BT-1 problems

[hang12]

Hi - I've been trying to integrate two BT-1's and the eDRUMin, and came across a problem with the 2nd one.
The first one I have mounted on a Roland PD-125 as a rim shot trigger and it works dynamically very well.
I had that one originally connected directly with a single TRS cable.

So I tried doing the Y cable TRS split to two mono's TS's using both of these as a 'rubber pad', and the 2nd BT-1 works poorly. Barely emits a signal.
After swapping things around, using only TRS connections, and trying to re-calibrate, etc etc I still had no luck with #2 which is mounted on a PD-105 off of a Tom. I tried them both again with the BT-1 eDRUMin presets - but still had the same results.

I re-connected both on separate TRS cables to a TD-20, and they both perform almost identically, the 2nd one being just a bit harder to get it to trigger than the first one, the one that works well with the eDRUMin.
But I also noticed that they both do not respond very dynamically with the TD-20 - they trigger but are not very velocity sensitive in the same way that the first BT-1 snare mounted unit works thru the eDRUMin - which is relatively dynamically sensitive, like a regular rubber pad. They also seem to have a high threshold - takes a good whack to trigger them. I only used them for cowbell or simple percussion clicks with the TD-20, and didn't ever expect great dynamic response - i.e. I just took them for what they are.

I looked up 'BT-1 problems' on the Vdrum forum:
https://www.vdrums.com/forum/general/pr ... tion/page4
and there seems to be consistency with my issue. Either the one misbehaving BT-1 is in some kind of wrong switch or sense mode or is defective or...?
I'm about to bring them to the local Roland dealer to see if they interface with a more modern Roland module. I don't think I'll be taking them apart, yet.
Suggestions? thanks.

[monospace]

Yeah that's normal, unfortunately. BT-1 has two modes, "switch" (a hardwired gate, for when you mount it physically on top of another trigger), and "sensor" (standard trigger mode). The way you access those modes is through the wiring (newer Roland modules can do this internally.) So if you use a splitter cable, one of them will be "switch" and the other will be "sensor." Your only solution is to use two cables, and two eDRUMin inputs, to access "sensor" mode on both devices.

[hang12]

ok...
What if (or why is) one BT-1 is acting differently from the other one, both using dedicated TRS one per eDRUMin input?

Did the one of the two that I hooked up via TRS to 2 TS's somehow get switched over internally or something?
(I know...it sounds stupid )

Are there various versions of the BT-1? If so, is it possible to re-wire them to update them - or does Roland do that?
(they were purchased at separate times - maybe they are a different manufactured batch from one another)

[monospace]

In theory two identical triggers should behave the same, but in my experience this is not always the case. For example, I own two PD-80R mesh pads, but I'm using two slightly different profiles on my eDRUMin in order to get a similar response out of them. However, if you are seeing wildly different responses on your BT-1s then it's entirely possible that one of them is defective.

[hang12]

Thanks for the feedback.
Just tried it again with the TD-20 and I guess the 2nd BT-1 is performing poorly, relative to the other one.
It's hobbled enough now, I will probably just replace it.

It really hasn't had a ton of use or abuse, so that's disappointing.
Purchased it new, although it was some time ago - so it's way past warranty,

From what I've read it seems Roland may have produced some defective BT-1's along the way.
Hopefully all the kinks are worked out on new ones and maybe this one is somehow repairable.
It doubt it would be worth sending in at current bench rates though.