VConcert advice please help

[Maverick]

Could any / all of you give me your two cents about the following V-Drum / electronic drum questions.

1. I've played the DTXtreme / DTXpress and Roland TD8. In each of these I've experienced the pads MISSING hits - bass drum, snare or tom. Is this NORMAL / common with the TD10 V concert kit?

2. With the above kits in order to avoid crosstalk you have to spend hours playing around with sensitivities etc and even then it's never really 'right'... is the V concert prone to Crosstalk on the V-Drum rack and can it be totally sucessfully removed without limiting playability or making them all trigger as the same 'power' regardless of the stroke?

3. the Vdrums has a lower polyphony than the DTXtreme. Honestly how does this (if at all) affect playing of 'big sound' complicated and fast grooves? Does it cut sounds off or out totally?

4. What are the honest 'down' sides to this top end kit. I know that the DTXtreme has alot of added functionality but for a kit I just want to PLAY...not mess around with midi / samples / chaining or looping or layering...so is this really the better option as a professional level drum kit.


I realise that these are big and somewhat controversial and personal preference type questions but considering price and performance...any / all honesty advice would REALLY be appreciated. If I'm paying the price of a very high end acoustic kit...I want the same level of performance out of the electronic kit. I'm not into samples, sound effects, midi, etc...just playing and gigging and recording.

I've played the DTXtreme alot and considering thats Yamaha's top of the line professional kit - all I can say is I'm really disapointed. And I can't see that professional performing drummers would touch it. I know some pro drummers use the V-Drums...but don't they just use it for extra pads for special effects / samples...

Do any JUST use it as their major drum kit for performing, recording and gigging?

Thanks alot

Maverick

[jrcel]

Try out a Drumkat 3.5-3.8/Turbo if you can find one, all the triggering setup functions are automated, pad training that really works, automatic interaction matrix, and using the midi in, automatic note number and channel assignments. It's still the most reliable interface out there and I've played them all.

[This message has been edited by jrcel (edited January 22, 2002).]

[Maverick]

Sorry JRCEL, but I'm lost.

Just how does that answer any / all of my questions?

Not a flame just totally confused?!

Mav

[Marc.]

Originally posted by Maverick:

If I'm paying the price of a very high end acoustic kit...I want the same level of performance out of the electronic kit. I'm not into samples, sound effects, midi, etc...just playing and gigging and recording.

Sorry, if you want the same "level of performance" you'll have to 'get into' that other stuff.

I know some pro drummers use the V-Drums...but don't they just use it for extra pads for special effects / samples...

Let's assume when you use the term pro you're referring to major stars. - Yes, some do.

Do any JUST use it as their major drum kit for performing, recording and gigging?

Let's assume when you use the term pro you're referring to major stars. - Only one person that I'm aware of.

[jrcel]

Well, you say you want a top level pro kit that's easy to set up and get started with and that you're disapointed with the kits you've already played, with any of the turnkey systems, you must set every parameter manualy to stop crosstalk, it's a pain. The TD-10 is the same way, although these boxes come as one size fits all from the factory, if you change something, you must compensate everything else as well. As for polyphony, you only need lots of it if you are creating thick sequences or doing alot of layering, since you can't layer on a TD-10, what's the point. You seem to be asking for two different things, pro level capabilities and entry level ease of use, and the same performance as with a top of the line acoustic kit. What I am saying is that for all it's sophistication, the Drumkat is a very simple machine to use and it's more powerful than anything I've used which includes the following; TD-10, DTX, DTXtreme, Yamaha DTS70, Alesis D4, Roland PM-16, Pad 80, Simmons SDS9. If you just want to play and don't mind spending a King's ransom, Vdrums are for you, if you want to get more in depth, then you want something like a Drumkat. The thing you don't want to do is look at what the top players use and make you're choice based on that alone, it's a fools game. You have to ask yourself, what do I need and what do I really want. There is no right or wrong answer. If you want someone to merely agree with a choice you've already made, thats cool too. I'm just pointing out a different path, use it how you want.

[Maverick]

Thanks JRCEL and Marc

JRCEL, I'm sorry but I had never heard of the DrumKat until you mentioned it...I'll look it up at Yahoo.com

As for comparing what the pro's use to what I NEED...well I figure that as I'm an okay drummer but want to get better but need an electric kit due to noise / ease of transport etc... then if I got a kit that the pro's use then I can't go wrong. Maybe I won't get the best from it but it'll be better than me and I won't grow out of it.

I'm still interested - if anyone doesn't mind labouring the point - as to why the VDrums is that much better than the DTXtreme...if all the problems with DEAD STICKING, crosstalking etc are identical between kits.

Thanks for you help but maybe I'm still missing something?

Mav

[gingerbaker]

Maverick

"MISSING hits - bass drum, snare or tom. Is this NORMAL / common with the TD10 V concert kit?"

A: No. Not uncommon with display units in music stores, though


"is the V concert prone to Crosstalk on the V-Drum rack and can it be totally sucessfully removed?"

A: No and Yes, easily


"the Vdrums has a lower polyphony than the DTXtreme. Honestly how does this (if at all) affect playing of 'big sound' complicated and fast grooves? Does it cut sounds off or out totally?"

A: Honestly, not a problem

HTH (drives me nuts when someone asks specific questions and there are no specific replies)

[FloridaDrummer]

1. I've played the DTXtreme / DTXpress and Roland TD8. In each of these I've experienced the pads MISSING hits - bass drum, snare or tom. Is this NORMAL / common with the TD10 V concert kit?

No, you might have to change the sensitivity on a certain pad, but you should not be missing hits.

2. With the above kits in order to avoid crosstalk you have to spend hours playing around with sensitivities etc and even then it's never really 'right'... is the V concert prone to Crosstalk on the V-Drum rack and can it be totally sucessfully removed without limiting playability or making them all trigger as the same 'power' regardless of the stroke?

When my band plays, my kit sits between 2 gutair amps on one side and a gutair/voice amp and my amp on the other. It is a concrete room with tile floor. I never have a crosstalk problem.

the Vdrums has a lower polyphony than the DTXtreme. Honestly how does this (if at all) affect playing of 'big sound' complicated and fast grooves? Does it cut sounds off or out totally?

No

What are the honest 'down' sides to this top end kit. I know that the DTXtreme has alot of added functionality but for a kit I just want to PLAY...not mess around with midi / samples / chaining or looping or layering...so is this really the better option as a professional level drum kit.

That kit will work fine for that