TD9 or TD11 for triggering S2.3

[Reinder]

After making do with a TD-3 and TMC-6 for a long while, I am no longer satisfied with the performance of this pair.

I have recently acquired a VH-11, and I never got it to work properly with S2.3 apart from the most basic triggering – the TD-3 isn’t fully compatible with the VH-11 so no surprises there!

So, I am now looking to get either a TD9 or a TD11. I’d prefer a new module, since I have had bad luck with buying second hand stuff. I could perhaps stretch my budget as far a TD15, but only if it would make a MAJOR difference…

My question is: which module would be the best choice for triggering S2.3? I am not interested in the internal sounds, only in getting the most out of S2.3. Does anyone have any experience with either one (or better yet with both)? They sell for around the same, and as I understand, the TD9 is higher up the ladder, but the TD11 has some new technology on board that might benefit triggering S2.

Opinions most welcome!

Topic

[Reinder]

Errr okay, guess I’ll figure this one out by myself then… In case anyone cares: I have decided on a TD11; midi through USB should be faster then through the MIDI port, or so Roland claim.

[Nathan]

Do please let us know how you get on please, Protocol. I’m looking for something more advanced than a D4 or SDS9 brain.

How does the MIDI over USB thing work, is it generic, or do you need specific Roland drivers for the TD11?

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SD2.3, NYII, C&V, MC, MF, ED, Latin Perc, Twisted, Pop, N1H, Electronic, Classic, Funkmasters, Rock Solid, Blues, Indie-Folk.

[Reinder]

Will do planetnine!

You will need Roland drivers to be able to use the MIDI functionality; drivers for both Mac and Windows are available from Rolands website. I am running S2.3 on an iMac and so far have been using an M-Audio Midisport. Not bad at all, but I hope playing the TD-11 directly through USB will be even snappier.

The TD-11 will probably arrive next week, so I will post an update about my findings when I have played around with it a bit…

[Reinder]

FYI I started a similar thread over at vdrums; I will be posting further findings in that thread, as I have gotten a lot of good feedback from those guys.

[Juicy]

Hi ,I used both TD9 via midi to usb and 11 via usb recently, both trigger very well with SD23.
The TD11 is probably a little snappier as mentioned.
Neither do Positional sensing but that isn’t really a deal breaker.

[Reinder]

Neither do Positional sensing but that isn’t really a deal breaker.

Yeah I read that on the wiki overview of all Roland modules. S2 does support positional sensing but I gather this isn’t widely regarded as a must have feature…

[Reinder]

Just a quick update: received my TD-11 today and I am pretty pleased so far! VH-11 support out of the box really does make a difference – hi-hat response really is way better than with my old TD-3.

I am currently using my TMC-6 for a few separate triggers like rimshot, ride bell, third crash, etc. I totally forgot that Toontrack Solo accept multiple MIDI ins, so no need to fuss with midi mergers… Feels like there is a minimal difference in latency between the TD-11 through MIDI vs TMC-6 through a MIDI-to-USB interface, but it is so small as to be negligible.

So bottom line is: I am glad I took the jump! I only wish Roland would make an upgraded version of the TMC-6, because I could really do without the onboard sounds – they’re still pretty lame imho, especially when compared to Superior 2.0 and the like.

[Author]

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