S2.0...why would I need a module

[chef boyardee]

Hello everyone at V drums forum. Been lurking for awhile and I gotta say the friendliness and education on these forums is awesome. I currently own a Yamaha DTXpress and am looking to begin some serious online collaboration in the new year as well as making recordings tt upload drum videos. I am planning on selling the Yamaha to purchase a Roland TD-12 or 20. My plan is to run S2.0 on my computer as my audio source. My question is if I am going to do that, why would I even need a module? From my understanding I can take the output from the V drums run it through either the Alessis I/O or an audio interface and then use S2.0 and run that through a DAW. What benefit does a module give besides some semi-ok drum sounds?
Thanks for your help guys and gals!

[jgermanich]

Well I suppose if you are not going to do any live performances, you really don't need the module. The module just serves as a backup just in case the computer or software take a hike. Then your basically stuck without the module.

[Pimenta]

You will without a doubt need a trigger to midi interface to translate the info. received when you hit a pad into MIDI notes. You do not need a fancy Td12 or TD20 to do that ... it could be the Alesis IO... Roland TMC-6. ...

Pim

[ige87]

Or a Megadrum.........

AFAIK, you'd need a huge number of audio inputs or multiple sound cards to get a whole kit into the computer. It can be done, but a TMC/module does all that for you.

[Relayer]

Just to be clear, this can't be done just with audio and without MIDI. S2 - and all drum VST's - responds to MIDI information from your module or Megadrum, Alesis I/O, TMC-6, etc. Plugging your triggers into an audio input is not going to do a thing. Some sort of TMI is always required.

HTH

Steve

[chef boyardee]

So this would be the setup then:
TD-12> TMC-6> FireFox audio interface> computer> S2.0> sequencer

Does this seem right now?

Does anyone one if the TMC-6 has the positional sensors on v-drums that the TD-12 module has? My goal is to re-create an acoustic set sound.
Also, since the TMC-6 has only 6 trigger inputs could I daisychain 2? I would like to be able to accomodate 4 toms, 1 bass, 1 snare, 4 cymbals, and 1 hi-hat?

I have heard that the Alessis I/O is not very good at triggering V-drums. Would you guys/gals generally agree with this?

[Relayer]

Yes, but you only need the TMC-6 if you don't have enough trigger inputs on the TD-12. The TD-12 could be used as the TMI by itself. You just turn the internal sounds off. Think of the TMC-6 as a module without the internal sounds. Keep in mind your audio interface - often referred to as your soundcard - has to have a MIDI input.

Steve

Just saw your additions. No the TMC-6 doesn't have positional sensing, but the inputs are dual trigger - hit and rim. And no you can't daisy chain two TMC-6's as they don't have a MIDI input. Here's my set-up:

TMC-6 MIDI OUT > TD-6V MIDI IN. TD-6V MIDI OUT > RME Soundcard MIDI IN > SONAR (host) > BFD, AD.

[chef boyardee]

Yes, but you only need the TMC-6 if you don't have enough trigger inputs on the TD-12. The TD-12 could be used as the TMI by itself. You just turn the internal sounds off. Think of the TMC-6 as a module without the internal sounds. Keep in mind your audio interface - often referred to as your soundcard - has to have a MIDI input.

Steve thanks for your help but I have to admit I am more confused now...I dont actually own the TD-12 yet, but if I don't use a module wouldn't I have 0 trigger inputs? I thought the TMC-6 would be acting as the trigger input for the V-drums and then that MIDI data is sent out to the audio interface with a MIDI input

Also what is TMI? . . interface??

[Relayer]

Sorry - where's Joe K? He's better at explaining this stuff than me - or most others. The TMC-6 would work fine on its own, but you won't have enough triggers to do what you want. The TD-12 would work fine on its own as well and I think you would have enough triggers to do it. I have a total of 12 triggers, so I use both the TMC-6 and TD-6V together.

TMI means "trigger to MIDI interface". It's what turns the signal from your pads into MIDI information that can then trigger your internal sounds or in your case, be sent out to your computer. Both the TD-12 and TMC-6 are TMI's, it's just that the TD-12 has internal sounds as well and more inputs for your pads.

Sorry again if I'm confusing you.

Steve

[ige87]

Just to be clear, this can't be done just with audio and without MIDI.

To be even more clear, you CAN use audio inputs, but, you need software to convert the audio signal to midi. This has the limitation that 1 audio input can ONLY be used for 1 pad.

No, the TMC-6 has no p.s, the TD-12 has it for the snare and ride inputs (I think??).

Yes, you could use multiple TMC-6's, but as they only have MIDI OUT, you'd need a midi-merge of some kind to get them all into your pc as they cannot be daisy-chained to a single MIDI IN on the pc.

Also, your soundcard doesn't have to have a MIDI IN, as numerous USB-MIDI cables exist which are more than capable of the job, and work just as well as an integrated solution.

Hope this clears things up a bit, I think I probably added to the confusion! Sorry!

[chef boyardee]

Sorry again if I'm confusing you.

No problem whatsoever...as my title says Im a newbie and I think my lack of knowledge might be THE main cause in the confusion, not to mention these technical discussions can be confusing in general.

where's Joe K? He's better at explaining this stuff than me - or most others.

He's the man...I have learned alot from his posts and youtube videos.

The TD-12 would work fine on its own as well and I think you would have enough triggers to do it.

This is where the disconnect is; I think. I was thinking about using the TD-12 without the module, and therefore I would have no triggers if I didnt use a TMC-6.? This is what I believe, Im not in any way saying this is a fact.

The TMC-6 would work fine on its own, but you won't have enough triggers to do what you want. I have a total of 12 triggers, so I use both the TMC-6 and TD-6V together.

This is what I was thinking...link two TMC-6's and scrap using a module altogether, thereby giving me 12 triggers. I don't know if this would work or not, but if the module is only for sounds I would rather use S2.0 and use the xtra cash for something else. GAS of course!

Thanks for the help Steve

[chef boyardee]

Yes, you could use multiple TMC-6's, but as they only have MIDI OUT, you'd need a midi-merge of some kind to get them all into your pc as they cannot be daisy-chained to a single MIDI IN on the pc.

ige...could you recommend something that could midi-merge two TMC-6's? Thanks

[Relayer]

ige87

OK, now I'm confused, as the signal sent out by the pads is not a true audio signal. In other words, if you plugged a trigger into an amp, nothing would happen. In any case, what is this software that you're talking about that converts electronic signals to MIDI? I'd be very interested in that.

I'd be wary of soundcards without a MIDI interface, as they are more likely to be geared to vocals, guitars and acoustic instruments.


Chef,

That's the disconnect. You meant the TD-12 as an entity, and I was just talking about the module. Yes you can use two TMC's together, but you'll need 2 MIDI inputs on your soundcard or a MIDI junction box (MIDI merge). The Alesis I/O is the right idea, but as you said doesn't work well with Roland. I would like to see Roland make something like a TMC-15, that supported positional sensing, and the VH hh's. That would sell like hotcakes, and should be way cheaper than a module.

Now I think we understand - my mistake.

Steve

[chef boyardee]

I would like to see Roland make something like a TMC-15, that supported positional sensing, and the VH hh's. That would sell like hotcakes, and should be way cheaper than a module.

Steve...do you know if Roland actually has plans for something like this? Like you said, it would be cheaper than a module and therefore would not be in Roland's best interest to produce one. With software being so great now, modules just seem really unnecessary.

So then would this be the correct setup?
V-drum< TMC-6 (x2 connected by MIDI merger)< Audio Interface with MIDI< computer< S2.0< sequencer

[Relayer]

Steve...do you know if Roland actually has plans for something like this? Like you said, it would be cheaper than a module and therefore would not be in Roland's best interest to produce one. With software being so great now, modules just seem really unnecessary.

It seems like a no-brainer to me, but then again they probably make a mint charging us for samples that many of us can't stand to use.

So then would this be the correct setup?
V-drum< TMC-6 (x2 connected by MIDI merger)< Audio Interface with MIDI< computer< S2.0< sequencer

Correct, except S2 is inside the sequencer/host. You don't have to use a sequencer (recording program), you can just use S2 as a standalone with the EZ player or some other freeware that can host VST's.

Steve