Volume of SD3

[Ejis]

Hi. Desperate here. Currently, couldn’t be more disappointed with the...

Hi. Desperate here. Currently, couldn’t be more disappointed with the ‘Live’ E-drum experience using SD3. It’s too quiet. Not nearly loud enough. I’ve read all other posts on here relating to ‘volume’ our ‘quiet’ etc. Nearly all the responses are bordering on being patronising without actually providing a solution. Having said that, why would a solution be needed for a problem which, frankly shouldn’t exist.

I sit to play my TD20 E-kit, triggering SD3.0 through a new MacBook Pro via headphones. SD3.0 libraries are installed on an external drive but are imported as required without caching or 16 bit mode being used. As I play, two things occur. The first is the sounds have an intermittent ‘click’ either preceding or following the drum/cymbal strike. Secondly and most irritatingly is the sounds, all the sounds, are far too quiet. Previewing sounds in the ‘Drums’ tab to get a ‘level’, everything sounds as I would hope. Strike the e-pad, Absolutely miserable experience. Please, please, please provide me with a solution to a problem that should never exist.

You have my signal chain, try for yourself.

If my issue cannot be solved I would appreciate it if you provide me with information as to how I seek to obtain a full refund for my licence.

I was so looking forward to this being everything it claimed to be…….right now, it isn’t. My TD20’s original module sounds are, currently, Superior.

Miserable.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.2.6
Operating system: macOS Monterey (12)

Hi. Desperate here. Currently, couldn’t be more disappointed with the ‘Live’ E-drum experience using SD3. It’s too quiet. Not nearly loud enough. I’ve read all other posts on here relating to ‘volume’ our ‘quiet’ etc. Nearly all the responses are bordering on being patronising without actually providing a solution. Having said that, why would a solution be needed for a problem which, frankly shouldn’t exist.

I sit to play my TD20 E-kit, triggering SD3.0 through a new MacBook Pro via headphones. SD3.0 libraries are installed on an external drive but are imported as required without caching or 16 bit mode being used. As I play, two things occur. The first is the sounds have an intermittent ‘click’ either preceding or following the drum/cymbal strike. Secondly and most irritatingly is the sounds, all the sounds, are far too quiet. Previewing sounds in the ‘Drums’ tab to get a ‘level’, everything sounds as I would hope. Strike the e-pad, Absolutely miserable experience. Please, please, please provide me with a solution to a problem that should never exist.

You have my signal chain, try for yourself.

If my issue cannot be solved I would appreciate it if you provide me with information as to how I seek to obtain a full refund for my licence.

I was so looking forward to this being everything it claimed to be…….right now, it isn’t. My TD20’s original module sounds are, currently, Superior.

Miserable.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.2.6
Operating system: macOS Monterey (12)

Topic

[Ejis]

Thank you for this, sadly, the TD20 doesn’t have USB connectivity, its audio or midi only. But thank you.

[Ejis]

Thanks for the moral support, I’m still trying to get to the bottom of this on the basis that not everyone else can be wrong……..it must be me!

 

Watch this space.

[Ejis]

“Obviously have no idea on how to use it as the sounds in sd3 are a million miles ahead of a td30 and it’s not that difficult to get set up.” Thanks Mark. It is easy to set up, I do know how to use it, the sounds are a million miles ahead of etc, etc……..

I appreciate how good the sounds are, that’s hardly the problem…..I just continue to be unable to access them at an acceptable volume, still. So, in the interim, the expansion I’ve bought for the TD20 is an improvement on SD3.0 as it is eminently more playable at this present time.

I’m going to continue to try to find the solution to my issue and, regardless of its nature, will post it on here……particularly if it humiliates my own intelligence!

[Ejis]

Hi Cesar, No, I wasn’t calling you a douchebag. Of course not. In fact, I didn’t call anyone a douchebag, although I more than suggested their behaviour was similar to someone who might be described as one…….comments which I regret now and for which I have apologised.

Any light you can shed on this would be appreciated.

 

Andy.

[Ejis]

You may well have seen my unqualified apology on here, it was intended for all but yourself in particular. I apologise for it entirely.

I certainly don’t know everything, who does but, I’m pretty well versed in the use and workings of Roland V kits, I’ve had enough of them. Its for this very reason that I got so frustrated. My outburst wasn’t something I’m proud of.

If I may, the problem still exists and I’m continuing to struggle.

[Jason Gonzalez]

I don’t think your initial post was off by much.  While I’m not an expert, I am fairly confident I know my way around all of the components involved (module, interface, my DAW, and everyday I’m more and more familiar with the SD3 interface.  I still can’t figure out the low volume issue.  I know that this issue is “a thing” based on all of the posts I’ve come across on the inter webs.  You and I aren’t the only ones wanting a little more default volume.

I have the volume slide on the bottom right of the screen all the way up and that gets me to where I feel default volume should be.  But that means I don’t have any more volume available to me from that slide.  The only options left are the individual volume slides for each instrument.

[Lobstafari]

EJIS if you want to do a zoom sometime I’d be more than happy to see what you got going on and see if I can give any advice.  I am super successful with SD3 on two drum sets.  I travel with a laptop, sit down, plug it in and my kit at band practice and have the same experience at there that I do on my kit at home.

SD3 is not as simple as the brain module because it simply has infinitely more parameters and mixing capabilities.  Once you wrap your head around how mostly everything works together it starts to fall in place, but theres going to be a long lead learning curve that you will actually enjoy once the unknowns are demystified.  Need to have faith that its the best thing out there, and thats its only complicated and giving you unwanted results because you just don’t fully understand it yet and I’m down to help.

 

HMU @lobstafari@gmail.com if youre down

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.3.6
Operating system: macOS Monterey (12)

TD50 > Midi cable > Motu Mk4 > M1max Macbook Pro 64GB ram > Mac OS Monterey > SD3
SPD-SX, PD14-DS, VH14, CY-18DR, KD-80, Roland Pads/Cymbals

[Ken]

Ejis, Caesar

I’ve tried most of the other drum software that is available and it is my opinion that SD3 is the only software worth spending money on. Out of the box it sounds great. The statement made “the module sounds are better than SD3 is ludicrous. ” In my opinion”

1. Now the problem (low Volume); can be subjective, in that, what are your expectations.  Do you expect ear bleeding volume or nice subtle volume?
2. This type of problem is usually from hardware and not the software. If the hardware is set up wrong or is malfunctioning, this should be the focus. Tweaking all the faders in the software is just going to mess up the SD3 mix and and throw shadows on the real problem.
3. What is the midi levels coming from your kit?   As mentioned, they need to be sufficient to drive SD3, example; if a hard hit on the snare only sends a note value of “54” then SD3 interprets that as “only play the snare @ 1/2 the maximum volume. (0-127)
4. The fact that you only have “5-pin DIN” midi (from your kit), is indicating that you have an external audio interface. What is the gain set at?
   I run SD3 on a Focusrite and the output goes to my main interface “Roland”, both of witch have gain structures to be dealt with.

Believe me when I say, “I can make my ears bleed” either on headphones or on the studio speakers, I mean it.
2700 watts can do that for you and i didn’t even have to touch SD3 volumes at all.

My suggestion to you is to return all of the volume settings in SD3 to original and troubleshoot your audio system to get the volumes you’re expecting. To me, you’ve got a gain structure issue.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.3.6
Operating system: Windows 10

Cheers Ken
SD 3.3.6 on Windows 10 | Cubase 11 Pro DAW
expansions : N.Y.Avitar | Latin percussion
Yamaha multi 12 | DTX 450k | Trigger IO (x2)
Super stupid fast computer with i9 and 18 speed double clutch gearbox
5. Audio interfaces.

[Ejis]

Hi Ken S.

I really appreciate you taking the time to respond to my query, the issues I raised still exist. The point I was trying to make about my module sounds being better to use than SD3.0 is that they are loud enough and eminently more playable as things stand at the present time. My module is an expanded TD20. Old, but most excellent. I appreciate that SD3.0 is superior to this in every way….I’m just yet to hear it. I’m not a heavy player but, for example, when using my Roland or AKG reference headphones, I can still hear the sounds of the pads over the sound of the samples when I’m playing at what would be considered the heavier handed end of playing. This is something that is simply not an issue when using the sounds from within the expanded TD20.

A TD20 E-kit > Midi Out > MacBook Pro via conversion cable (New and quick) > SD3.0 > Headphones out of MacBook

I have Focusrite 18i20 and Octopre and Logic Pro X which I would like to get involved in the chain but, for now, don’t wish to overcomplicate matters. I hope this is considered wise?

To respond to your 4 points;

1. Volume that is enough to obscure the sticking sound from the pads. Certainly not ear splitting volume though that is achievable when using 8 audio jacks to Logic
2. Totally agree and defeats the object for me anyway.
3. This is where help is needed….I would read that value from within SD3.0?
4. The 5 din thing….can you explain further? My TD20 module goes straight into the side of my MacBook currently (See current chain above) triggering SD.

You say “My suggestion to you is to return all of the volume settings in SD3 to original and troubleshoot your audio system to get the volumes you’re expecting. To me, you’ve got a gain structure issue.” Its where I have been trying to make headway but continue to struggle.

Thank you for your message.

Andy.

[Ejis]

Sir,

I appreciate the offer of a Zoom…where are you in the world and when might be convenient for you? I’m in the UK.

This is me;

TD20 > Midi cable > Macbook Pro 16GB ram > Mac OS Ventura 13.2.1 > SD3 > Headphones (AKG Reference)
All Roland Pads/Cymbals

Many thanks, sorry to be such a hindrance.

Andy.

• This post was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by Ejis.

[Mark King]

Your problem could be you are using the inbuilt audio which doesn’t have a great deal of headroom or power. Are you using a DAW? That should have a gain structure which can lift the level if you need to although I don’t think that is your only problem. Are you running stand alone?

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

[Ken]

Andy

in the upper right hand corner, there is a drop-down box that is labelled show. From there you can turn on all kinds of boxes that will show you all kinds of different adjustments and/or activity. I have them all turned on in my set up.

The one you are interested in is velocity curve. by default the line is straight from the bottom left to the upper right corner of this window. You do have to expand it and the power button must be on. Select the pad that you’re striking and you will see a sliding blue dot. This is the incoming signal from your drum kit the selected pad.

if when you strike the pad and the incoming signal is say a velocity of 50, then you will only get half volume. So a good hard smack should drive it up to a velocity of 128 and of course lighter hits are going to be less . I have two midi interface is on my kit and The Man Yamaha interface is always in what they call sensitivity mode so that I can push a button while striking on a pad and can set where a hard smack will give it as an output. This is where I adjust the midi output of my pads.

you are new to the program, so finding all these adjustments is a learning curve.

Cheers

Ken

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.3.6
Operating system: Windows 10

Cheers Ken
SD 3.3.6 on Windows 10 | Cubase 11 Pro DAW
expansions : N.Y.Avitar | Latin percussion
Yamaha multi 12 | DTX 450k | Trigger IO (x2)
Super stupid fast computer with i9 and 18 speed double clutch gearbox
5. Audio interfaces.

[Ken]

Can someone please educate me at how to upload a picture on an iPhone to this site. When I try , it is too big for the web site.

This msg is from my computer

Cheers

Ken

Cheers Ken
SD 3.3.6 on Windows 10 | Cubase 11 Pro DAW
expansions : N.Y.Avitar | Latin percussion
Yamaha multi 12 | DTX 450k | Trigger IO (x2)
Super stupid fast computer with i9 and 18 speed double clutch gearbox
5. Audio interfaces.

[Ken]

Cheers Ken
SD 3.3.6 on Windows 10 | Cubase 11 Pro DAW
expansions : N.Y.Avitar | Latin percussion
Yamaha multi 12 | DTX 450k | Trigger IO (x2)
Super stupid fast computer with i9 and 18 speed double clutch gearbox
5. Audio interfaces.

[Ken]

Cheers Ken
SD 3.3.6 on Windows 10 | Cubase 11 Pro DAW
expansions : N.Y.Avitar | Latin percussion
Yamaha multi 12 | DTX 450k | Trigger IO (x2)
Super stupid fast computer with i9 and 18 speed double clutch gearbox
5. Audio interfaces.

[Author]

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