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**Ranman** · 01-02-03, 02:41 PM

Wow, what a great point!

I've shown up for gigs before and the guitarist blew an amp, or the bassist blew a speaker, and things ground to a halt right away, but as a drummer the only show-stopper I suffered back in the 'A' days was a broken kick pedal.

Now that you mention it, this IS an area of real vulnerability for us. What would I do in this event? Hard to say. If there is time, a quick run to an equipped music store would be the answer - assuming I've got enough plastic in my pocket.

When the guitarist blew an amp there was another band in the area he could borrow one from for the evening. The bassist was forced to trot to a nearby pawn shop for a quick buy. When my kick pedal broke I used duct tape and the shaft of a broken drum stick to make a temporary repair to get me through the night (though I didn't 'kick' it quite as hard as I normally would.)

It isn't very likely that I'd have an 'E' drummer friend nearby from whom to borrow a module, and I could forget the pawn shop option. If it was, say, 10:00 at night and the module blew... I'd say "Well boys, break out the accoustic guitars, 'cause the drums aint drummin'."

A spare module isn't in my budget. But if I was gigging seriousely and depended on the income I'd have to say that a spare would certainly be worth the investment!

**dbanger** · 01-02-03, 02:50 PM

Exactly! That's why I was looking at one of the older processor brains - less money out of my pocket. I tried a TD5 processor on my Vdrums and they work, but with the older patch sounds of course. But, as a backup, I'm thinking that might be the way to go.
It's good to hear that another vdrummer agrees that this is a potential weakness for vdrummers. With adrums, unless you totally break something like your kick pedal example, you can still play. You just might have to do without a single drum or cymbal or whatever for the night. If the vdrum brain ain't working, you don't gig.....
Anyone else have any comments?

**boose44** · 01-02-03, 03:52 PM

A definite achilles heel for the v's to be sure.

Actually, searching the boards it doesn't appear that common that the Roland's go completely brain dead.

Seems more likely to loose an individual trigger input on the module or a trigger pad / drum?

The spare module route, I think I can swing something fairly soon, but I'm going to handle my little TD-6 with kids gloves until then -- just in case.

-bruce

**Ranman** · 01-02-03, 03:59 PM

The only problem I have with the spare module notion is that I am far too human. See, if I had that other 12 inputs sitting over there, calling my name... 'ranman... 12 more inputs... ranman...' ...I just know I'd have 12 more triggers hanging on my rack and I'd be completely dependent upon both modules!

Of course, if one died I could always pare down my kit to use just the remaining one, and that'd get me throughthe gig... but still...

'ranman... 12 more inputs... ranman...'

It'd be like living in a friggin' Poe poem!

**dbanger** · 01-02-03, 04:45 PM

Now *that* made me laugh! Yeah, that thought crossed my mind also... what if I just got a couple more cymbal stands with pads.... Still, you'd have something to fall back on if your main processor didn't work.
Interesting thought - what do you do if an input on your processor goes bad? Do you send it back to Roland?
Dbanger

**zendrums** · 01-02-03, 04:48 PM

That's what I do Ranman. My primary module is a TD8 but i also use an Alesis DM5 to trigger auxillary cymbal and percussion sounds. I already have the Aleseis set up so that if the TD8 breaks down, I can turn a dial and I have a drum set without even switching pads. Of course I would have to patch the Aleseis to the PA, but every second counts when your the center of attention w/ broken down gear.

I also had a toolbox for years when I gigged w/ A's. It had all of the essentials that you may need if something was to breakdown. Now I have a seperate toolbox just for the e's. Extra triggers, soldering iron and solder, patch cabels, etc.

Oh, I almost forgot! Those cheap wall warts that supply power to your module are notorious (spelling?) for going bad without warning. I always have a spare for both modules and my BBE.

By the way, The Roland module is quite a workhorse. I have never had a problem with it. The first year I gigged with it, I was almost paranoid about it frying out, but now I don't even think about it. Good luck!

**Boingo** · 01-02-03, 04:56 PM

I'm fortunate in that I only play in a Church. If I were to have that problem, I would remind everyone about forgiveness (and blame it on the bass player).

**dbanger** · 01-02-03, 05:02 PM

This is great! You've told me 2 things - 1) What you do to anticipate a possible failure, and 2) that you've worked your Roland processor hard without a hitch. Both make me feel better! I'm using the TD10, but I can't imagine it being any less (probably more) worthy of being a workhorse. I've already worked it hard but only about a dozen actual gigs. Thanks, zendrums, for the visual about being the center of attention..... yup, that's the way it goes if you're about to play for $$$. You're not real popular with your bandmates either.

**xush** · 01-02-03, 07:01 PM

I bought an old TD7 brain a while back because I remember missing some of the features when I sold mine for V-drums. The price was right and I figured I'd chain them or layer them when recording.

Then the "Ranman" factor kicked in, and that's how I found this site. I simply can't resist all those lonely little inputs crying out to be used. The kit grows each week now...

and hopefully I've found a gig, from the classified forum.

**Joe_K** · 01-02-03, 08:31 PM

Re: Brain dead... what do you do?

Originally posted by dbanger
What do I need in my bag of goodies to anticipate something like this?

A quality CD recording of the drum tracks that you can pipe through the PA. Then you can sit up there and milli vanilli it

(Just hope the CD player doesn't skip).

Joe

**dbanger** · 01-02-03, 10:27 PM

I won't wear the dreadlocks... or the knee high boots... (you know, the milli vanilli look).
How funny! Sure, and it would take care of all those comments about speeding or slowing a song, now wouldn't it?

**Joe_K** · 01-03-03, 01:29 AM

Originally posted by dbanger
I won't wear the dreadlocks... or the knee high boots... (you know, the milli vanilli look).
How funny! Sure, and it would take care of all those comments about speeding or slowing a song, now wouldn't it?

Just be sure you are actually the one playing drums on the CD and you will avoid the Milli Vanilli fate. And hope the CD doesn't skip. If it does, instruct the sound guy to cut the drums, and then just keep playing, but look puzzled (gesturing to your ear between snare strokes). Then you can blame it on the sound guy. Hey, I'm really beginning to like this plan.

Joe

**dlgarlock** · 01-04-03, 01:59 PM

Let's keep in mind it's only a GIG. If the Drums break down and the Band has to go on without us. OH Well...at least it's not the Operating Room at the local Memorial Hospital. Grab a mike and get everyone clapping to the beat. Tell a few George Carlin Jokes. You'll get through it. Probably won't get paid though. poor little hungry kiddies at home.

**Cyberjam** · 01-04-03, 03:41 PM

Extra protection for your module...

Don't forget to get a UPS. If there is some sort of power anamoly the UPS adds a little added protection to your equipment. I have been in places where you could here the ground buzz throught the amps (eeewwww!) or see the lights flicker when the furnace comes on!

I have never plugged my module into anything but a UPS (ok paranoia just does not begin to explain it! LOL).

Another added bit of information about UPS's, some are of the stepped sine (looking much like stairs on a graph) wave variety and others are of the modified sine wave type. The stepped sine wave ones (most common) are great for switching power supplies (computers and the like) but maybe not so good for other power hungry items (like items having DC motors.

The modified sine wave ones are better suited to our modules and other sensitive electronic equipment.

If you are concerned about the type you own contact the manufacturer or drop a line to the technical folks at Roland.

Just my 2 cents Canadian! (ok about 1.2 cents USD and 10 cents HKD!)

Oh, and my module has never worried me. Not too crazy about cigarette smoke but that is a different issue altogether...

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