Advice needed: New (used) Roland V-Drum kit

[Webb]

Hey guys...lifelong guitar player here with a sudden urge to learn to drum. But I have a bit of a dilemma. Here is the situation:

I just bought a used Roland kit from a Guitar Center located in another state (they shipped it to my local GC). It was advertised as a "Roland TD-12 kit with hi-hat stand". When I got it home and started to assemble it, I realized it was not a TD-12 kit, but rather a TD-10 kit (pads, rack, etc) with some upgrades, along with a TD-12 module.

The kit consists of the following:

(2) PD-120
(2) PD-100
(1) VH-12 hi-hat
(1) KD-120
(1) CY-8
(1) CY-5
MDS-10 rack (with a couple support bars missing)
TD-12 module

Would you complain to Guitar Center that it was not as advertised? Would you return it? I feel it was a pretty good deal at $1,520, but basically now I will need to upgrade the cymbals and the rack, as it does not seem very sturdy. I would prefer the MDS-12 rack with concealed cables. I know the pads I currently have are bigger than what comes with a stock TD-12, but is the triggering better on the newer pads (PD-105, PD-85)?

Is the price I paid worth it (keeping in mind the upgrades I still need to do)? I know this is predominately a guitar-oriented forum, but I'm sure there are a couple drummers here. Any advice to a drum-noob would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Gadzz]

i would return and buy brand new lower module grade, we use a td-4 in band rehearsal and it kills! only has one mesh head on the snare and its held up great!

 

[JerEvil]

Dude, the TD10 and TD12 are MORE than you need to learn drumming. I would contact them and see about a possible partial refund and keep what you got. If not, return it. I used the hell out of the TD4 for recording and it worked great. Compare the costs on used TD10's and decide if you got a good value based on that. The 12 is probably a bit better module.

 

[blackba]

I would return it or get some sort of a refund. Have you checked out the alesis drum kits?

 

[Webb]

i would return and buy brand new lower module grade, we use a td-4 in band rehearsal and it kills! only has one mesh head on the snare and its held up great!

I tried some of the lower end Roland models and could not get into the rubber pads. Plus I like the feel of the VH12 hi-hat.

The TD-12 is probably overkill for my needs, but I usually try to buy the best my budget will allow. That way when my drumming talent approaches the Dave Lombardo level, I hopefully won't feel the need to upgrade.

 

[Rash]

Make yourself happy, spend additional money on a low latency soundcard pci (RME) or babyface and get evil drums or metal machine for bfd2 or superior 2 or slate 4.....sooo much cooler, more information on vdrum site (section VST instruments)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsoiUeWBad4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soEFkbPSsWM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7doHTeuiAI


I have also the td12 but only!!! use VST (i.e.) software vst sounds so much better, kills all module sounds available, even 6 times the price, but as mentioned absolutely necessary to get a professional sound card, do not buy cheap (non PCI or babyface)or you will get horrible latency.

Even the best Td30 module sounds horrible IMHO (all synthetically, vst drums sounds are naturally recorded real drums) , do not believe the hype and spend much money on oldschool module and completely dated technique, all e-drums companies are in a kind of sleep state and sell lame stuff....milking the costumer.

Kai

 

[Webb]

Make yourself happy, spend additional money on a low latency soundcard pci (RME) or babyface and get evil drums or metal machine for bfd2 or superior 2 or slate 4.....sooo much cooler, more information on vdrum site (section VST instruments)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsoiUeWBad4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soEFkbPSsWM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7doHTeuiAI


I have also the td12 but only!!! use VST (i.e.) software vst sounds so much better, kills all module sounds available, even 6 times the price, but as mentioned absolutely necessary to get a professional sound card, do not buy cheap (non PCI or babyface)or you will get horrible latency.

Even the best Td30 module sounds horrible IMHO (all synthetically, vst drums sounds are naturally recorded real drums) , do not believe the hype

Kai

I hear you on that. I'm a total drum vst whore. I have ezDrummer (+ Metalheads and Metal Machine), Superior 2 (+ Metal Foundry), Addictive Drums, and SSD 3 and 4 Platinum (+ CLA expansion). Prior to getting a v-drum kit, I was triggering the sounds with a Korg PadKontrol.

My interface is an RME Fireface 800.

 

[Rash]

I have the RME AIO, almost all Platinum and BFD2 packs, I should add......it absolutely does not make a difference if you use old computer hardware (up to 6 years old) , 64bit, mac or pc, if you get a cool working system even xp, it gets you the lowest latency (with RME) which is with the RME AIO around 6ms (you have to add the roland TD12 latency which is around 4ms, i.e RME AIO 2ms + 4,2ms Roland), it does not get better right now and is about 2 meter hearing distance...with mediocre/cheapo sound cards you get around 6 meter or more hearing distance which is annoying and not tight.

btw
1 meter = 3.2808399 feet

Very important:
When you connect the TD12 midi with the RME Midi input, be sure to tame the TD12 sensitivity to around 2-5, otherwise it is to loud and you will only get the loudest vst samples to be triggered. Very important. Be sure to adjust the VH11 to meet the vst needs very important, if you got more questions, simplay ask.
Here a tutorial on BFD2 matching the hihat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Uu45pQT5DY
Be sure to use the lowest buffer on the rme panel....32 is mostly possible, makes the lowest latency.

The Td12 makes sense as it can fully interpret the VH11, positional sensing (i.e two different trigger zones on the snare skin) on snare and has many trigger inputs....not so sure on the Td4...try it side by side triggering vsts, I fear it has not the same sensitivity.....I would go for TD12, be sure to check Drum-Tec or other custom trigger/e-drum/skin maker (there are some in the states)