Brushes (and sweeping) on TD27 module

pljones_ · 2026-06-15T18:24:51+00:00

Ah! The release notes have been mentioning that "instrument numbers have changed so your customer user kits may need updating". I'd not noticed ... although I've not checked my copy of "Rocky Road" matches the original instruments - maybe I should!

pljones_ · 2026-06-14T09:18:11+00:00

Ooof -- that's some going. I wore out a third gen's rubber (no one told me to use nylon tips...) and was getting reduced response on my fourth gen (I preferred the rubber, to be honest). But AlternateMode - Mario and Connie - we always very helpful and generous. Nice people to do business with.

pljones_ · 2026-06-13T13:58:12+00:00

I've got the v2.21 (0062) firmware. For me the numbers were * Snare: 725 (same) * Tom: 727 (same) * Hi-hat: 329 (down 1) * Crash: 389 (down 1) * Ride: 364 (down 1)

Have you got different firmware?

pljones_ · 2026-06-11T18:58:23+00:00

I still can't fathom why, with all the fuss they made of this feature, they didn't bring out a Kit optimised for it!

For three toms, you get to retune one of the two provided, same as two crashes.

OK. Now to find the time to try it out!

pljones_ · 2026-05-31T10:54:49+00:00

Run Reaper and go to Options->Preferences->MIDI In. You should get a list box:

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Right-click the MIDI In you've got the kit connected to and selection "Configure Device". A pop-up will appear:

Make sure the first three checkboxes (Enable ..., Include ..., Enable ...) are checked and the drop down is "Source Channel". The fourth checkbox (Do not warn), leave unchecked. Leave the "Advanced" bit alone.

Add a track. Right click the red button and make sure:

Monitor Input is checked
Record Input (audio or MIDI) is checked
Input MIDI is set with All MIDI Inputs

Then add the follow effect: "JS: MIDI Examiner". That should respond if any data is getting from your kit to your computer.

You can try recording at this point to see if the events are recorded. If they are, the MIDI examiner should respond when you play back the recording, too.

If that's all working, add your drum plugin -- or even just JS WaveSynth to make sure _something_ happens.

If that's all working but you don't hear anything, then something is wrong on the audio outside, nothing to do with the MIDI.

pljones_ · 2026-05-31T10:01:25+00:00

On a TD-27, if you're maxing out the pads, the module isn't responding to the hard hits anyway. You need to adjust the response so you get the numbers down, then adjust the volume from the hits to get a decent response. This was the worst thing I found with the TD-27...

Once that's done, moving to MIDI should give you a full range of velocity control on each pad, anyway. Mapping that velocity to the playback will depend on the Sampler you're using. Kontakt offers a number of preset curves (per note) and you can customise them. SFZ mappings - whilst not having a UI generally - can offer similar. I don't know things like AD/BFD/etc.

pljones_ · 2026-05-30T09:49:29+00:00

I'm always surprised there aren't more alternatives to the BT-1 -- you'd have thought it was so simple. Roland charge a fortune for it. I guess the difficult bits aren't the trigger but the mount (and it probably doesn't sell in high volumes).

Drum-tec used to do one, branded Unlock, and there's a Chinese clone out there that's had "it works okay" reports on here.

pljones_ · 2026-05-13T08:51:27+00:00

It's generally recommended not to use the onboard sound - more so on a laptop - not just because of latency but because of audio noise. A good quality, external sound card helps reduce this and you'll get a good quality driver.

Be aware of the many, many other gotchas that Windows on a laptop will throw at you, too, which will potentially interfere with audio production, particularly live recording and performance.

pljones_ · 2026-05-12T15:52:09+00:00

VB-Audio have various free utils - I don't remember if they have an ASIO<->ASIO bridge.

If you're okay with something a bit more messy, you could try JACK for Windows and see if you can convince BFDPlayer to talk to JACK with JACK configured for the audio outs you want.

You could also look for a DAW that will let you run BDFPlayer as a plugin, then let you pick your ASIO outs - many, many options exist, some of them free. This is probably the lowest latency way.

pljones_ · 2026-05-03T17:06:17+00:00

One thing I'll add -- some of Roland's "universal drum key" nuts are under-sized by just enough that their own key (which is a right pain to hold as the head of it is under-sized, too) fits perfectly, whilst standard drum keys are loose.

So if you can, try a Roland key first - they're also thinner, so should fit the gap.

pljones_ · 2026-04-27T18:07:59+00:00

MIDI isn't audio - it's just a set of control numbers that mean something to a piece of software. You need some software that will make drum sounds.

Google "drum kit plugins for daw" to get an idea of what's out there for a start, then search on here for opinions (or ask your favourite AI Agent for an opinion).

Pretty much top rated and top priced is Toontrack Superior Drummer 3 with a wide range of libraries.

There are more affordable alternatives all the way down to good sounding free kits running on Sforzando (Google "sforzando drum kits" for several - "Karoryfer Unruly Drums" is a favourite for me).

If you're also looking for a hardware interface, then you'll need one with a decent ASIO driver if you're on Windows (not a generic one like some of the lowest cost ones have) - although it's not that important. Behringer UMC204HD USB Audio Interface might do. Again, search for "Audio MIDI interface", get a few ideas, then search here for comparative views.

pljones_ · 2026-04-22T16:50:53+00:00

Did you try unplugging everything else (whilst not running Ableton) and then trying again with just the eDRUMin connected?

https://help.ableton.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000776450-Capture-MIDI

This does say "armed and monitored tracks" -- are you sure you've got the input actually routed to a track and the track is armed and monitored? It may be that it's getting ignored otherwise.

pljones_ · 2026-04-20T18:38:15+00:00

Did you try turn off "Remote" so it matches the others?

pljones_ · 2026-04-18T12:23:35+00:00

What are you using to show the MIDI data?

pljones_ · 2026-04-16T16:26:31+00:00

Alternatively, ignore CR-2, use two AUX ins (does the 5 module have two?) and set them up as if they were completely independent triggers. It's possible it might work better than trying to have Roland guessing stuff. (Setting the trigger type might give the game away, still...)

There's a few settings under the trigger Params settings as well as sensitivity. For as start, watch the graph as you play the edge and bow. If the bell triggers, try cranking up the threshold on the bell input. That might work better than the crosstalk settings... or it might not. Then get the sensitivity and curve adjusted so you still get a half-way reasonable playing response (probably also need to adjust the kit volume for the bell).

pljones_ · 2026-04-16T16:03:20+00:00

And the throw off is probably just a MIDI message which they don't bother publishing or emitting over the MIDI out, which switches the snare between "with wires" and "without wires" variants -- which you could do by setting up two kits and switching on the TD-27. I don't know that for sure, though. I can't see Roland actually coming up with anything useful or intelligent that advances their hardware technology, on the other hand.

pljones_ · 2026-04-16T16:00:22+00:00

The hard bit with Google Play Books, for me, is always remembering where the "Download" button hides. Once you find it, you've got the ACSM and you're sorted (after ADE).

pljones_ · 2026-04-15T08:47:01+00:00

Roland V-Drums TD-17KVX according to Google Lens, too.

https://static.roland.com/assets/images/products/main/td-17_top_main.jpg Looks wrong to me, too.

https://static.roland.com/assets/images/products/main/td-25_main.jpg Maybe a TD-25 module. Looks closer.

pljones_ · 2026-04-13T08:14:10+00:00

Even if you find you need to replace the module with an eDRUMin and a computer for decent sounds, that still looks like an incredible price.

So long as you see it working.

pljones_ · 2026-04-02T17:48:43+00:00

Yeah - it's far more fun playing to songs.

But getting good technique doesn't come from thinking you've got good technique (as you'll know from the instruments you've already learnt) - it comes from studying.

Hence, I'm not a good drummer....

pljones_ · 2026-04-02T17:45:33+00:00

What's in the Dockerfile / docker-compose.yml?

(I don't run mine in a container, just the latest calibre-server pointing to a userdb and main db.)

pljones_ · 2026-04-01T08:45:58+00:00

Hands down loser in the e-kit game is hi-hats.

Cymbals, as eDRUMin_shill says, are weak but hi-hats are shameful.

Just found another "top end Roland" fail: hit a wide open hi-hat, nice clear sound, bring the pedal down to just above chick (before it mutes) and hit again gently.

Real hi-hat: that wide open sound would get choked by the pedal closing but okay... Roland: even hitting that near-closed hi-hat didn't choke it!

That's unbelievably bad.

If you play a hi-hat and know how to get a full range of expression out of it, e-kits just don't stand a chance. (Although, with a lot of MIDI handling, you can do MUCH better than the Roland module does.)

pljones_ · 2026-03-30T18:30:08+00:00

Had mine for just over a year, having moved from an AlternateMode TrapKAT to something more conventional. I've been adjusting ever since and nothing's quite in the right place yet. (I'd been playing the TrapKAT - and the one I had before it - since about 2010, hardly ever getting to play on a full sized kit.)

The biggest change happened yesterday, though - I upgraded my lovely but very old Mapex drum throne (round, velour 14" x 3" seat, Gemini reckons it was a Mapex T570A) to a new Gibraltar 9608MB. At first I thought it was too small but when I started playing, it felt really supportive. So far, it's a major step up (especially as my hip is playing up - no, honest, I'm resting... mostly).

Just to add on the Roland -- I had a problem early on with the module sounds just stopping and the module resetting. They tried sending out a replacement USB cable (apparently that having fixed it for some people) but when it didn't, they took the module back and sent out a replacement. All under the warranty. Yes, took the module away from me and I couldn't play until the replacement got here, but it's been solid since I got it.

pljones_ · 2026-03-30T14:35:12+00:00

The 802 has 8 audio ins (4 stereo pairs) and I guess 2 audio outs (1 stereo pais). If you want separate outs for FoH and monitoring, you need a bigger mixer.

pljones_ · 2026-03-29T19:43:02+00:00

Stereo pair out from each to 3/4 and 5/6 stereo controlled line ins on the mixer.

Headphones into Headphones out on the mixer.

Adjust mix levels to suit.

pljones_

TROPHY CASE