SPD-20

Since many of you, especially new zendrummers are asking every so often about hi hat control, AND the best (simplest, too) way to LAYER sounds BASED ON VELOCITY........ I thought I'd put this out there.

Hope it helps in your sound module investment strategy, for picking the right product for your purposes.

Some time ago already, I have discovered that the Roland SPD-20, when triggered via midi by the ZD, for example, that it is the ONLY roland product, which actually allows their FD-7 pedal to STILL control the open/closes and all the in between stuff, while the note is actually being triggered via the ZD controller. (I believe that goes for pitch bend and effects fade in/out, for their on board effects, as well, if that's how it's programmed on any patch).

When attempting to do something similar with a TD-8 or a TD-6, I phoned Roland and was amazed to find out that none of their other products have this capacity, including their flagship TD-10. They said that the SPD 20 had the most powerful computer on board of ANY of their drum machine lineup and is the ONLY one of their products with this capacity.

The beauty with this setup, using the SPD as the sound source, is that you can then sit down and tap out parts on IT, which may simply be too difficult to pull off on the ZD. (works best if you have a kick controller plugged in as well. Plus, with it's four trigger inputs, it gives the option of TWO ADDITIONAL pads besides the FD-7 and the Kick).

Additionally, the SPD-20 has a mode called "patch expand", which allows ADDITIONAL note numbers ( from primarily percussion patches 96, 97,98,99), to be assigned to ANY patch that you may be on with your "primary kit".

Example:
Let's say that your main kit is patch #5......... some meat N potatoes drum kit.
With that one alone, you have 16 notes (or separate "voices/sounds") to work with, either as a single layer or 8 as double layer (like a ride, fading to bell, depending on velocity) or combination of the singles and layers.

With patch expand "on", this will allow you to tap into any of the sounds from patches 96, 97,98,99, since they're all using different note numbers. you can STILL customize THOSE four patches and assign ANY of the SPD's on-board sounds to them, including all the A/B layer crossfades of any kind available on board.

The cross fade response is extremely smooth, by the way.

For example, you can put tom 1 on layer A, with "soft4" curve and tom 2 on layer B, with "hard4" and voila, it makes your solo so much easier. How about a kick with a crash underneath it? Whatever way you program it on the SPD, is how it "shows up" on the zd.

Additionally, for layering on the SPD, you need ONLY to use the Note number on the "A" layer for both A and B to fire together as a layered sound. Again, just assign the velocity curves to each layer, and the response when midi triggered will be EXACTLY like that.

There are hundreds of HIGHLY useful sounds on board the SPD-20, including orchestra hits, basses, melodic percussion, ethnic sounds from many countries and ALL the drum kits you could possibly use. It's a great, hassle free setup, which will make your zendrumming ever more versatile (for those 32nd note double stroke rolls that you can't quite pull off at 120 bpm yet)

be blessed with whatever y'all are doing out there....hopefully for the betterment of humanity.