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OldGuyAl
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« on: February 16, 2005, 10:13 AM » |
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I am just about ready to plop down my hard-earned cash for a Roland SPD-S to supplement my rig.
I've posted some questions in other places but I'm not getting much of a reply. What I want to do is be able to add a lot of other instruments without having to buy them, store them, transport them, and figure out how to fit them on the cramped stages on which I play frequently.
Now, I already know that it's not going to sound exactly like the "real things" but, considering that this is for live performance only (not studio work) and that most of the PA's in the clubs are not studio quality and the sound guys I have to work with are not the top professionals, I'm thinking that most of the voices will sound pratically indistinguishable (in the FOH) from the massive amounts of gear I'd have to haul and the additional mics I'd have to add (again, at the mercy of the sound techs in the venues).
What experiences or thoughts do you guys have on this? I have none whatsoever.
Also, I've been looking around but I haven't yet found where I can download and/or purchase some samples that I'd like to have - concert toms, temple blocks, etc. I fooled around with one in the store yesterday and everything sounded pretty good except the bells - they were awful and severely limited so, I need to get some quality and various bell samples or just keep hauling and playing my "real" bell collection.
Looking for advice, caveats, attaboys, or whatever.
Thanks!
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ddrummerr
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« Reply #1 on: February 16, 2005, 12:17 PM » |
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I'm a hand drummer and I use a Roland HandSonic. It has 600+/- drums controlled by 15 pads and can be played with hands or light sticks. Plug in a kick trigger and a high hat switch for an extremely portable kit. It isn't a replacement for a kit but I've used it for band rehearsals. You can edit every aspect of every drum and make up your own kits. You can also build your own loops. I midi in a D-4 and some effects to vary the sounds. My flautist friend and I used the rig at BurningMan two years. Imagine folks happening upon a shade structure in the searing desert with two guys playing, realtime, in stereo, Deep Space RainForest sounds complete with thunder, raindrops, birds, haunting flute, birembau, talking drums, through an acid phaser. you could smell the moss.
I have seen the Handsonic on several stages. Mellisa Etheridge's drummer uses one to open a set, solo. I could see it sitting on the stage running a loop, the drummer walks on and takes over the machine, lays down a killer solo, retriggers the loop and heads back to his kit. The drum tech replaces the machine into a corner of the Kit
Honest I'm not shilling for Roland, I just love the thing
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OldGuyAl
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« Reply #2 on: February 16, 2005, 01:07 PM » |
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Cool! Yep, I checked out the HandSonic. It's got a couple of drawbacks for my purposes like, Roland recommends that you not play it with sticks. I am about 75% hand drummer and have never played a drum kit in my life but, I play a lot with sticks these days on bells, blocks, toms, cymbals, etc. and it's all that "stick-beaten stuff" that I need to reduce. I'll always have my congas and bongos with me!
Then, there's another drawback for me with the HandSonic - it has lots of pads and triggers but so many of them are the size of postage stamps.
I don't think the HandSonic will sample, will it? I didn't see any way to change the samples that come with it but, I didn't study it too hard so maybe I missed that.
Honestly, I have a hard time imagining how I would use a loop on stage with the bands I play with but, maybe I will. The loop thing doesn't interest me at this time.
Thanks, again for your comments! I hope more people will offer theirs.
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OldGuyAl
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« Reply #3 on: February 17, 2005, 03:14 PM » |
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OK, I had a stroke of fiancial fortune (not a fortune - just a fortunate experience) and I'm taking delivery of my SPD-S tonight!
....pull down your pants and slide on the ice....
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psycht
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Posts: 1417
iPod - Its what's for dinner!
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« Reply #4 on: March 11, 2005, 10:51 AM » |
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So, AL... Did you get the SPD-S? I think you'll be very happy with this purchase.
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OldGuyAl
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« Reply #5 on: March 11, 2005, 03:15 PM » |
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Oh, yeah! Man, I love this thing! Played it in a live show for the first time last night and it just rocked!
I've posted some stuff in a few other places around here but, the short of it is that I bought a CD with a zillion cool samples, downloaded a couple of WAV editors and have already put 60+ custom WAVs on my super-fast CF card - there is room on my card for approximately 5,000+ more single hit WAVs at CD quality! Now, that's headroom with a capital head!
Today, I got my APC-33 bracket so I can mount it on my percussion rack (used a borrowed stand last night). For live shows, this is the best $600 (all total) I've ever spent!
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cavanman
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Posts: 946
"And I do the Cha-Cha like a little sissy Girl"
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« Reply #6 on: March 12, 2005, 11:38 PM » |
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Yeah baby! Now yer' talkin'  I'm happy to hear that it worked out so well for you. I'm still exploring mine but seem to get a new way tom use it every week or so. Congrats Jim |
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"I like-uh....dooo....da cha-cha..."
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