Tag: roland

Performance

Roger Whitsett: How I use e-drums on stage

I’m the drummer for the Pizazz Band. We are a regional touring band. We play a variety of music. My band plays anywhere from 50 to 60 shows a year. We run a “quiet stage” with no amps, monitors, side fills or acoustic drums. We use a Behringer X-32 digital sound system for FOH and personal monitor mixes. Everyone has in-ear monitors and iPads to have their own personal monitor mix. In my band, I use a full electronic kit based on a Roland TD-50 module and low-volume acoustic hi-hats. This kit will be replaced with a Roland VAD 706 Gloss Cherry Finish Kit. I run seven direct outs to FOH. I run a left and right ¼” feed from […]

Industry

VAD706 honoured by Time

Current affairs magazine Time may not be the go-to authority on musical instruments, but its inclusion of Roland’s VAD706 in its Best Inventions of 2021 list is still very impressive. The magazine notes that Roland has “finally achieved its long-held goal” with the VAD706 V-Drums. “By encasing ultra-sensitive digital drum pads in full-size wooden and metal shells, Roland has created the first electronic kit with the look, tone, feel and response of an acoustic set—even if you’re playing with headphones on,” Time notes. The Roland kit is one of three products listed in the entertainment category, while other notable innovations of 2021 include COVID-19 vaccines, the latest Lenovo ThinkBook, Google Maps Live View and Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip3.

Gear, Performance

How I use e-drums: Lisa Chepkovskaya

Russian drummer Lisa Chepkovskaya was named drumset champion (18-39 age group) in the 2020 Hit Like a Girl contest. She explains how she uses e-drums in her performances. I am currently working as a session drummer. This is a new part of my music career, because until recently, I was mostly writing my own music in different bands with friends. I am also writing my own material and getting ready to release it soon. I started using electronic drum equipment early on. My second kit was a Roland TD-4KX. I have used that for some time mainly as a practice tool. When Roland released the SPD-SX, I bought it almost immediately. The possibilities it brought were so huge. Initially, I started […]

Gear

VAD adds entry-level

Roland has extended its acoustic design kit range at the entry level, with the launch of the VAD103 kit. In essence, this is a VAD306 kit with a lower-spec module – the TD-07 instead of the TD-17. Like the VAD306, the kit features an 18” KD-180L-BK kick drum with KD-10-style trigger pad, a 12” dual-zone snare pad, 10” rack tom pad and 12” floor tom pad. The pads are the shallow-shell, single-headed variety, as opposed to the full acoustic-style drums of the 5 and  7 series VAD kits. The cymbal line-up consists of a VH-10 hi-hat, 13” ride and 12” crash. The regular V-drums rack is replaced with double-braced cymbal and cymbal/tom combination stands. The TD-07 module boasts 25 preset […]

Industry

digitalDrummer at Valley Percussion Festival

digitalDrummer editor Allan Leibowitz was a recent guest at the virtual Valley Percussion Festival. The annual percussion education event in South Texas this year took to the Internet for clinics and performances by world-class percussion artists and educators. Leibowitz was invited to share his insight into the explosion of electronic drumming and discussed some of the drivers for the accelerating uptake of digital percussion. In an hour-long interview with festival producer Gilbert Garcia Jr, the music journalist gave his perspective on product development and trends in electronic drumming, highlighted the need for all drummers to understand the technology and the advantages it brings, and also took a look into his crystal ball to predict some developments down the track. You […]

Gear, Performance

Chris Eaton: How I Use E-drums

Chris Eaton mixes the old with the new. I started learning drums in junior high and continued through high school, playing in symphonic, jazz and marching bands as well as local rock groups. My passion for music motivated me to earn my Bachelors degree in Music from San Jose State University under the direction of professor and author Anthony Cirone and electronic music composer Alan Strange. I have toured throughout the USA and had the privilege of performing with Bobby McFerrin, Sheila E, Jerry Garcia and Chris Cain. I am currently the percussion instructor for our local high school and middle schools in California’s South Bay and perform with the South Valley Symphony. I have two self-produced CDs of original […]

Gear, Industry

Buying a first kit

A common reader question at digitalDrummer is “what should I buy for my kid’s first kit?”. We checked with some experts for their advice. New or used? Unsurprisingly, Blake Plumleigh, long-time owner of eBay store Blakes Drum Shop in Encinitas, California, is a big fan of used gear. “You can save 30-50% or more in some cases,” he says, referring to the overall cost of second-hand components compared to a brand-new kit. “A lot of name brand products do last a long time. They also don’t lose as much value when you sell them,” he explains. Giant US retailer Guitar Center sells both new and used e-drums, and Glenn Noyes, director of merchandise for drums, cymbals, percussion and accessories, sees […]