modrobNew to drum software and now have EZDrummer 3.
I’m trying to connect with my old Roland TD6 and to a fairly recent laptop, but lots of issues I’m not happy with. So, is the Roland module too old to get the best possible interfacing with my software? In other words, do newer modules have better—more detailed elements to dial-in better performance?
Many thanks…
Modrob
BradNew to drum software and now have EZDrummer 3.
I’m trying to connect with my old Roland TD6 and to a fairly recent laptop, but lots of issues I’m not happy with. So, is the Roland module too old to get the best possible interfacing with my software? In other words, do newer modules have better—more detailed elements to dial-in better performance?
Many thanks…EZdrummer version: 3.0.6
Operating system: Windows 10
Hi there,
My old Yamaha DTXIII still provides what I need. EZD3 provides a preset for the TD6 as MIDI input. So I would try it put and see if it fits your purposes.
What issues are you having?
Mac Studio M1 Max, RAM 64 GB, 1TB Drive, OSX 12.x/13.x and Windows 10 (VM)
DAW: Studio One Pro (always up to date)
DTX Express III (Extreme triggers), Nektar LX88
OWC Thunderbay Mini (4 X 1TB Sata SSD), Express 4M2 (4 X 2TB M.2 SSD), Envoy Express (1TB M.2 SSD)
Presonus Quantum, Faderport & Faderport 8
Black Lion Sparrow Mk2 A/D, FMR-RNP-RNC, MIDI Xpress 128, BM5A, KRK VXT4, Equator D5
2020 Macbook Pro 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD Audio(mobile rig)
1
Thanked by: modrobmodrobYes it does have the TD6 preset but it doesn’t “react” as well as the Generic one, I have found.
I believe my biggest problem is there are very few parameters that can be fine tuned to make my edrums perform correctly. Also, it seems that any adjustments I’ve tried to lessen latency have been not very successful. (Keep in mind I’m nowhere near a pro at software, MIDI, and the countless adjustments that can be made to program, laptop, module, etc.)
My thinking is this module doesn’t have the abilities like more newer units have—maybe I’m wrong. And I’ve watched a bunch of YouTube videos but I’m still missing something…some have even said I would really need a real Interface along with my drum module, and some said the module alone was the interface. I’ve become so disenchanted with the program/computer, etc., that I went back to using the TD6 by itself again…if I could find someone local in my area of the “boonies” I’d be glad to pay for them to visit and help me fix this thing…😔
Modrob
BradYes it does have the TD6 preset but it doesn’t “react” as well as the Generic one, I have found.
I believe my biggest problem is there are very few parameters that can be fine tuned to make my edrums perform correctly. Also, it seems that any adjustments I’ve tried to lessen latency have been not very successful. (Keep in mind I’m nowhere near a pro at software, MIDI, and the countless adjustments that can be made to program, laptop, module, etc.)
My thinking is this module doesn’t have the abilities like more newer units have—maybe I’m wrong. And I’ve watched a bunch of YouTube videos but I’m still missing something…some have even said I would really need a real Interface along with my drum module, and some said the module alone was the interface. I’ve become so disenchanted with the program/computer, etc., that I went back to using the TD6 by itself again…if I could find someone local in my area of the “boonies” I’d be glad to pay for them to visit and help me fix this thing…😔EZdrummer version: 3.0.6
Operating system: Windows 10
Getting a dedicated audio interface would definitely be a step in the right direction. I’ll update this thread when I am back home next week. We can walk through some basic setup.
Mac Studio M1 Max, RAM 64 GB, 1TB Drive, OSX 12.x/13.x and Windows 10 (VM)
DAW: Studio One Pro (always up to date)
DTX Express III (Extreme triggers), Nektar LX88
OWC Thunderbay Mini (4 X 1TB Sata SSD), Express 4M2 (4 X 2TB M.2 SSD), Envoy Express (1TB M.2 SSD)
Presonus Quantum, Faderport & Faderport 8
Black Lion Sparrow Mk2 A/D, FMR-RNP-RNC, MIDI Xpress 128, BM5A, KRK VXT4, Equator D5
2020 Macbook Pro 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD Audio(mobile rig)
1
Thanked by: modrobBradYes it does have the TD6 preset but it doesn’t “react” as well as the Generic one, I have found.
I believe my biggest problem is there are very few parameters that can be fine tuned to make my edrums perform correctly. Also, it seems that any adjustments I’ve tried to lessen latency have been not very successful. (Keep in mind I’m nowhere near a pro at software, MIDI, and the countless adjustments that can be made to program, laptop, module, etc.)
My thinking is this module doesn’t have the abilities like more newer units have—maybe I’m wrong. And I’ve watched a bunch of YouTube videos but I’m still missing something…some have even said I would really need a real Interface along with my drum module, and some said the module alone was the interface. I’ve become so disenchanted with the program/computer, etc., that I went back to using the TD6 by itself again…if I could find someone local in my area of the “boonies” I’d be glad to pay for them to visit and help me fix this thing…😔EZdrummer version: 3.0.6
Operating system: Windows 10
Hi there,
So my last comment I mentioned getting an external audio interface. From what I’ve read, the TD6 isn’t an audio interface. But I only scanned the manual online.
Which audio driver are you using for you internal sound card?
In EZDrummer > Settings > Audio/MIDI Setup. What is the audio buffer value?
If it’s greater than 128, have you tried lowering it?
Mac Studio M1 Max, RAM 64 GB, 1TB Drive, OSX 12.x/13.x and Windows 10 (VM)
DAW: Studio One Pro (always up to date)
DTX Express III (Extreme triggers), Nektar LX88
OWC Thunderbay Mini (4 X 1TB Sata SSD), Express 4M2 (4 X 2TB M.2 SSD), Envoy Express (1TB M.2 SSD)
Presonus Quantum, Faderport & Faderport 8
Black Lion Sparrow Mk2 A/D, FMR-RNP-RNC, MIDI Xpress 128, BM5A, KRK VXT4, Equator D5
2020 Macbook Pro 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD Audio(mobile rig)
1
Thanked by: modrobmodrobI’m currently out of state for the week so I can’t get to it until this weekend, but I believe I’m using ASIO4ALL and the buffer value is 64 (or the lowest one—I can’t recall for sure)
Modrob
BradNo worries we can continue when you’re back…. have a good trip.
Mac Studio M1 Max, RAM 64 GB, 1TB Drive, OSX 12.x/13.x and Windows 10 (VM)
DAW: Studio One Pro (always up to date)
DTX Express III (Extreme triggers), Nektar LX88
OWC Thunderbay Mini (4 X 1TB Sata SSD), Express 4M2 (4 X 2TB M.2 SSD), Envoy Express (1TB M.2 SSD)
Presonus Quantum, Faderport & Faderport 8
Black Lion Sparrow Mk2 A/D, FMR-RNP-RNC, MIDI Xpress 128, BM5A, KRK VXT4, Equator D5
2020 Macbook Pro 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD Audio(mobile rig)
1
Thanked by: modrobmodrobHeaded home now hoping to be in by later tonight.
A few more things I’m thinking about while I’m riding…
watching many YouTube videos on setup, etc., I believe all are using much newer modules than my old TD6…I’m thinking that makes some difference?
Also, I am using much more modern (to me) Donner Edrum pads (their latest) and they seem to be pretty well made with triple sensors.
I’m not clear on the “audio interface” thing—some mention needing it, or at least making things better, and some just tutor on using the module by itself.
I’m trying to dig into what the true audio interface adds.??
Meanwhile, when I get back I’ll try and dig back into my hardware items and have more of the actual needed answers for setup purposes…😊
Modrob
BradHeaded home now hoping to be in by later tonight.
A few more things I’m thinking about while I’m riding…watching many YouTube videos on setup, etc., I believe all are using much newer modules than my old TD6…I’m thinking that makes some difference?
Also, I am using much more modern (to me) Donner Edrum pads (their latest) and they seem to be pretty well made with triple sensors.
I’m not clear on the “audio interface” thing—some mention needing it, or at least making things better, and some just tutor on using the module by itself.
I’m trying to dig into what the true audio interface adds.??Meanwhile, when I get back I’ll try and dig back into my hardware items and have more of the actual needed answers for setup purposes…😊
Depending on the type of internal sound card you have, an external audio interface may produce higher quality audio and cut down on latency.
If your current setting is 64 samples, that should be OK. So something else is slowing things down. Although I can get mine down to 32, depending what I’m doing, usually I work at 64 or even 128, when tracking.
Mac Studio M1 Max, RAM 64 GB, 1TB Drive, OSX 12.x/13.x and Windows 10 (VM)
DAW: Studio One Pro (always up to date)
DTX Express III (Extreme triggers), Nektar LX88
OWC Thunderbay Mini (4 X 1TB Sata SSD), Express 4M2 (4 X 2TB M.2 SSD), Envoy Express (1TB M.2 SSD)
Presonus Quantum, Faderport & Faderport 8
Black Lion Sparrow Mk2 A/D, FMR-RNP-RNC, MIDI Xpress 128, BM5A, KRK VXT4, Equator D5
2020 Macbook Pro 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD Audio(mobile rig)
1
Thanked by: modrob
Paul Jones WinlundI am using a TD-6V and run midi into a decent sound card. I have zero latency. Have your first set up the module so it plays perfectly. Put headphones straight into module and set up. This means you have optimised your module. Then you can plug into soundcard/module on PC and if you have the right asio drivers then you should get perfect response.
The only thing you will get better if you buy newer module is the hihat triggering. Those modules have better kits but as you are using ez drummer then it doesn’t matter.
One other thing, if you have older pads that came with the TD-6 then these are not so good. I have a PDX-100 as a snare and all meshtoms plus dual trigger cymbals with choke.
My point is that the TD-6 is not the limitation as it only passes on midi.
1
Thanked by: modrobmodrobI’m thinking that (barring any misadjustments in the module) my biggest issue is “response”—as in the snare mainly. No matter how I tweak it (in the Roland module) I can’t seem to get that smooth, “barely playing and rising up evenly to the hardest hits”…make sense? Example—ghost notes—there doesn’t seem to be a lot of velocity difference…it’s more like the same velocity no matter how varied. Hard, solid hits are fine. And I’ve played with the sensitivity/threshold settings to the extreme. So that led me to think a better module might make that end better?
Maybe I’m losing my old mind—it seems to me that every video of “beginning” steps once all connected the EZ Drummer sounds great, “right out of the box”…mine, not so simple…
Modrob
modrobThanks Paul.
hmmmm…see my reply above to Brad, if you don’t mind, and see if any of that makes sense…
I don’t believe my TD6 is “optimized”, and honestly I’ve wondered if there is something wrong within it.
(I do have that latest update “V” that was offered for it)
Im not a “real” drummer by a long shot, (guitarist) but I do well enough on my own recordings. But I think in the recent years since I first built my own Ekit that I’ve realized more and more of what’s lacking, but the trouble is identifying it and correcting LOL…
Modrob
modrobSorry that I’ve been so long in getting back to this. So many other “fixes” and family items have been popping up and limiting my time. (Not to mention old age LOL)
I’m nowhere near what I used to know about computers way back when, and these days I have to sort-of immerse myself back into it when I need to look deeper, and that usually ends up taking long periods of time to try and grasp things/processes that used to come easy to me. That being said…
if I can ask for your patience in guiding me…
let’s look at my laptop to start with—tell me what items/settings I need to look for and verify so that we can be assured that end of it is set up correctly? And then possibly the Roland TD6 module? (Should I do a factory reset on it before giving you any settings? Just in case something in it isn’t correct to use for this setup…)
My initial setup has been: electronic kit pads into the Roland TD6, out of the TD with 5pin MIDI into a MIDIMAN (?) Anniversary unit to convert over to USB MIDI that then plugs into the laptop. I use the headphone out jack on the laptop to then plug into 1/4” inputs for my PRO TOOLS interface (which is a proprietary unit of only two inputs.) I monitor with headphones that come from a headphone mixer off the PT setup.
again, many thanks.
Modrob
Glenn Stantonyou might want to do a reset if you don’t have too many customized settings you depend on. reason – you said the dynamics are not great.
i have a TD-3 which has a sensitivity level adjustment per head which allows me to give it a wider range (these are the rubber heads, not the nice mesh heads btw). as far as latency – if you plug in the headphones directly to your TD-6 – is everything ok there? levels, dynamics, latency, etc? if so, then your TD-6 is not likely the issue – i also use the MIDIMan 2×2 and the latest m-audio drivers (which are old…) and i have my DAW set for 32 samples when recording via the DAW, otherwise i simply monitor live mix w/ audio playing and drum audio directly with samples set much higher as it doesn’t matter in that mode.. in general, the performance is very very close to the raw unit listening.
if it helps, i’m using Cakewalk by Bandlab as my DAW.
Glenn
www.runnel.com
www.reverbnation.com/fossile
1
Thanked by: modrobmodrobThanks for that info Glenn…
as for reset, I have restored to factory setup a couple of times and haven’t noticed any differences, other than the normal resetting pad types, sensitivity, threshold, etc. And I have the mesh pads so they seem to be a little better to adjust. But still, in my limited “drummer/software abilities, I can’t get to a sweeter area of velocity. That’s why I’m thinking maybe the higher end units are much better at these tweaks?
I haven’t tried to plug phones into the TD unit…ever, I don’t think. Since day one of using electronics, I’ve always plugged into the headphone out of the PT interface, thinking that was the only way I’d hear everything properly. Also, my thinking is, if I’m using the TD to the laptop and plug phones into the TD, then I’d only hear the normal TD sounds instead of the EZDrummer sounds?
I’m not quite clear on how your monitoring setup is done…brain may be too foggy this morning lol
Modrob
Glenn Stantonfor me, my settings are high sensitivity – one because i have the rubber pads, and two i’m a lighter drummer so it works out for ghost notes. and chances are once i have the MIDI captured, i’m likely to do some processing anyway – slight quantizing if needed 😉 and maybe some velocity tweaks.
Glenn
www.runnel.com
www.reverbnation.com/fossile
1
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