TD-20 Voices (polyphony)

[~rf~]

Hey Ya'll,
I'm back with more questions about the TD-20. I've been using the TD20 for 8 months now and must say, I'm very impressed with the sounds that it generates. I've also received tremendous positive response from sound engineers, in small clubs and at large festivals, across the country. They can hardly believe how good they sound. But, I seem to be pushing the limits of the module with the type of performance I'm using it for.

I'm currently in a group playing drums and bass parts live simultaneously using the "tap" pattern feature. These parts are not extremely complex and the module has been working flawlessly for this application. I'm starting to get a bit more creative with parts and have found that I may have reached a wall in which the module may not allow me to pass.

I've started adding other parts to the equation. Along with playing the bass parts, I've begun experimenting with adding chord patterns and such parts to other pads. I am having trouble with parts cutting out and not performing properly. Say I play a groove and have a 3 note chord on the cymbal and a bass part on the kick and a melody on the rim of the tom, the 3 note chord on the cymbal is canceled once the kick or melody is played. Am I correct in assuming this is a polyphony issue?

My curiosity is peaked. I would like to know, if any of you know, how many voices a regular V-drum kit uses when say 3-4 limbs are played simultaneously? I've read that it all adds up and that it doesn't take much to use up a lot of the voices, polyphony, of the TD20. I am curious if the module is "maxed" out with polyphony from just the drums/cymbals and doesn't leave much polyphony for the backing instrument patterns to be played?

Am I just pushing the limits of the module? Is there any way around this issue I am having without sacrificing drum sounds? As I perform now, I am using no rev/chorus on the backing instruments and only room ambience on the drums master effects.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated

Frank

[jrcel]

Tap sequencer playback is my favourite feature of that machine.

[BarT]

I think you are probably pushing the limits. Even without chords, bass and melody going on, the 64 simultaneous voice limit can become apparent with a buzz roll and long-decay cymbals. Ambience and effects also come into play as you've obviously considered. One small thing which can be overlooked and may give you some wiggle room is snare buzz on kick and toms; it almost certainly uses up several voices and could be switched off if you don't really need it.


Bruce

[~rf~]

Thanks Bruce.
I figured I was pushing it. I was really hoping I was overlooking something. I've been dreaming of playing full instrument parts on kit since I was a freshman in college back in 87. Now, it is so close, yet so far. I suppose I may have to figure something out. Do you think the expander card would allow for better possibility in this area of the module?

I really enjoy the act that I can play backing instrument parts along with really killer drum sounds. I was hoping that Roland may have thought that drummers would want to do one man shows.

Frank

[BarT]

Do you think the expander card would allow for better possibility in this area of the module?

I suppose it's possible that polyphony could be increased, but there's been no hint of it so far. And the TDW-20 Expansion Board introduces a new factor; Kit Resonance for the kick, which must eat up further voices.


Bruce