The Raspberry Pi has found a fantastic new musical partner in the Pimoroni Drum HAT! With this amazing device, you can play music using Python, control software drum synths on your Pi, take charge of hardware drum machines, or even integrate it into a complex drum - controlled project. The Drum HAT features 8 finger - sized capacitive touch sensor drum pads. Each pad can be individually monitored in Python and connected to any creative project you can think of. It's compatible with Raspberry Pi 3, 2, Zero, B+, and A+ (any Pi with a 2x20 connector) and comes fully assembled with plenty of examples to get you started. Pimoroni designed the Drum HAT and Piano HAT to work well together on the same Pi. All you need is some creative wiring or the help of a Pimoroni Black HAT Hacker. For professionals, you can use a USB to MIDI adapter to make the Drum HAT output regular MIDI commands and control your hardware synth gear. Key features include 8 touch - sensitive buttons, 8 LEDs (which can light up automatically or be controlled via Python), and compatibility with the Piano HAT. Head to the Pimoroni Drum HAT GitHub repository to find a Python library, examples for PyGame and Python MIDI and more!
Using the Pimoroni Drum HAT is a breeze. First, make sure your Raspberry Pi (3, 2, Zero, B+, or A+) is ready. Since it comes fully assembled, you can just connect it to your Pi's 2x20 connector. To start playing music, you can use the provided Python library. You can control the 8 touch - sensitive drum pads to play different beats. The 8 LEDs can add a cool visual effect. You can let them light up automatically or use Python to control them. If you want to use it with the Piano HAT, you'll need some creative wiring or the help of a Pimoroni Black HAT Hacker. For those wanting to use MIDI commands, just connect a USB to MIDI adapter. When it comes to maintenance, keep it in a dry and clean place. Avoid getting it wet or exposing it to extreme temperatures. And always make sure to disconnect it properly from your Pi when not in use.
