Roland TD10exp Tap Sequence Feature For Zendrum

Contributed by Jeremy Slead

The Tap Sequence is a feature which allows you to sequence a part (for example, a keyboard melody or conga pattern) and then play a pad live, which triggers the sequence one note at a time. I use it to play parts along with my drumming, by adding a cymbal note also, so that it sounds like a regular drum part, and a keyboard part happening at the same time. It's pretty cool to watch the audience wondering where the keys are coming from!!!

This feature is available ONLY in the trigger inputs on the TD10, NOT through MIDI, which means it is not possible to do with the Zendrum. To get around this, I first run my Zendrum into an old Roland R5 drum machine. I assign the pads on my Zendrum which I want to use for tap sequences to note numbers 1-6. I then assign each one of those notes to play a cross-stick sound in the R5 (it seems that the cross-stick is a great sound to do this with...it is short, and has instantaneous attack). I assign each cross-stick to a separate output on the R5. Then I run the audio outputs of the R5 (there are a total of 6) into 6 of the trigger inputs of my TD10, and set the trigger parameters accordingly. Now each of those notes can access a separate tap sequence. It works great! This feature could also be used to stack unlimited notes together, including chords.

I also run a MIDI thru from the R5 to the TD10. Since I used notes 1-6 to Tap Seq with, there is no problem with double triggering (those notes are not used in the normal MIDI maps).