Using an external pad (Roland PD-7) to trigger sample...

Anyone have any luck using a Roland PD-7 or something similar to trigger a sample via the footswitch inputs? I've plugged it in and assigned it to a pad but when I whack it with a drumstick I get nothing. I've plugged in a footswitch and that works but I want to incorporate a pad into my acoustic drum setup. Is this possible or did I waste $50 on a pad I can't use? BTW the Roland pad only has a 1/4" jack, no midi.

If no midi, than yes, you did just waste $50.

You should try something like this

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/closeup/HPD15--Main

I dont know a lot about the Pd 7, but if no MIDI, no work with the MPC.

Bummer. Thanks for the heads up.
Peace.

I and my drummer want to try something like this! There is a guy, that makes D.I.Y. drum triggers with jack outputs, we wanted to connect the trigger to the footswitch input of akai and trigger the sound of bassdrum throught it. I think it`s possible, cause the footswitch input works just as a shorten of two contacts. Am I right?

You could use an old but usefull Alesis D4 drummodule.
If I remember correctly, it has at least 8 pad-inputs with
1/4" connectors to trigger the internal sounds.
At the same time midi is generated (mappable!) and
mirrored to the midi-out connector.

The story with the D.I.Y pads is quite funny.
Those totally inexpensive birthdaycards with a horrible melody in it
contain a piezo-loudspeaker with soldered contacts.
Unsolder and solder 2 meters of flexible cable
to it and a 1/4" connector. Put the piezo-thing under some
rubber or hook them up to a drumkit and you're ready to go.
Works like a charm with the forementioned D4.
Sensivity is set at the D4.

p.s. Normal switches won't do the trick.
Piezo-elements generate voltage by pressure.
That's why they have a sensivity-curve.

okay,.. but I`ll try to do how I said - connect that DIY trigger to the foot-switch input of my akai. The thing is, that we`ll use this only in some moments in the song, and we`ll trigger the bass drum, that is not needed the sensitivity curve.