I'm not a pro...just learning and like to tinker with drums for fun. We have a Roland TD-30 and I absolutely love it. The heads are mesh and the hi hat and cymbals are rubber. The mesh heads feel more natural than rubber pads to me. No comparison to an acoustic kit, but has it's own charm. The preset kits all sound great to my ears (don't get Andrew started though...hahahaahaa...he usually substitutes the Roland sounds with BFD drum sounds) and the editing capabilities are almost endless. It's very dynamically responsive, even ghost notes on the snare. You can also customize your drums, like add virtual "tape" to the snare. It has dual triggers (top and edge) on most of the drums and cymbals that can be customized. Then there's the supernatural sound module...lots of crazy synth stuff to play with. The TD9 is also a good kit..less featured, but has everything one needs to get the job done.
#677 Posted Fri 28 Aug, 2015 5:19 am
Oh man, the TD30. Yes, that's the one on my wish list already! I need someone to steer me away from it rather than toward it.. top of the line with a price to match as far as I can tell. I wonder if it's even available here :)
The TD15 looks like a good half way house, with a more realistic high-hat and kick feel than the TD9, I'm thinking. Though I'm pulled between investing big now and done for ever, or starting off cheap and cheerful and upgrading later, maybe with something like the TD9. Only thing is that there isn't really a second hand market here, so if I want to upgrade later, it will basically mean throwing away the TD9 I'm assuming.
One question though. Do you think the TD30 is worth the investment? Thinking long term. I mean, as far as recording goes (midi tracks for use with BFD etc.), are you able to get a better drum performance out of it compared to the TD9? You seem to be pretty happy with it. Ever get the sense that a Yamaha alternative might have been a better choice? I think Yamaha are a cheaper option and seem to have as good a reputation for their kits.
The TD15 looks like a good half way house, with a more realistic high-hat and kick feel than the TD9, I'm thinking. Though I'm pulled between investing big now and done for ever, or starting off cheap and cheerful and upgrading later, maybe with something like the TD9. Only thing is that there isn't really a second hand market here, so if I want to upgrade later, it will basically mean throwing away the TD9 I'm assuming.
One question though. Do you think the TD30 is worth the investment? Thinking long term. I mean, as far as recording goes (midi tracks for use with BFD etc.), are you able to get a better drum performance out of it compared to the TD9? You seem to be pretty happy with it. Ever get the sense that a Yamaha alternative might have been a better choice? I think Yamaha are a cheaper option and seem to have as good a reputation for their kits.
#679 Posted Fri 28 Aug, 2015 5:39 am
Maybe one of these
Originally posted by GoodVibes on Fri 28 Aug, 2015
Holy mackerel batman! It's not even Christmas yet!
#680 Posted Fri 28 Aug, 2015 5:40 am
Listen to the difference when the kit is turned into an acoustic kit, it's like night and day man.
The Roland may be a slightly better electronic kit but think of this, when you get sick of electronic sounds (you will) the Pearl can do the job.
The Roland may be a slightly better electronic kit but think of this, when you get sick of electronic sounds (you will) the Pearl can do the job.
#682 Posted Fri 28 Aug, 2015 5:44 am
Listen to the difference when the kit is turned into an acoustic kit, it's like night and day man.
The Roland may be a slightly better electronic kit but think of this, when you get sick of electronic sounds (you will) the Pearl can do the job.
Originally posted by GoodVibes on Fri 28 Aug, 2015
Actually, I've always been the resistance when it comes to electronic drums, but current environmental legislation means that I can't even flick the on switch on my old Marshal, let alone get a real drum kit haha!
Ability is another factor. Not sure I'll ever be a real drummer, but at least with an electric kit I'll be able to move midi notes around so that it at least gives the appearance that I can play in time. No arguments from me on the shear awesomeness of a real kit, but maybe sometime in the future, when Van Halen are looking to replace a brother, I'll get the real thing for the audition :)
Ability is another factor. Not sure I'll ever be a real drummer, but at least with an electric kit I'll be able to move midi notes around so that it at least gives the appearance that I can play in time. No arguments from me on the shear awesomeness of a real kit, but maybe sometime in the future, when Van Halen are looking to replace a brother, I'll get the real thing for the audition :)
#683 Posted Fri 28 Aug, 2015 6:00 am
Haa haaa haaa....I'm right there with you Lee....thank goodness for quantize. :)
I originally bought the TD9 and enjoyed it so much. But every trip to Guitar Center had me drooling over the TD30 and I finally gave in. Seriously, I could have made due with the TD9. Never tried the Pearl, Yamaha or Alesis kits. I'd had my heart set on the Roland for several years, so didn't even think about comparing...sorry I can't help you out there.
I originally bought the TD9 and enjoyed it so much. But every trip to Guitar Center had me drooling over the TD30 and I finally gave in. Seriously, I could have made due with the TD9. Never tried the Pearl, Yamaha or Alesis kits. I'd had my heart set on the Roland for several years, so didn't even think about comparing...sorry I can't help you out there.
#684 Posted Fri 28 Aug, 2015 6:23 am
Haa haaa haaa....I'm right there with you Lee....thank goodness for quantize. :)
I originally bought the TD9 and enjoyed it so much. But every trip to Guitar Center had me drooling over the TD30 and I finally gave in. Seriously, I could have made due with the TD9. Never tried the Pearl, Yamaha or Alesis kits. I'd had my heart set on the Roland for several years, so didn't even think about comparing...sorry I can't help you out there.
Originally posted by HootenAnnie on Fri 28 Aug, 2015
No, you helped a lot already. So thanks for that. I'm sure there's not a lot in it other than individual preferences. I don't think I touched or been near an electronic kit since about 1990, and became very anti from that experience. But things have changed a lot since then and I've been amazed to see what's available now! I was already siding with Roland anyway, but I'll just have to go and check out what's actually available here.
#685 Posted Fri 28 Aug, 2015 7:28 am
For recording purposes, which feels and responds most like a real kit? All the guff on this subject spends a lot of time talking about the module's sounds, which isn't very interesting for recording the midi track in my DAW. I'm more interested in pad sensitivity and response for reproducing a more realistic performance.
Any experience, anyone?