Cool things you can do with electronic drum kits?

[TonyHetherington]

Hi all

I took the plunge and got myself a Roland TD-6 (though it has the TD-8 brain). Well chuffed!

Anyway, I'm enjoying using it but it occured to me there must be some good (read geeky) stuff you can do with it and a PC?!

I'm thinking maybe plug it into PC and not only record what you do (easy enough) but replicate it, and maybe even check your timing, or perhaps instruction/tutorial programs?!

I don't really know, but just imagine there must be some good things you can do?!

Thanks all
Tony

[Steve McQueen]

I have mine linked via midi and run ezdrummer software which is cool but you can take it that bit further and have it playing tunes/basslines on your feet and triggering vsti instruments on some pads.
Spectrasonics stuff is whizzo, I use Atmosphere but there are newer greater releases.
Having said all that, it's the lazers pointers sellotaped to my drumsticks that everyone goes on about.

[TonyHetherington]

Ah that sounds like the sort of thing I was imagining!

I'll have a look for that software - thanks!

I assume I'll need a big midi out cable then - will I also need some form of midi input for my computer, or does it come in a different way?

[Steve McQueen]

There are a few ways to get midi into a 'puter

May i suggest you head over to the V-Drums forum as all the good stuff (and some utter guff to be fair) is over there.

[Steve McQueen]

google Vexpressions as well and get TD-Mate downloaded.

[TonyHetherington]

I'm looking through that forum (off the back of your recommendation in the other electronic drums thread actually) at the moment - there's some interesting things, just working my way through it - it's a little like trying to find a needle in a haystack though! But will look at those other things you mention also, thanks again

[GnuBee]

It's worth looking at YouTube for some ideas on where people are taking the technology. There's a couple of people who are linking them into RockBand for example and playing the guitar parts.

There's also some official demos for Roland by Johnny Rabb that show the use of triggered musical sequences or the melodius kit on the TD20.

Basically given you've got what amounts to an expensive MIDI triggering system what you can achieve is only limited by your imagination and/or configuration talent within whatever host software you choose to run!

[Steve McQueen]

the thing to remember AT ALL TIMES

no matter how you syncopate

no matter what kit you have

no matter what tricks are in your bag

no matter what rudiments you have mastered

KNOCKIN' THE F**K OUT OF THEM WILL GET YOU NOTICED. Its the law.