Newbie question about pressure sensitive sensors

[phatzo81]

Hello everyone,
I am interested in getting into electronics. I am interested in making a drum machine and was wondering if anyone knew what kind of pressure sensitive sensors the industry usually uses for drumming applications.

Thanks,
Phatzo81

 

[poor mystic]

Propreitary ones! (I guess )
However there are ways to go ahead with your project that don't need impossible materials, and for example I suggest that a microphone glued to something you hit might be a good start.

 

[glewis721]

Or you could try just 2 pieces of tin foil that touch when you hit the drum.

 

[Raven Luni]

Quantum tunneling composite is something else you could try.

You could also use a standard microphone or embedded transducer and have some software interpret the waveform into basic parameters such as loudness and maybe even dominant frequencies (this could be used as an indication of how / where the drum was hit since the frequency response will be slightly different at each position)

 

[phatzo81]

The quantum tunneling composite looks like it would work. Do you know where I could buy some?

 

[poor mystic]

That's interesting, Raven.
I found this link: http://www.crunchwear.com/qio-systems-textile-touch-pads/