Three zone cymbal with split bell input not working

[pumpkinking]

I am trying to configure a 3-zone (2-input) cymbal, but split the bell input (dual mono) so I can connect another single-zone cymbal on that input as well. This appears to be supported because if I split the bell input before changing the bow/edge input to 3-zone, it will assign the right half of the bell input as bell and leave the left assigned as it was. See the attached image.

When I do this, the 3-zone bow and edge trigger properly, and the single zone cymbal triggers properly, but the hitting the bell on the cymbal triggers a bow only (I have the bell sense set to the lowest 0.5). I did reset the inputs and connect the 3-zone as normal (using both inputs with no splitter), and the bell triggered fine, so it seems to not be an issue with cables or connections. And I tested the splitter on another split input, and it worked as expected. So I think I have ruled out hardware issues.

Is this a supported connection? Have I done something wrong? Is there some way to debug the bell signal alone in this dual mono input setting?

I am using v2.2.0 build11. Doing the above to try and expand the kit while waiting for new ED units to be available.

Thanks!

[tjheller]

You can't use a just regular splitter to do this. Your cable needs to go from the switch at the cymbal side to the ring tip of the splitter. So TRS at the cymbal, the "R" needs to go to the "T" of the split input on the edrumin device. When you put in a splitter you go from TRS to two TS connections. You'll need to construct a special cable the goes from the Ring on the TRS cable (Bell Switch) to the Tip on the splitter that is plugged into the device. I believe if it's a stereo splitter this will be the Right side of it if your splitter is marked. If your splitter cable is marked tip and ring use the ring side to connect the bell as the edrumin dual mono will use that for the bell in this setup.

[pumpkinking]

Thanks for the reply. Yes this is the type of splitter I am using (it is a Hosa TRS to 2xTS splitter with ring and tip labeled). I have connected the "ring" fork of the Y to the bell connection on the cymbal. I use this exact splitter for other dual mono inputs on the ED10, so I know it works in single input configurations. But I cannot get it to work on the bell input of a 2-input cymbal.

[Rob]

tjheller explained the issue perfectly. Please reread his post.

Here's another way of putting it. A spliiter cable will combine the TIP signals from two TRS cables into one TRS cable. But that's not what you want. You want to combine the TIP from one cable and the RING from the other into one TRS. You'll need to make a custom cable.

[pumpkinking]

I was under the impression that is what I already have, apologies if my terminology was flawed. It specifically is "Hosa YPP-117 1/4" TRS to Dual 1/4" TSF Stereo Breakout Cable" and a stock picture is attached. A male TRS (which I plug directly into the ED) leads to two female TS, one labeled "tip" and one labeled "ring". I can use a multimeter to verify that the TRS tip indeed goes to the tip of the "tip" TS, and the TRS ring goes to the tip of the "ring" TS. I thought that is what was needed here, and this exact connector has worked flawlessly on 7 other dual mono ED inputs that I have been using for a while now. Just not with the bell input for a 3-zone cymbal.

If this connector is indeed not correct, please let me know. But it seems to align with what tjheller wrote and also my understanding of the signal path requirements.

If this is the correct connector, then I'm curious if anyone else has tried this, or if there are any debug techniques I could try. As I wrote, I've tried to eliminate the hardware beyond the ED as the culprit by making lots of swaps with other validated functional hardware configs (ie swapped cymbal, cables, splitter with other kit pieces and confirmed that all components worked as expected).

[pumpkinking]

Ok I think I understand what both of you are saying now. I stand corrected, thanks for pointing out the details here. Great to have this resource as I don't think I would have appreciated this subtlety.

Thanks - will make a custom cable and try it out.

[AKA Wayne]

I use the same splitter but it has the ts leads on the end and racked my brain to figure this out. You do not need a custom cable. You need to make sure your bell piezo is attached to the TIP of your trs jack and connect that via ts cable to the RING input. Then it's all gravy.

[pumpkinking]

Made a custom cable as recommended and it works! Really all I did was detach, swap and resolder the tip and ring connections on one end of a TRS patch cable that I then installed between the bell output on the cymbal and the ring input on the stereo splitter already in place. Thanks Rob and tjheller for the detailed explanations. This might make for a nice addition to a future rev of the manual as it was a tricky bit to understand without detailed guidance, and seems different from other dual mono splits.

[tjheller]

Happy to help. I dealt with the same issue not long ago. It is nice to reclaim an input for a single zone pad. Rob has created a wonderful and versatile device and he is constantly making it better. Best of luck.