Looking to purchase first VDrums, thoughts and comments welcome

[Beddo]

Hi all I am also looking to purchase my first vdrums after always playing acoustic. I am currently considering two kits (obviously secondhand) a TD-12 and a TD-9KX2. My understanding at looking at the specs is that the TD-12 is much older but based on the TD-20 module has more features in most aspects, including positional sensing. The TD9 kit is much newer but uses the same VH-11 hi-hat and uses the SD-9 kickpad. Can I get splash effect with this hi-hat with either kit? I am interested in running Steve Slate (or other ) drums to get vintage and other sounds as well and practice to a MP3 mostly! Am interested in your thoughts and recommendations. I guess I am looking to move between the two kits (accoutic and vdrum) as smoothly as possible! Thanks in advance, this is a great forum!

[Kenster]

Welcome welcome!!! Not sure about the foot splashes with those hats, others will chime in. The TD12 is a little older than the 9 but does have some more features on it. Either will work flawlessly for running VSTs. I would make sure which one has limitations if any on running upgraded HHs later. I think the TD 12 uses straight inputs like the TD20 and I think the TD9 uses a harness of some kind. So in future planning as far as additional drums and changing out HHs and kickdrums later should be considered. Not sure of your budget but you could prolly get a used TD20 for around the same money, more features than both the 12 and 9. There are so many options with e drums, you could spend the money on a better module and DIY shells with triggers, get Yamaha cymbals which are cheaper than Roland, etc etc etc. It just depends on ultimately what you want to do, how crafty you are with DIY, how much time you have, and what your future goals might be.

K ;-)

[grog]

If you're looking to use this primarily as a MIDI controller for a VST package, go with the TD-9, assuming the kit's cheaper than the TD-12. When buying the 12 you'll be paying for a lot more onboard options that you won't need if your primary focus is on VSTs.

The only possible difference that could affect your purchase is the hihat capability of each. Yes, while both can utilize the VH-11, only the TD-12 can utilize the VH-12. Theoretically the VH-12 is a big leap over the VH-12 but to be honest, after years of playing on a variety of HHs to include both of them, I really don't hear anything but the most subtle of differences between them.

Foot splashes OTOH, can be heavily affected by pedal/controller choice. The standard VH-11/FD8 combo can work if the FD8 pedal is working well...and we've got an entire sticky thread devoted just to that twitchy piece of gear. The VH-12 seems more reliable in terms of heel splashes but I don't have tons of experience with it.

https://www.digitaldrummermag.com

https://www.dauphinehotel.com

[pumpal]

I think by "The standard VH-11/FD8 combo" you meant CY5/FD8 as VH-11 mounts on a standard stand & the controller is the bottom part of it. It is capable of very realistic splashes with the TD-15, not sure if TD-9 would also support that...

[Beddo]

Thanks Kenster, Grog and Pumpal all good advice, am thinking it all through, if i spent half as much as I have invested in my acoustic kit, I would be looking at top of the line Vdrums. Looking at the info, the TD-12 has more options (Hi hats, positional sensing etc) even though it is older, but maybe will not rush into it until I am sure. Will be back online later tonight and reply more then, again thanks to all.

[New Tricks]

Conversion kit.

Racks and small pads are silly.

This is a $100 off brand converted A kit. Spend your money on a good module and play real sized drums set up just like your A kit.

[dazjam]

IMO the TD-12 edges it for functionality, separate inputs, fader bank, pos sens, vh-12 etc as mentioned. Very little difference from TD-20 the ex-flagship kit (itself not 100 miles from a TD-30). Though I like the TD-9, the 12 module is a solid lump and would be my choice for a gig by far. The 2 have been compared/discussed before....if you search "td9 td12" eg -

http://www.vdrums.com/forum/general/products/1001895-upgrading-a-td9-kit

http://www.vdrums.com/forum/general/products/976996-worthwhile-to-replace-td9-by-td20

[Kenster]

Racks and small pads are silly.

Not all racks/small pads, just ones like the TD1 and anything too small for anyone built over 6 feet tall lol.

Small pads are great for accent pieces on your kit as well. More cowbell!

K

[New Tricks]

Yeah, small pads are fine for that stuff.

It's just that, I was never thrilled with trying to hit the middle of 8" drums or having people look up my skirt while I was playing behind a rack

[figital]

i just went through the research process myself and i think the best choice is a well kept td-12. the features that are on the module are quite powerful and once you see what it can do, you might be more into the idea of learning about pushing what the module can do. it's never going to have the sound of the vst drum pack, but you can still do so much more on the td-12 than the td-9. for the sake of a couple of hundred dollars, i'd say td-12 all the way. also, one thing i used as bargaining when i got mine...check the version. if you have an original owner who never did the update to 1.11 you can maybe get a bit knocked off the price! i sure did. LOL

p.s. the point about separate inputs is a winner too! check the price for the replacement harness and then for one cable!!

[Beddo]

thanks guys, have gone and figured through all the options you have suggested, and spent weeks online. Got offered a good price on a TD-30, but in the end he decided to keep the kit, stunning to play really made me think. The TD-10 sold for more than expected so I missed that. Converting an A kit is a great idea if I had more experience, even with all the help here, certainly there are great A kits for sale cheap atm so that seems more a project once I have got going I think. Looking at a kit with decent sized pads decided a TD_12 or TD_20x, kits and modules sometimes available, but how good (condition) are they? lol my head was spinning!!!!! Anyway when I looked a building up a kit was going to cost as much as a TD_25, and upgrading the size of the pads on a TD-25 was also costly and with limited expansion options etc etc etc ..........then there is the falling dollar here and the rising price of imports, some kits up $700!!!!!!! Anyway I like to keep my kits long term so found a shop that wanted to sell near perfect display 30 at a discounted price and after considering it all for a few days put it on layby...........Will have to wait a while longer but it to get my hands on it but it is pretty awesome. Ordered a 13" Hart snare (cheap from the US) after spending so much time online looking at options to complete the kit so I have two floor toms (one 12"), and something I think I can live with in terms of pad sizes, cymbals etc.....now for all the other stuff i need ...........
Just the start but thanks all, you info was so valuable in making a decision........this a great forum!

[Jonts]

Hey there, I was in the exact boat as you choosing between a cheap TD9 or TD12 and went with the TD12 purely because I was doing an A2E conversion and wanted the split inputs, also the TD9/TD11/TD15 module fronts just look so basic. Now finding the capabilities for tweaking each trigger invaluable, I don't know for sure but i'm guessing the TD9 doesn't come close in that department. Best decision I made so far with my drumming equipment I reckon.

Don't worry about not having experience about installing triggers etc; it's actually really easy and the hardest part i found was soldering wires from piezos to input jacks but you can easily dodge that step by buying slightly more expensive ones that are done already. Be wary of areas where you end up paying dollars for something you can get for pennies though.

Stupidly didn't check what version my module was though, was too busy asking about whether all the TD9s had been upgraded to even be aware that there was a firmware update for the TD12. Could've bargained myself a bit of a discount but never mind :-(

[New Tricks]

Converting an A kit is a great idea if I had more experience, even with all the help here,

That's what I thought a few years ago but seriously, this is all you need to do.

A piece of 1" aluminum angle and two L brackets from the hardware store and a stick on come/piezo. I heard about DIY kits before but didn't realize how simple the process was or I would have done it years ago. That's why I'm always pushing it. It's inexpensive, easy and you get to play full sized drums.

[Jonts]

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[Jonts]

Just today there was a youtube video uploaded to the vdrumtips channel detail a no-solder low budget way of creating a dual zone trigger. Very cool and timely:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Byq9zh9g7aM