Anyone with the GH drums and a Roland KD-8?

Digibit · 18-04-2009, 7:17 PM

Hi all,

I replaced the kick pedal on my GH:WT drums because a) it broke because I play too hard and b) it was absolutely rubbish. I replaced it with a normal 'proper' bass drum pedal and a Roland KD-8 which just plugs into the same socket that the old pedal plugged into (with an adapter).

Anyone else here done this? It works great except for one tiny niggle...

During free-fills (and also during intros before track starts) the hits register but no drum noise is heard. It is the same with the orange cymbal. It seems fine when playing and it is also OK if I go into the recording studio. I am wondering whether the MIDI output / input is conflicting somehow but I can't fathom how this would be. Thing is it works fine in Rock Band 2...

Anyway, I was wondering whether anyone else is using this setup and could tell me if they have the same problem.

Digibit

P.S. The KD-8 is also pressure sensitive but this doesn't seem to register in the recording studio. Not a great problem but... you know. Just curious.

Chrispyphillips · 20-04-2009, 1:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digibit

Hi all,

I replaced the kick pedal on my GH:WT drums because a) it broke because I play too hard and b) it was absolutely rubbish. I replaced it with a normal 'proper' bass drum pedal and a Roland KD-8 which just plugs into the same socket that the old pedal plugged into (with an adapter).

Anyone else here done this? It works great except for one tiny niggle...

During free-fills (and also during intros before track starts) the hits register but no drum noise is heard. It is the same with the orange cymbal. It seems fine when playing and it is also OK if I go into the recording studio. I am wondering whether the MIDI output / input is conflicting somehow but I can't fathom how this would be. Thing is it works fine in Rock Band 2...

Anyway, I was wondering whether anyone else is using this setup and could tell me if they have the same problem.

Digibit

P.S. The KD-8 is also pressure sensitive but this doesn't seem to register in the recording studio. Not a great problem but... you know. Just curious.

Hey Digibit.

I know a few of us around here are using digital drums with our GH and RB kits. Tufty does, but he frequents the RB forums more, and to be honest you may get a better response there!!

I noticed that the KD8 doesnt always register a sound during free style sections, but it does register a hit, so havent considered this a problem. However, as your using your KD8 with the GH drum brain, and we're using ours with a proper roland brain with the controller plugged in with midi, it may make a difference, i'm not sure! you may be asking a bit much of the kit, but you can get a midi-usb cable from Red Octane (there are links around here, or go straight to their site) and you can change the midi settings using that. It may make a difference, so give it a go.

Other than that, save your pocket money and get some proper drums, and not regret a single second of it!!!!

Digibit · 20-04-2009, 2:30 PM

Thanks again Crispy,

I already have that cable so I will plug it in and take a look.

Digibit

hyslopc · 29-05-2009, 8:25 PM

Any luck with the KD-8? I am finding the GWHT kick pedal to be a frustration, and would love to upgrade to something better.

chewyx · 30-05-2009, 9:08 AM

Its awesome mate do it.

Without question the best kick pedal solution around. If you keep your eyes peeled, you can get one less than £60. (I paid £40 for mine) then just buy whichever bass pedal you want (I have a Mapex P750A its great and can be found for about £40) It supports double bass too.

If your using GH drums, it will work out of the box. If your using RB drums, unfortuantely you need a kickbox (unless you are good at electronics then you can build your own) which is about £65.

hyslopc · 30-05-2009, 9:13 AM

Thanks! I'm definitely going to upgrade. Question is whether I should just pick up a KD-8, or whether I should buy a complete MIDI set. I really enjoy playing GHWT drums, and am prepared to pay for the best solution, although I am limited in terms of space and noise, since I live in an apartment, and we have people living underneath us.

I read about the Roland HD-1, which is supposed to be very compact and quiet, and works with GWHT. I guess the kick pedal isn't as good as the KD-8, but it'd be a lot better than what I have today. Apparently the HD-1 is non-upgradeable, but since I only play GWHT (I'm not in a band or anything), I don't think that's a problem for me. What is very important is that it's compact and quiet.

Any thoughts?

Bursar · 30-05-2009, 9:56 AM

Stinja has just bought the HD-1s, so pop over to the Rock Band forums and ask him what he thinks ->>>> The Electronic Drum Kit thread

chewyx · 30-05-2009, 10:05 AM

not tried the HD1 but stinja has just got one have a look here

If your after something cheap and upgradable, the ION's are good FOR £250 but if you only play GH and not RB theres no point as you will lose 1 of the lanes.

If you can afford it, try and get a 2nd hand set of Roland TD3's which you can get for about £350 as they can be upgraded (plus you can use them outside the game). Problem is, once you've caught the upgrade bug, there is no tuning back and you will spend a fortune! There's always going to be something else that you want!

hyslopc · 30-05-2009, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewyx

but if you only play GH and not RB theres no point as you will lose 1 of the lanes.

I'm surprised to see so many people here playing RB instead of GH. I have only played RB briefly, and liked it better in almost all respects, *except* the drums, which seemed so inferior to GH. Am I missing something? Is RB drumming as good as (or better than) GH if you switch to a MIDI set? GH supports an extra pad, regardless, right?

chewyx · 30-05-2009, 10:36 AM

its obvioulsy all subjective but I think most people here will agree that RB is the better game.

In respect of the drums, yes the GH drums have 2 dedicated cymbals and 3 pads (snare and 2 toms) and the RB drums just have 4 pads. The RB 2 drums (if they ever make it to the UK) have the option to attach cymbals. The ION drum rocker (which I use) already has cymbals and e-drums have cymbals.

RB actually charts 3 cymbals (hi-hat, crash and ride) to 3 different lanes. The yellow lane will be Hi-hat but it can also be a tom or a crash. The blue lane will either be a tom, ride, open hi-hat and occassionally crash and the green will be a tom or a crash and in very rare occassions a hi-hat. GH charts all cymbals to either orange or yellow.

Having the ability to swap the pads for whatever you want really does give an advantage particularly if you have a set with cymbals as you have more flexibility. For example, play enter sandman on RB1 then play it on GHM (or look on youtube). Its much more fun on RB as you have to move around the pads more. GH only has 2 toms and a snare. RB has 3 toms and a snare.

Of course, you need to know when to hit a pad and when to hit a cymbal but that is relatively easy to figure out.

One thing that frustrates me about GH is that if im playing a song and its ride cymbal then a crash, i have to hit the same cymbal (blue) if im doing this on rock band, I can play the ride on the blue then hit the green for the crash.

While the 4 pad set up may seem inferior to the GH kit, if you add cymbals, the way RB chart the songs is far better than GH and much more immersive. This is of course my opinion and others may feel diferently.

Dont let the fact that GH has 5 pads fool you into thinking the drums are better. Any set of drums used with cymbals (RB2, ION's e-drums etc) actually have 7 differnet playing surfaces which are all individually charted. You just have to figure out when to hit a tom and when to hit a cymbal.