Hi gang! So there's been a lot of threads regarding hi-hat setup.. some using the continuous control settings, some have just open/closed. There have been some interesting diy jobs to incorporate switches or levers to toggle the pedal mode, talk about using straps or weights to keep it in a closed position and so on.
Now that the new dual hi-hat is due out soon I'm sure a lot of us will rush out to buy it. I know I will. Then we'll have a spare cymbal and clamp/rod available. I will repurpose mine as a splash or small crash somewhere on the kit. But I also have been seeing a lot of drummers placing a second hi-hat into their kits over on the right side and it would be cool to try this out too. It would be even cooler if it could be set to be closed always so you could play it with double kick like you would a ride cymbal.
What I was wondering is, and I haven't taken the time to check every single hi-hat voice or if there's a way to adjust one to sound closed.. but if there's no "closed hi-hat" voice to be found...is there a way other than physically holding/clamping down the foot pedal, to reverse the pedal's output so that it's closed when the pedal is released? I don't know if I'd ever need this extra hi-hat to actually have an open sound, or anything in between, or do chicks or heel splashes so maybe the simplest way is to actually velcro or tie wrap it down to a closed position.
But you electronics guys, can we reverse the polarity of a cable or the wiring in the pedal or something that would do the trick? Easiest solution, of course, would be if there was just a voice selectible for closed hi-hat sound. That's perfect for people who would just plug the extra cymbal into one of the spare inputs or split it off from a dual-zone. But we're all going to have the spare foot pedal after we buy hi-hat stands, plus I've got a second module so I can plug my leftover gear into the second hi-hat input and pedal input (and people with sample racks etc would have those inputs as well).
What do you guys think? Anyone else starting to think up ways to re-use their soon to be spare hi-hat cymbal pad and foot pedal? I guess another cool option would be if we could use the spare pedal as a trigger to set off a next kit or previous kit option..it would be great to be able to set up kit switching without giving up a pad or rim being programmed to do it and to me a pedal would also seem more realistic so that's another option I'm considering when I've got the new dual hi-hat.
Exciting times. Love my Alesis more and more every day. Spent a couple hours yesterday afternoon bashing away and then couldn't resist heading downstairs at 10:30 for another hour before calling it a night..I'm definitely addicted! :-)