What is it?

The Nitro Hat is a hi-hat controller specifically designed for the Alesis Nitro, Nitro Max and Nitro Pro electronic drumkits. It is intented to replace the DMhat Open/Close pedal provided with the drumkit:

On the Nitro Pro, the pedal looks differently, but inside it’s exactly the same, only a jack adaptor is needed:

Why? Because the original pedal is in no way shape of form the same of a original hi-hat, and it require very difficult movements or high forces to get the right sound out of the hi-hat. Playing with the original pedal is not like playing with a real drumnkit, and I really wanted to have the feeling of a real hi-hat with my Alesis edrums.

How does it work? It’s actually very simple, the original pedal is changing resistance valies based on how you press on it. I just designed the hardware to change resistance based on the movement of a real hi-hat stand! While it took a lot of time to fine tune it, the end result is a simple but effective hi-hat controller that gets mounted directly on a standard hi-hat stand.

See it in action

I made a youtube video showing how it works

---

Key Features

1. Standard Hi-Hat Pedal Compatible

• Designed to install directly onto a stadard hi-hat stand.
• Works with clutch systems that use M10 and M12 bolts.

2. Natural Playability

• No more over-pressing the pedal!
• Mimics the feel of an acoustic hi-hat for a more natural playing experience.

3. Full Expression

• Play Closed, Half-Open, Open, and Chick sounds based on how you press the pedal.
• Finally, achieve the hi-hat control that you always wanted.

4. Plug-and-Play

• Built specifically for Alesis Nitro/Nitro Max—no complicated setup.
• Just connect and start playing.

---

Drum Kit Compatibility

Model	Compatible?	Tested?	Notes
Alesis Nitro Mesh	✅	✅
Alesis Nitro Max	✅	✅
Alesis Nitro Pro	✅	✅	Requires 3.5mm to 6.25mm jack adaptor
Alesis Turbo Mesh	✅	No	Uses the same pedal, contact me if you want to be a tester
Alesis Surge Kit	Probably	No	Probably the same pedal, contact me if you want to be a tester
Alesis Command Kit	Probably	No	Probably requires a very small modification contact me if you want to be a tester
Alesis DM6 / DM10	Unknown	No	Might neeed modifications, Contact me if you want to be a tester

Hi-Hat Stands Compatibility

You learn so many things when you buld new stuff! For example one could imagine that all hi-hats use standard mounting dimesions for mounting the cymbals.

Wrong. there is nothing really standard in our world.

I designed the original version of the Nitro Hat to work with a Pulse hi-hat pedal I purchased used locally. But in the meantime I sourced another couple of hi-hats to test whith. This is when I found that mounting bolts on the clutches can be different in size.

I now have a M10 and M12 version, these two versions seem to cover a vast majority of hi-hat stands.

The goal of the preorder campain is to collect enough money to purchase different stands and test. Do you want me to test with a specific hi-hat? Contact me!

Model	Compatible?	Tested?	Clutch Bolt	Rod Size	Bottom Hole Diameter	Photo	Notes
Millennium DHS-1018 Stage Hi-Hat	✅	✅	M12	7mm	11.1mm		Recommended - cheap but sturdy
Millennium HH-901 Pro Series	✅	✅	M12	7mm	11.1mm		Recommended - high quality for a good price
Pulse hi–hat	✅	✅	M10x1.5mm	5mm	10mm
Pearl H-830	✅	❌	M12	5.5mm	?
Gibraltar GI-9707ML-DP	✅	❌	M12	7mm	?
Ludvig hi-hat	✅	✅	M12	?	?		A tester has this pedal, unfortunately no model
Yamaha Crosstown HHS3	✅	✅	M10	?	?		A tester has this pedal
PDP PDHH 713 - 700 Series 3-leg	✅	✅	M12x1.25mm	6.6mm	10.4 - 10.8mm
Tama Iron Cobra HH205 -200 Series	✅*	✅	M12*	6mm	10.4 - 11.4		*The clutch bolt is strange, the plastic part needs to be removed to make it work, the cymbal might be a bit more wobbly than others stands. Not recommended
Gibraltar GI853010 - SC-4421D	✅	✅	M12	-	-		Clutch Only