SteveM
New member
I was wondering if anyone has them and has recorded any songs using the module that comes with it. I've seen the youtube clips but I'd like to hear how they sound in a recorded song.
Simman
Well-known member
Don't have or know how the TD4 sounds but I have both a TD-8 & TD-20 and I would not use either brain's sounds.
NCdan
New member
Roland's module sounds are completely digital, that is, they aren't real samples. They might sound good in electronic music, but I would look into vst's or a module that uses real samples like a Yamaha.
SteveM
New member
Thanks for the feedback.
I played the kit in the store and I thought they sounded pretty good....
particularly the snare, though that could change after getting used to the sound. A friend has another Roland kit that is supposed to be a notch above the td 4s but I wasn't as impressed by that one.
I just want something that if I can't play real drums I can actually play rather than program. I'll check out the Yamahas.
I played the kit in the store and I thought they sounded pretty good....
particularly the snare, though that could change after getting used to the sound. A friend has another Roland kit that is supposed to be a notch above the td 4s but I wasn't as impressed by that one.I just want something that if I can't play real drums I can actually play rather than program. I'll check out the Yamahas.
NCdan
New member
You certainly can play the Roland drums out of the box, and truth be told, the Roland modules are fun and easy to program compared to the big learning curve even the newest Yamaha modules present when it comes to things like layering. However, the Roland trampoline pads are hardly realistic, and the Yamaha pads feel closer to real drum heads and cymbals. If you just want a module to have fun and jam with, I would honestly recommend the Roland. Did I really just recommend a Roland product? But, if you want to sound real and keep up your chops, Yamaha is the better choice.
TelePaul
J to the R O C
Got the Rolands at Christmas. Fantastic for practice and you're right, the mesh snare is really good. You could use them to record, depending on how specific your requirements are. I'd say three or four kits out of the twenty five are pretty useable, though in terms of routing you're stuck with the stereo outs.
If your willing to spend another hundred bucks, check out EZ Drummer. I'm using it with the Roland kit and my god, the sounds are fantastic! Very useable for recording, some great room verb (if you want it, if not you just bring the room mic down!), an intuitive mixer and several routing options.
If your willing to spend another hundred bucks, check out EZ Drummer. I'm using it with the Roland kit and my god, the sounds are fantastic! Very useable for recording, some great room verb (if you want it, if not you just bring the room mic down!), an intuitive mixer and several routing options.
SteveM
New member
I'm actually a guitarist. I play drums but mostly for recording. But if I could get away with it I'd play more often. Yeah, they seem real simple to use. It's part of what I liked about them.
SteveM
New member
I liked the dampening effect they have. I thought that could be pretty useful to control some unrealistic sounds. Easy to tune. Stereo outs would be ok with me. I'd only be going to one or two tracks with them.
Thanks for the feedback. If you record something with them let me know!
TelePaul
J to the R O C
I'll track some stuff for ya now if you like. But I'm no drummer, will be a collection of fills mostly :O
I'll throw down some stuff via EZ drummer too so you can compare.
E
Ephi82
New member
I have the TD 3 which is the predecessor to the 4.
No, they don't sound like a perfectly miked up set, in a great room, but that ain't ever going to happen in my home studio, with just me to set levels etc......
Drums are not my primary instrument, but I sure love playing them and these are quick and easy to set up and track with:
Guess what? Although it has only a stereo out, I get 4 separate drum tracks down by first only outputing snare on left channel (to track 1) bass drum right (to track 2). All other drums/cymbals turned off.
Then I take a second pass, turning off the the snare and kick, and creating the panned stereo sound of two virtual overhead mics to track 3 and 4, turning on just the toms and cymbals with volume and panning to taste
This way I have discrete kick and snare tracks(which I can EQ or add a verb to taste) and some additional mix control of the "overheads". Obviously, I could get silly and separately track each drum/cymbal this way. (not to mention allowing you to play like a three armed drummer!)
No, they don't sound like a perfectly miked up set, in a great room, but that ain't ever going to happen in my home studio, with just me to set levels etc......
Drums are not my primary instrument, but I sure love playing them and these are quick and easy to set up and track with:
Guess what? Although it has only a stereo out, I get 4 separate drum tracks down by first only outputing snare on left channel (to track 1) bass drum right (to track 2). All other drums/cymbals turned off.
Then I take a second pass, turning off the the snare and kick, and creating the panned stereo sound of two virtual overhead mics to track 3 and 4, turning on just the toms and cymbals with volume and panning to taste
This way I have discrete kick and snare tracks(which I can EQ or add a verb to taste) and some additional mix control of the "overheads". Obviously, I could get silly and separately track each drum/cymbal this way. (not to mention allowing you to play like a three armed drummer!)
E
Ephi82
New member
Can you explain? Are you saying you use the V drums to drive samples in EZ Drummer? I use a TASCAM 2488 workstation so my guess is I would have to go PC to use this functionality????? I wonder if I can have my laptop host it and then output to the TASCAM? (yes i am an analog guy in a digital world)
TelePaul
J to the R O C
Yep, you use the V drums as triggers for great sounding EZDrummer samples. Yes, a computer will have to feature somewhere, altough I'm fairly sure it could be done alright - probably taking the computer's soundcards outputs into your analog inputs.
TelePaul
J to the R O C
www.soundclick.com/glasshouserecordings
Here you go guys. So sorry for the poor playing, I'm no drummer. But hopefully it'll give you some idea as to how the various kits sound. On reflection, the stock V Drum samples are certainly usable depending on your requirements. But those EZ Drummer sounds do rock
Here you go guys. So sorry for the poor playing, I'm no drummer. But hopefully it'll give you some idea as to how the various kits sound. On reflection, the stock V Drum samples are certainly usable depending on your requirements. But those EZ Drummer sounds do rock
SteveM
New member
Thanks for putting these up Tele... I'm listening now. So far I like what I'm hearing. I wasn't crazy about the first snare sound on the track but the rest of the track sounds good.
Cool.
Like Epi above I'm analog too. I'm not really set up for a computer. I'd need the ins and outs.
You're right. The EZ drummer does sound good.
Cool.
Like Epi above I'm analog too. I'm not really set up for a computer. I'd need the ins and outs.
You're right. The EZ drummer does sound good.
TelePaul
J to the R O C
Thanks for putting these up Tele... I'm listening now. So far I like what I'm hearing. I wasn't crazy about the first snare sound on the track but the rest of the track sounds good.
Cool.
Like Epi above I'm analog too. I'm not really set up for a computer. I'd need the ins and outs.
You're right. The EZ drummer does sound good.
A computer setup is pretty easy - the program runs on minimal RAM and a USB interface will do the job.
SteveM
New member
I could use my laptop and maybe get some used pads. Pardon my noobishness but how do you get from the pads to the computer? You have to have a module with midi out?
TelePaul
J to the R O C
Sorry, was basing things on the assumption you had the TD4, my bad. Yep, the module has a Midi out, you put that through your interface's Midi In and off you go.
SteveM
New member
One more question Tele. Which version of EZ did you get and how much is it? I have really looked it up yet.
TelePaul
J to the R O C
Heya. I bought EZDrummer and the Nashville expansion for €132 from thomann.de (I'm in Europe).