Sound Check Nice Pad, For Real Though
posted by on August 9 at 12:17 PM
Drum pads are the answer. If our politicians put down their agendas and picked up drum pads, world peace would be achieved.
Evolving out from the classic Synsonics, the world of drum pads becomes very varied. There are all shapes, styles, and price ranges.
The Roland SPD-S is a somewhat affordable, mid-size drum pad that is easy to play, operate, and integrate into your kit.
It mounts trouble free for placement, has great pre-loaded 808 and 909 sounds, and has big buttons that are simple to find and push. The rubber in the pads has good feel and the unit is readily expandable. Meaning the process for loading in your samples and sounds is relatively un-complicated.
And the Roland tech support is incredibly accessable. When you have a question, call the 800 number, and within minutes, they solve your problem with step by step answers. You’re not on hold forever and the people are nice. Sometimes I call them when I’m lonely.
What do you play? How do you incorporate your drum pads? Do they make you a space gangster?
The SPD-S is six pads and three edge triggers. No ultra complicated settings. Record a sound, assign it to a pad, and hammer it home. Hit the pads soft and get a quieter sound. Hit them hard, get a louder sound. Just like real drums. For real though.
The multi-effects algorithms and an ambience effect, mean you can sound-sculpt. To tweak while you play, all you have to do is twist the nice big front panel button. Plus, algorithm is a cool word to use in conversation.
With MIDI In and Out, it makes a great controller and module as well. You can assign two waveforms per pad and switch them via footswitch.
The SPD-S works with a CompactFlash card—making it easy to expand the onboard sampling time, store custom sounds, and even import or export .WAV/AIFF files using your Mac or PC.
One drawback is the wear and tear on the inputs and outputs. You must baby them to some degree. If and when they wear out, you’ll be stuck in the middle of show with your drum pads sounding like a tortured electro-moose.
Another drawback is pad size. The individual pads are kind of tiny. But like any drum, you have to play it over and over and you get used to it. What miss-hits? No miss-hits, just world peace. And fat as hell, gangster big drum pad sounds.
boom boom click click!!! What's up with some MIDI triggers? Can or cant they do the same things as drum pads but you can put them on acoustic drums??
luv the title of yr post, t.
I have the Alesis DM5 and Pulse Percussion triggers. They do many neato things and look really good in their boxes where they have lived since I got them. Some day I hope to hear them. I will commence doing push-ups as penance for being lazy. Trent, come over and show me the light - I have an extra cape you can wear.
'Mind Control' - I like that button. I think there should be a pyro button too.
Friendly, personal, quick tech support. This I don't believe. This I have to see for myself.
I'm going to call them and see. I'm feeling lonely too.
Synsonics were the greatest!
Nice, personal, quick tech support? Really? This I gotta see. I'm feeling lonely too, maybe I'll give them a call.
Synsonics were the greatest!!!!!
Yes, quick and personal. And they walk you right through whatever problem you are having.
But it's really better when you are lonley.
Of course now that I've said this, the next time I call, I'll be on hold for 15 minutes and the guy will be a dick.
I love my Synsonics machine. The tunable tom = instant disco.
what is a gangsta? Just saying the word "algorythm" makes me feel barfy at this hour. Mr. Writer, I am just your average drunk fool who happened to open this after a long night of drinking, and i am appalled by this article's complexity! Shit, what's Paris hilton up to for christ's sake. I will try to understand what you are saying, and then I will write back about how it made me feel....as a drunk artist.
A gangsta is definitely not a professional bowler. I just saw professional bowlers on tv, not one of them was a gangsta.
This should not be read while drunk or hung over. It would be nice if all our world leaders played drums however. Trent, could you arrange that please? Tante
After a good night's sleep, a glass of water, and a few multi-vitamins, I have re-read this article and decided it makes me feel good. The word algorithm was also really intimidating, but I found the article enjoyably light and informative. Thank you Trent.
I used to think that drum pads were like fake boobies. They seem good enough until you hit them with your stick and the break. But now I have a yamaha DTXpress III with the whole setup and that shit is amazing.
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