power was applied to the strobes they would come on at the set flash rates. Since the color organ would kick the power on and off quickly, the strobes would flash briefly on and off. It made a real good cheap lightning effect (but you had to keep the strobes themselves out of sight and flash them towards ceiling/trees to get the right effect)
Now back to your situation, you could use my set up by using a small mic on the front end of the color organ circuit (some kits come with them). Use the same relay/outlet/strobe connection. Set the strobe to as low a flash rate as possible. Set the mic by the kick. When the kick is hit it will trigger the color organ (use the low freq. output!) which will trigger one short pulse for the strobe circuit and you'll get one flash. You may have to play with the sensitivity quite a bit if you play in a loud band (the mic may pick up bass or other drums and trigger). Note that "flashing" power to your strobe is very hard on it and it might not last as long as you'd like (but my strobes lasted three halloween party nights - all night long!! and many other band gigs with only one burned out strobe bulb - so don't worry about it TOO much!!)
You might be able to use a light controller, like the Operator, that would trigger to just the kick input. Then use that to "trigger" an off the shelf relay which would "pulse" the strobe - BUT, a)I'm not sure the Operator would pulse the relay that fast, b)you could not use the Operator to control other lights at the same time (the Operator would have to be set/hooked up to only trigger on the kick - which I also don't know if you can do) and, c)you would have a lot of money tied up in a very specialized purpose!!!
If you are feeling electronics savvy and want to try building my circuit, let me know and I can put together better directions to build the circuit. Good luck!

Some strobes have a mode that they only flash at the low freq. noises. This may work for you.

Try implementing midi some how.

wow gb you really know your ****. im not that good with electricity. a buddy of mine is though and it sounds like this would work out for me. can you email me like step by step instructions to give to my boy. my email is: lightinguy@gasfoodandlodging.org
thanks again for your help

drew i dont have any midi capabilities just yet. i have a dmx operator 1 whic has midi but i know nothing about midi and how it works. im really interested

lol. I play drums, and if his drum has a whole in the front (like mine). Stick lights in that, like a sound active strobe. But first throw a layer of foam in, so when you kick the pedal. The vibrations dont shock the light, and break the bulb.

Or the drum. It would actually be cool to put a blue par in the drum if it isnt a fire hazard.

How about if you get a foot controller and put it under the foot pedal of the drummer, that way everytime the drummer hits the pedal it will turn on the strobe.


DJ-AMP

might break the pedal quickly, but im not sure. Seems like the simplest solution.

Jonnyblazed420 - you got mail!

As far as midi and lights, most midi/light interfaces aren't very good unless you spend some $. For example, the Operator II will only call up scenes/chases - no programmable fade times. The Show Designer has much better midi implimentation (that's what I just got!) but it cost a lot more $. I also have a Midi Pak but it's capabilities are limited for "show" lighting using midi. While there probably is some midi set-up that would do this kick-strobe thing, you'd have a lot of pricey gear (midi controllable relay or midi to dmx control of some sort, and some way for midi to pick up the drum kick, etc) all for one specialized application. The circuit I built would only be about $40!!! If somebody know of a midi way that will work for this, I'm all ears. I use midi to run my lighting and am always looking for ways to make things work but I'd be surprised if you can come up with one - especially one that doesn't tie up all your midi/controller gear!

Greg

I thought about the pedal switch too but, have you ever watched a drummer work his kick foot??!! Sometimes they half press it, sometimes they hold it down just off the drum head. You'd have to have a drummer who has very "clean" kick pedal technique!!!

Hey you guys are on one of my favorite subjects! The blue par controlled by the kick IS a great effect - I've done it. Simple color organ (again!) with a 120 watt (or 90 watt halogen) blue par can plugged into the low freq. plug. Make sure your color organ sensitivity is set way high (so you don't pick up the rest of the band/drums) and make sure it can handle the light wattage. Trust me guys - color organs are cheap ($25-$40) and can be used for some cool effects!

it is an electric kick trigger so there isnt a drum to put a light in. i might just work out aetting a dmx strobe and turning it on for drum solos or something along those lines. im sure i can get something that i could control the speed of the strobe and intensity. i thimk that might be the cheapest and easiest way to do it.

Hi there
do you still have thiose MIDI PAKS
were you ever able to make them work PROPERLY ?
please let mke know

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by gb:
Jonnyblazed420 - you got mail!<br /><br />As far as midi and lights, most midi/light interfaces aren't very good unless you spend some $. For example, the Operator II will only call up scenes/chases - no programmable fade times. The Show Designer has much better midi implimentation (that's what I just got!) but it cost a lot more $. I also have a Midi Pak but it's capabilities are limited for "show" lighting using midi. While there probably is some midi set-up that would do this kick-strobe thing, you'd have a lot of pricey gear (midi controllable relay or midi to dmx control of some sort, and some way for midi to pick up the drum kick, etc) all for one specialized application. The circuit I built would only be about $40!!! If somebody know of a midi way that will work for this, I'm all ears. I use midi to run my lighting and am always looking for ways to make things work but I'd be surprised if you can come up with one - especially one that doesn't tie up all your midi/controller gear! <br /><br />Greg