TD-12, TD-30, Or Other Module for Triggering SD3

[wphall]

Hello- Thank you in advance for the insights.

I own a TD-12 and am triggering SD3. Triggering is just ok. Hi-Hit and cymbals isn’t great but it works and pads are fine. I don’t really believe this is a problem with SD3. It’s more of a trigger/module thing. I have Pintech pads with new triggers and new heads all around. Cymbals are all Roland and the HH is a VH-11. I’m only using this kit for fun: Sit down, and play with no live gigging. Just want a great sounding kit.

Question is: Is there any improvement if I upgrade or change to a different module? I’m open to staying with or moving off Roland, but since this is just for fun, I don’t want to spend a bunch of $$ for marginal differences and don’t want to spend 45min tinkering and 15 playing. Just want to sit down and play.

Any insights into the best band for buck to trigger SD3?

Thanks!

– Bill

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.3.7
Operating system: macOS Sonoma (14)

2015 MacBook Pro: 16/512ssd, EZ2, SD2, SD3

• This topic was modified 1 year ago by wphall.

Topic

[Wolfgang]

I can only speak for what I have but the switch to a TD-27 with all the digital pads was a huge step forward coming from a TD-17. Not sure if it’s the best bang for buck as it’s pretty expensive. But it’s definitive the best triggering experience I ever had. Setting it up was easy by using the TD-50X E-Drums preset in SD3.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.3.7
Operating system: macOS Ventura (13)

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Thanked by: wphall

[Cesar Valdez]

What problems are you experiencing, exactly? Triggering problems from the module? Latency? Samples don’t sound how you want them to? There’s a host of issues to deal with. First, you can start with your module Pre Superior Drummer, and adjust your sensitivity and velocity curve so they track your style playing exactly. Another very important setting that you may have to adjust is your Scan Time. I have mine set to 3.1 or 3.2 ms for the best response but yours may very. In Superior Drummer I had a problem with the samples sounding different when clicking them on the computer vs playing them on the pad. So I had to go into the E-drums settings page and go to the velocity curve box and drop the ceiling from 127 to 126 or 125. And that fixed it. You may or may not have to do this. Also setting the buffer as low as your computer can handle for low latency. My best advice for you is to learn and study the program up and down by getting the manual and read it cover to cover. For a module I recommend the TD-30 for more inputs. But any Roland module can do a great job. Hope this helps a little.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.3.7
Operating system: macOS Sonoma (14)

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Thanked by: wphall

[Snowdog2324]

Agree with the responses so far.  I’m running SD3/TD-30/VH-11.  From day one with SD3 I’ve not figured out how to replicate the TD-30s hi hat sensitivity and volume response when I use SD3 kits.  Seems like it would be simple.  Over time I’ve dialed in the TD-30 kit settings and love the overall response.  When I then try the SD3 kits, specifically with the hi hats, the sounds are amazing but the triggering, sensitivity, and response just don’t feel quite right.  The cymbals, toms, kick, snare are all great and I prefer using SD3.  But those darn hi hats are missing something in setup.  I’ve tried all the setup steps, calibration, etc.  Still looking for something to match the TD-30 hi hat feel.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.3.7
Operating system: Windows 10

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Thanked by: wphall

[drumjack52]

Not specific to this thread but I’ve seen several threads here with people having miscellaneous issues with hihats. Could it be that like in a real physical kit the hats are the most complicated kit piece? And translating that to an ekit isn’t all that easy?

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.3.7
Operating system: macOS High Sierra (10.13)

Jack
aka musicman691 on other forums
Superior Drummer 3.4.0
Area 33 1.0.0
Death and Darkness 1.0.1
PT 2021.6
OSX 10.13.6
3.46 GHz hex core 2012 MacPro 48 gig ram

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Thanked by: wphall

[wphall]

All helpful points and thank you. I’ll infer from all of this:

• Agreed: Hats are complicated and you are probably right, this is translating it’s way down/through even more complicated systems.
• Changing my module probably won’t make a big difference in how it triggers SD3(?).
• Start from the start (triggers) and make my way down the system (module>SD3) to get everything dialed in.
• Once things come out of “tune” refine.

Look about right?

Thx!

2015 MacBook Pro: 16/512ssd, EZ2, SD2, SD3

[Mark King]

Yes about right. The newer modules support pads and cymbals that have been released later than your module and there maybe slight improvements in the triggering. A lot of people prefer to use a cymbal and the fd7 or fd9 hi hat controller. I have the td50x with the digital hi hat vh14d and this feels better than the vh11/vh12/vh13 (I have tried them all! ) I haven’t tried a cymbal pad and an fd though.

SD3 with older sdx,s plus Rooms of Hansa and Death & Darkness. Cubase and wavelab current versions. Roland TD50x using all trigger inputs for triggering SD3 only. Windows 11 computer. Various keyboards and outboard gear as well as VST instruments. Acoustic drums: Yamaha 9000 natural wood and Pearl masters. Various snare drums. RME BabyFace Pro FS and Adam A7X monitors

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Thanked by: wphall

[wphall]

Thanks! Funny you bring up the foot controller. I’ve always wondered if that would create a better triggering experience. Just seems more of a “controlled” environment. Might check it out and thanks!

2015 MacBook Pro: 16/512ssd, EZ2, SD2, SD3

[Cesar Valdez]

Yup, because of the limitations of hi-hat stand causing too much vibrations, and setting off false triggers, I’m not surprised that people opt for the foot controller route. If it wasn’t for the small fortune I spent on the VH-13, I’d go for the foot controller myself.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.3.7
Operating system: macOS Sonoma (14)

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Thanked by: wphall

[Wolfgang]

Yes, dialing in the trigger parameters in the module should be the first step before going into SD3. And this could take some time and tests, try playing to music a few days to see how the module reacts in real life.

I first used a VH-11 with the TD-17 and it worked quite well but had some inconsistencies with the open/close behaviour. That was why I switched to a FD-9 foot pedal with the VH-11 and the transistion was indeed smoother. If I hadn’t switched to the TD-27 I would have stayed with the controller pedal instead of a moving hi hat.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.3.7
Operating system: macOS Ventura (13)

1

Thanked by: wphall

[wphall]

Really helpful. How are you combining the VH-11 and the FD-9? How are you mounting the VH-11 on a cymbal stand somehow?

Thanks!

2015 MacBook Pro: 16/512ssd, EZ2, SD2, SD3

[wphall]

Scratch that. Just read it’s as easy as removing the clutch and using it as a HH. Think I’ll try this route and report back. Thanks everyone!

 

2015 MacBook Pro: 16/512ssd, EZ2, SD2, SD3

[wphall]

Ok, have a bit of an update. Staying with the TD-12. I spent a solid ~4hrs messing with the various settings in both SD3 and the TD12 and have it working quite nicely. I learned the trick is to first get the foot sensor dialed in very precisely on the module. I then had to update the sliders in SD3. And now, I’m about 90% there. Need to finish messing with cymbal sensitivity and such but it’s working great.

I also went ahead and ordered an 8 input eDrumIn (https://www.audiofront.net/eDRUMin.php​). Four probably would have been fine but I want room for expansion since I have 3 other toms laying around about ~5 old used Roland cymbals.

​​​​​​​Thanks for the help with this! This group probably saved me over $1K for very little gain.

2015 MacBook Pro: 16/512ssd, EZ2, SD2, SD3

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Thanked by: drumjack52 and Wolfgang

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