looking for a kit

[somedudenamedev]

Ok...ive had 2 td20 kits b4....last 1 was 5 yrs ago....started looking, been some changes....wats with the big price difference in the td 30's?
r they really that much btter than the td 20's?
want another kit....need some advice from people who have kept up with the changes... also looking to buy....anyone?

[hairmetal-81]

Hi,

the one's battling it out on the top currently are Roland's TD-30, Yamaha's DTX-900 and the 'underdog' named 2box Drumit 5. There has been lots of discussion about each of the three, you might want to search around the forum a bit.

The price-structure is headed by the TD-30 and DTX-900, the 2box is roughly at the level of a TD-15KV kit.


HTH

[Poonicorn]

I'm no Roland expert, but I will say that from what I see and hear, there isn't a whole lot of difference between the 20 and 30. The sound bank and engine are improved, but overall they still suffer from Roland stock sound disease. In that respect, VEX and say midi triggering should function basically the same between both units. The td-30 does have a bad ass hi-hat now, but that might even just be an easy upgrade to add to your td-20 based system. Other then that, there isn't much of a huge step up from the 20 except to maybe consider using a 2box drum module with most of your existing Roland pads and taking advantage of the expanded memory options and direct sample playing. I have a 2box kit, and the module is great for plug and play high quality sounds with loads of outputs for using it amplified. I'd say for a fresh update from what you're using, grab a 2box module and one of Jmans hi hat controllers and SD upgrades and you could basically plug and play with your existing Roland hardware and have wide open options of sounds and gear to use.

[somedudenamedev]

im not much of a fan of yamaha so far...liked my roland tho...what did they do different to the hi-hat? my td20's were a 2 piece that i thought were pretty top notch. i couldnt see alot of diff between the 20's and 30's myself so far. i had the 20 and the 20s if memory serves.

[Kenster]

Wow...huge question!!! Some folks love the TD30, others, not as convinced it's lights years ahead of the TD20. I own a TDW20 and love it. I agree with some of the others tho....opinions vary and a lot depends on YOUR sound taste and YOUR actual planned usage for the kit. ANY of the options will work for playing, noodling, recording and even gigging, it all depends on what you need to get out of it. Adding a new module and keeping the TD20 pads/rack will definitely save you some dough, as well as a DIY kit of shells and a shiny new module. And yes, the TD30 is better with VEX!

I'm not an expert on Yamaha stuff but their modules have great sounds nowadays. Folks are still debating whether they like the silion type heads they use vs the mesh of Roland.

2Box is great if you want VST sounds in an all in one box (no PC/laptop interface needed). It requires a little more work and learning curve on your part but if you want "real" (ahem) drum sounds, then nothing less than a "real" (ahem) A kit or VST will do.

Roland again is the defacto (ahem, opinions vary) flagship leader with the TD30, and true some folks say it still suffers from non-user loadable sounds, and stock sounds that aren't so great, even when compared to the TD20. The TD30 does have some other recording and processing features not found on the TD20. It also has the "superNatural" engine that is supposed to blow the doors off TD20s and even TDW20s, and has added sensors to the newer mesh pads for it. Even with all that, I've heard it is still capabale of machine gunning.

Now that I've poured enough gasoline to upset just about everyone, here's my advice...

1. figure out what you ultimately plan to do with this e kit (including expanding it via GAS later on) in regards to playing, recording, gigging, etc.

2. leave enough funds for a monitor system if you ever plan to play it any other way besides alone with headphones

3. get out to the stores and really try them out side by side, or, get with some local VDrum members and try their stuff.

4. Have fun and keep us posted! Did you post a welcome in the Foyer? Post some pics after you buy the kit you decide on.

K ;-)

[somedudenamedev]

Heres the last kit I had...wanting something similar....not playing professionally right now....not sure if I ever will again, if I do, will remain small gigs. I just really miss playing. My boy is taking a big interest as well....dont want less than a td20....like I said also....im in the market to buy if anyone knows of something. No stores here carry them...demos not an option of the td30 as a result

[Greg The Groove]

I'll give you a brief run down of my history with ekits. Originally bought a Roland TD30K series. Not the most expensive KV series but the one underneath it. Both use the same module but the KV has the new MG cymbals and VH13 hi hat and the newer PD128 pads, while the K had the VH11 hat and so forth. I bought this kit before I knew this site existed. So I will tell you with 100% conviction! the TD30 module is WAY better sounding than the TD20 any version. At least the bank A sounds which are the newer sounds. They don't sound all that good straight out of the box, they need work but with tweaking or VEXing the module, there are some very nice sounding drum samples on the TD30. Does it machine gun? NOT with the snares. The toms are the weakest samples on the TD30 for sure. The hi hat is pretty good and the cymbals IMO are really nice, especially with the Supernatural cymbal swells. I've played my TD30 live and it sounds pretty damn good live with a band. So then thru this forum, I discovered the 2Box module. Completely hated the orange kit but loved the very realistic high quality drum samples. Actual drum sounds. I bought one in late 2012 and while I LOVED the sounds especially the toms, I didn't like it enough to keep it so I sold it. In 2013 this year in April I discovered Jobeky drums who makes electronic drums in acoustic real drum sizes. Diamond drums is another company, so I sold all my Roland pads (not the module) and bought a five piece custom Jobeky kit and used that kit with my TD30 module which worked great together and the drums look phenomenal on stage with bigger size drums. I also upgraded to all MG cymbals and the VH13 hi hat. The VH13 hi hat is REALLY NICE! IMO way better performing than a VH11. So in my quest for better sounds and more realistic drum samples, I started using superior drummer on a computer and used midi to play drums in my studio. I fell in love so much with these sounds and after much education on this forum and over at the 2box forum, some members such as JMan and Daniel fulmr who swore on the open drum module system where you can convert these VST drums from programs like Superior Drummer or BFD to the 2box module and use them without a computer, I bought the 2box again to give it another shot. Even though I still think the layout and some features of the module leave a lot to desired, I was completely BLOWN AWAY by how good the VST samples play. I'm a believer now! I still love and own my TD30 and won't get rid of it because I feel safe with it as it's a proven company and it gives me comfort to have a backup in case. Why did I ramble and bore you to death? Because I wanted to give you the full rundown of my experiences and why I did what I did to get to this point. If you have the money and have your heart set on a Roland, go for the KV. As you can see I had to upgrade later to the cymbals etc... If you have time to research or are familiar with VST sounds such as Superior drummer etc... Look into a 2box kit or just the module. If your like me who hates the way the kit looks, you need to buy another kit like a Roland or a custom kit like a Jobeky or Diamond drums. If you like the orange kit or don't care if it will just sit in a room, get the entire 2box kit then (even though I don't like their hi hat) but that's another story you can do some research on modding a box and playing any hi hat really. If you do choose the 2box, you will need to do a simple mod where you swap out the internal 4GB SD card to a 32GB card if you plan on converting VST sounds because they take up a lot of memory. You can get all these mods done thru JMAN on this forum. PM him. If you are competent at DIY, you can literally find some used cheap kit that looks nice and convert the drums to electronic drums using triggers you can build. You can get some nice results very cheap this way as well. Lastly, I know some like the Yamahas but I don't like any of their modules or sounds. IMO they certainly are not better than the new TD30 sounds. I would compare their stock sounds to a TD11 really. I just don't see it, sorry. Sorry to bore everyone to death. I just thought it would help the OP, to think it out after discovering the whole wonderful wide world of electronic drumming, something I didn't know even existed when I first started my journey in electric drums.

[Greg The Groove]

Sorry, forgot to mention, like Kenster said, definitely leave enough money for a nice drum monitor or PA. Nothing will ruin your drum experience with ekits worse than sounding like crap.

[somedudenamedev]

Great info....have thot of building my electronic set as well...unsure. heard horror stories of trigger placements and stuff....

[hairmetal-81]

Now that I've poured enough gasoline to upset just about everyone, here's my advice...

"Whoa, careful with that Gas-canister, Ken!!!"


(The servant was just lighting a cigarette...)



----


No real objections to everything Ken said, maybe just "...a servants' slight interuption!" Hehehe....

(...)and has added sensors to the newer mesh pads for it. Even with all that, I've heard it is still capabale of machine gunning.

I think (from my rather messy memory) that the snare pad is the only part that may has an added sensor, (or its' sensor mounted someway differently, which has an effect). Jerry or Daniel will know this better!

At least the toms do not have any added sensors. I seem to remember there was much speculation about this, rather to the pleasure of some established DIYers!

I think it was Jerry (who knew that nothing new existed), he even coined a faboulous term for this:
the 'Magic Doorbell" ....!

- "...does it go ding-dong when you push it?"



You were right about the machine-gunning though ....and don't forget the dreaded Hotspots!




HTH

[Tommy_D]

If you were happy with the TD-20, then buy another one used. They can be had cheaply now. A new TD-30 kit will cost a lot of money. You can always upgrade the module whenever you want. You will just pay a large premium buying a new TD-30 kit over a used TD-20 kit.

As for sounds, you can't really say the TD-30 and TD-20 are in the same league. Yeah, they have similar setups and tuning capabilities, but the TD-30 just has far richer sounds in it, and the way the module tunes and tweaks the sounds is far better than what the TD-20 could do. I know this as I own two TD-30's, have purchased and used both a TDW-20 and a regular TD-20 and now I'm selling a TD-9 because nothing can match the TD-30. The TD-30 really is an amazing module. Is it expensive? Sure is!!! Is it worth it? IMO, yes. Many will say 2Box is cheaper, but the module is $1100, and most VST packages are in the hundreds of dollars. Add that up and you are looking at the price of a TD-30.

[hairmetal-81]

im not much of a fan of yamaha so far...

Do not discard Yamaha just yet - their lower mid-range module, the DTX-502, is the only one in its price range that offers the ability to load in your own personal samples, and their PCY 135/155 cymbals have made very many forum-members quite happy. ...Plus, they are cheaper to be had than Roland's cymbals!

what did they do different to the hi-hat? my td20's were a 2 piece that i thought were pretty top notch.

They are still!
According to fellow forumite 'fulrmr', the internal workings, construction and trigger-characteristics haven't changed a bit. The only thing that's obviously different is the color on the outside! - From Black initially, onto Silver, and now it's called 'MG', Metallic Grey...!


HTH


*Now if you excuse me, i will go down on my knees, and wipe-up the gasoline, that Ken's canister spilled! ..."Yes, Master!".... *

[hairmetal-81]

Somedudenamedev,
I've meant to come back with a quick reply - JSON-error or not...

im not much of a fan of yamaha so far...

Do not discard Yamaha just yet - their lower mid-range module, the DTX-502, is the only one in its price range that offers the ability to load in your own personal samples, and their PCY 135/155 cymbals have made very many forum-members quite happy. ...Plus, they are cheaper to be had than Roland's cymbals!

what did they do different to the hi-hat? my td20's were a 2 piece that i thought were pretty top notch.

They are still!
According to fellow forumite 'fulrmr', the internal workings, construction and trigger-characteristics haven't changed a bit. The only thing that's obviously different is the color on the outside! - From Black initially, onto Silver, and now it's called 'MG', Metallic Grey...!


HTH


*Now if you excuse me, i will go down on my knees, and wipe-up the gasoline, that Ken's canister spilled! ..."Yes, Master!".... *

[somedudenamedev]

K, so FINALLY found a kit. Td20, gotta add a few things...2 more crashes and 1 for a splash..whats a good inexpensive way to add a splash outside of the cy's im gonna use for cymbals? Gotta actually spend time learning what this kit can do, never really got into tgw technical side of its capabilities, just played on em with the last 2 kits I had. Any info, advise, opinions appreciated :-)

[Kenster]

Wow!!!! Almost 2 years later even!!!

Well, I have both a Roland CY-5 and a small Pintech as splashes on my kit. both work well. I think the ultimate splashes were made by Kit Toy although now, Triggera is making some too (Kit Toys were handmade by one dude and he is not in business that I know of and occasionally his stuff shows up on eBay so grab it!) Did you get a TD20 or a TDW20 (upgrade board included)?

Also you can add a lot more to your kit with drumsplitter type cables and separate out your dual inputs as singles and add cymbals that way, I did that with the aux inputs and doubled the amount of crashes on my kit since they were single zone add ons and I wasn't really using the dual zones of all the auxes.

K ;-)