TR time: What to get next?

[paladin]

Okay money is tight and I should not do it but damn it I am going to get "something" when my tax refund comes in. ii

I need help in deciding. I know this is all subjective but I would love some input.

Get two new E cymbals to fill Aux 3 and 4 on my TD-20. Or keep those free and play with some triggers like I have been, maybe for effects.

Get a Roland RMP-5 Rhythm Coach. May be good to have.

Get a SPD-S sampling pad, or a better one if you guys know of any. I am worried about the limited memory and some reviews say it is hard to trigger etc...

Get a Firepod, or something better, again with your help, for recording. This may be the most useful.

I may be able to do a combo on the cheaper items.

What would you guys do? Or any other ideas are welcome... ii

[ige87]

Get a SPD-S sampling pad, or a better one if you guys know of any. I am worried about the limited memory and some reviews say it is hard to trigger etc...

There isnt one! Not as an all in one package. The limited memory is got round using a CF card. Hard to trigger? Nonsense.

[V(ader)DRUMMER]

I vote for the SPD-S. It's just a really unique little piece of equipment and opens up so many cool possibilities. As an expansion piece to a good existing kit, I think it really adds a new dimension.

[paladin]

There isnt one! Not as an all in one package. The limited memory is got round using a CF card. Hard to trigger? Nonsense.

I was reading a review that it does not trigger well all the time and you had to hit it really hard. I am happy to see that it was incorrect. ii

So I can trigger/play samples right from a CF card, cool... So how do you guys output the sound? Just run it through the Mix-in on the TD-20?

Cool guys, thanks. Barring any other solid opinions I will pick up the SPD-S then.
I just have a HUGE desire to add something to my kit

[stickinthemud]

Troublemaker

I'll muddy the waters and suggest a Zoom H2 or H4 portable digital recorder. I LOVE my H2!

[paladin]

I'll muddy the waters and suggest a Zoom H2 or H4 portable digital recorder. I LOVE my H2!

Do not worry about adding things, that is why I started the thread. Hopefully to discover new things like this that I was unaware of ii

That is a cool little device man. For me though I think I want a firepod or something else that can do at least 8 tracks. I am working on a project with a guitarist and he has one. He is a certified sound engineer, and we recorded some stuff and it sounds great. We streamed the drums into his MAC through it with MIDI. Then he cleaned up the timing a bit, tweaked a few things and sent it back through my TD-20 to get the new sound recording into the FP with all 8 TD-20 outputs. It was cool, I am hooked! ii
I am a crappy drummer so I need all the help I can get ii

It was also cool when we were all there jamming to be able to record on our own tracks. I think that is probably the best way to record on your own.

Still I think I am putting that H4 on my wish list though, it looks like a GREAT thing to have as well, thanks for letting me know about it.

EDIT: Damn you! the more I read about this, the more I want one now ii. Not bad for $254.

[V(ader)DRUMMER]

So how do you guys output the sound? Just run it through the Mix-in

Yep, that's all it takes. Mine works great. In fact, it works so well, God actually talks to me via my SPD-S:

http://www.vdrums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33416

[paladin]

Okay I did it! I ordered the SPD-S. Drumworld had one in stock so I should pick it up tonight ii

Any advice or threads I should know about? Any weird quirks or things to be aware of etc....

A few fast questions; Can I set one of my rims to fire off a sample through the SPD-S? Can I use the SPD-S to trigger TD-20 sounds?
Does it still have the 512MB CF card size limitation? Can it use larger at all but only see 512? Can it play a sample directly from the CF card?

Any advice is welcome and thanks for helping me decide.

[ige87]

Yes, a rim can be set to trigger a sample, you just need to set the midi notes correctly and connect the SPD-S to the TD-20. Same goes for the other way round. If you want the sound fom the SPD-S, make sure the TD-20 has that trigger(rim) set to off, unless you want 2 sounds at once that is. As for the SPD-S triggering TD-20 sounds, it can be done, but can you clarify what exactly it is you are planning to do as there are a few ways to go about it.

Unfortunately, it can still only read a 512. If you only have larger cards, you'll have to partition them. That way, the SPD-S will read the first partition and the first partition only, as long as its 512 or under.

Samples have to be imported into the SPD-S as it triggers them in a proprietary format, but can be saved on the card and therefor played from the card as it converts them on import (I think!)

[paladin]

As for the SPD-S triggering TD-20 sounds, it can be done, but can you clarify what exactly it is you are planning to do as there are a few ways to go about it.

As for triggering TD-20 sounds I was just curious. I had nothing in mind to actually do except maybe trigger something not in my kit already etc... Like a cowbell etc... then again I can use samples for that I guess ii

Well I was also thinking that if I mounted this on the right side of the kit, unsure yet, I could use a pad to trigger the Hi-Hat. That would be useful I think.

Firing off SPD-S sounds FROM rims etc.. will be awesome since most don't use rims a lot. So maybe firing off a sound from them would be easier since you are already on the kit so to speak.

One thing very weird is just for kicks I connected the TD-20 and SPD-S via MIDI. Now when I change patches up or down it changes the kits on my TD-20. And when I use the wheel or -/+ keys on the TD-20 to change kits it changes the patches on the SPD-S. I LOVE the idea of being able to use the TD-20's wheel to select as it is MUCH faster (the SPD-S only has a -/+) but I cannot have it changing kits. Any ideas on that one?

I have a LOT to learn here.

Anyway this thing is MUCH more fun that I thought it would be. Now I am off to scour the net for samples
Anyone have a good AC/DC Hells Bells sound? ii