Roland versus the world (e-kit hi-hats and snares only)

[pljones]

OK, so the Roland FD-8 has made a world of difference to my TrapKAT - far more controllable than the AlternateMode eHat or my temporary replacement pair of Bespeco VM12s which were also better than the eHat. It's got the advantage of being a drumset pedal (unlike the VM12) whilst also having a predictable response (unlike the eHat).

Still, it's only inspired me... (You know what gearlust's like...) So I'm looking for a full replacement for the TrapKAT at long, long last. (It's wearing out...)

Having had a look around the market, I'm not seeing a world of difference in the general cymbal, tom and kick pads available. However, the place every drummer wants to get most response is the hi-hat and snare and that's where I'm after input from people who've had experience - I'm looking at current top of the range offerings from Roland, ATV and Ef-Note in particular. Finding a dealer in the UK who's accessible is proving nigh-on impossible, naturally (why would anyone want to try out something like this before parting with their cash?).

Roland's current top-end offering on the hi-hat front appears to be the one in the Roland TD-27KV2 kit (which is available as a spare). However, there appear two be two "better" competitors - the optical hi-hats from ATV and Ef-Note -- which appear to offer more input sensors but I'm guessing a lot of that's going to need interpreting by the module before it's any use as MIDI if at all.

The Roland top-end snare ( Roland TD-27KV2 kit again) appears well above the spec of any others. Again, to get the sensitivity they claim, I'm guessing it needs the TD-27KV2 module.

In all of this, my primary concern is getting access to the sensor information via MIDI. I don't care what form the MIDI data arrives in, I can hack it into something I can use, so long as it's complete.

A follow-up question on the Roland kit is whether, given it's claimed sensitivity, it can model brush strokes using either brushes or rods.

[pljones]

Further research (thanks to Tech Radar and deeper reading elsewhere).

• Roland are still primarily using modelling to cut down on how much sample data they store ("Prismatic Sound Modeling").  But that's not what I'm after - give me the MIDI...
• Roland don't like making their reference material for the TD-50X visible - but the site search works. (Clearly the "Prismatic Sound Modeling" is using the values it sends or stores as MIDI data because it's able to play back its own recordings... I'd presume.) Once I found it, I have to say the MIDI Implementation Chart Roland supplies is really nice and makes it clear all the information for each trigger zone is available over MIDI.
• Roland claims their TD-50X with a mesh analogue or digital snare is playable with brushes -- but only if you say "I'm playing this kit with brushes" (if I understood the documentation). Which is okay. No special MIDI data for brushes, though, so no idea whether the pad is going to be sending lots of Note On with positional information messages or what. I guess layering a slow swipe being triggered by a lower velocity and tap at a high velocity would probably work, along with the positional information.
• EfNote pads have triggers that go to waste because apparently none of their modules supports a large numbers of inputs. That's just weird (they even have a wacky multi-connector bar and still they've run out of inputs). They also don't have much in the way of MIDI support - separate note numbers for the different zones, no positional information via MIDI (except standard CC4 and poly-pressure for damping). So, on the whole, whilst they look nice and may sound nice, I wasn't impressed.
• Alesis Prime with BFD3 onboard looks very tempting for the onboard sounds - but I'm more interested in the MIDI... No trouble finding this: it's in the very clear manual. Again, no hint of anything other than CC4 and poly-pressure of damping.

So it looks like an "entry level" TD-50K2 is going to be what I'll be aiming for.

[SLiC]

I have the TD27K (not the V2) and I love it, the snare is superb and even the single high hat against a trigger sounds and behaves like a hi-hit (you can get the dirty 'in-between sound etc). It is perfectly playable with brushes (i have some nylon brushes) and there is a setting for it (Brush Switch in the menu). I am sure the TD-50K2 is even better (but not sure its twice as good- it costs twice as much!) but for me the TD27 and a cheeky Norddrum3p is just about perfect.

[pljones]

Thanks - I'll try to find the MIDI spec sheet for the TD-27 module, too. At the time I was looking initially, I didn't even think to use the site search (ooops!).

--edit--
Yes, the TD-27 seems just as capable in terms of position:
https://static.roland.com/assets/media/ ... ng04_W.pdf (yes, it does look like it was typeset in 1987 - but is actually from 2022)
https://static.roland.com/assets/media/ ... ng02_W.pdf (someone must have had a word about it for the TD-50X version for 2024, which could explain the price rise...)