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Conference napalm::commusic_v1

Title:* * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * *
Notice:Conference has been write-locked. Use new version.
Moderator:DYPSS1::SCHAFER
Created:Thu Feb 20 1986
Last Modified:Mon Aug 29 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2852
Total number of notes:33157

242.0. "Simmons SDS 9 Info Request..." by MAX::MCPHERSON () Tue Feb 11 1986 02:00

I need some advice on the possible purchase of a Simmons SDS 9 drum set.
I have an opportunity to pick up the set my local music dealer has been using
as his demo set for the sum of $1850.00 (including stands, no BD pedal).
The snare and kick sounds seemed pretty damn good to me. They were blown into
PROMs with the toms being the analog "Simmons sound".  The "second skin"
parameter on the unit REALLY makes for a good-sounding tom, to my ears.

What I'm really fishing for is some input from people who have already purchased
an SDS 9 (or comparable unit).  I'm interested in just how functional the MIDI
interface on the unit has been.  I personally like having the option of being
able to trigger another MIDI-ed drum unit if/when I get constrained by the
sounds from the Simmons unit.  I also like the idea of being able to sit
down at an honest-to-God drum set (almost) and bang out a drum part into
a MIDI sequencer like it should feel. (I'm a drummer foremost, and I hate
tapping buttons when I can hit 'em with a stick.)      

Above all, is the $1850.00 prce tag a good deal?  I haven't done a lot of
shopping around and this deal kinda jumped at me from  left field.  I'd
like to hear from some people real quick, since I don't know how long I can
get him to hold them for me.

Thanx in advance.
/doug
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
242.1SPHINX::SAVAGETue Feb 11 1986 18:0111
You can get that kind of price from Manny's or Sam Ash anytime - for new
equipment.

Before you get SDS-9's check out Roland DDR-30's. You'll probably forget
SDS-9's ever existed.

Manny's (212)819-0576
Sam Ash (800)472-6274

                      
Have fun - Dennis Savage
242.2MAX::MCPHERSONWed Feb 12 1986 12:0910
re: .1

What about the DDR-30s?  I guess I haven't been keeping as current as I should,
but I haven't seen anything about them.

Can you fill me in?  

thanks,
doug
242.3SIVA::FEHSKENSTue Feb 18 1986 13:2121
The DDR-30 is a 6 voice drum synthesizer using sampling technology.  Each
voice (bass, snare, 4 toms) has 4 (8?) samples serving as a basis for sound
synthesis.  The basic sound can be modified (pitch, decay, EQ, etc.) and
these parameter values saved as 32 different "kits".  The kits can be
invoked and played (via program changes and note ons) over the MIDI interface.
Everyone I have talked to who has heard this box raves about it.  I heard
one and it has that typical "Roland sound" - the drums are very cleanly
recorded, with strong impact transients (almost too much for my taste).
The tympani voice (one of the tom tom variants) is very good, albeit
much "tighter" (as opposed to "flabby") than many real tympani I have heard.
The snare voices sound great, and they cover a lot of ground.

The DDR-30 can be played from pads too, and apparently will also act as a
pad to MIDI interface so you can use it to link pads to a synth for special
effects.  Roland's pads for the DDR-30 are extraordinarily sensitive - you
can do a buzz roll on them and the DDR-30 will track it.  The pads make my
SDS-7/8 pads obsolete.  Overall I was very impressed.

Check out the "Octapad" too.

len.
242.4Once again I'm obsoleteMADAME::RHODESWed Feb 26 1986 15:2010
    RE: .3
    
    	3 questions:
    
    		1.  What is the approximate cost of the DDR-30?
    		2.  Are the pads optional or standard?
                3.  What is the "octapad"?
    
       Todd.
242.5Answers to .4SIVA::FEHSKENSWed Feb 26 1986 15:4810
    A DDR-30 lists for around $1300 for the synth module.  The pads
    are separate items, and cost about $150 each.  A full DDR-30 system
    (DDR-30 module, 4 tom/snare pads and a bass pad) comes in around
    $1900, I think.  Note that the DDR-30 accommodates 6 pads total.
    
    The Octapad, or PAD-8, is an 8 pad "MIDI drum controller".  I will
    be posting a comprehensive review of the Octapad later today.
    
    len.
242.6WARSAW::TAYLORMon Sep 28 1987 09:393
    ex
242.7CAVLRY::ROBRThe adventures of Cmdr. McBraggTue Jan 29 1991 18:4612
    
    Hmmm... onlt been almost 31/2 years since the last note here...
    
    I'm looking for something that will do digital sounds that I can sample
    etc and that I can use my DX-7 as the SGU for.  Will these do the
    trick?  I have an opportunity to pick up a 5pc SDS9 w/controller for
    just under $500.  How many channels does the SDS9 brain support?
    
    Is this a good deal or no?
    
    Thanks, Rob
242.8CAVLRY::ROBRThe adventures of Cmdr. McBraggWed Jan 30 1991 18:108
    
    
    If anybody knows anything about these (someone must, they were VERY
    popular a few years back) please let me know.  It's for an immediate
    purchase (I have also posted this in DRUMS).
    
    Thanks
242.9CAVLRY::ROBRThe adventures of Cmdr. McBraggWed Feb 06 1991 05:557
    
    Okay, I give up.  Next question.  Can anybody recommend a used set of
    MIDI drums in the $500 range?  I know next to nothing about these
    things and don't know what I should be looking for.  SGU will be a
    Yamaha DX-7.  A sequencer will come down the road sometime.
242.10SALSA::MOELLERKarl has... left the building.Wed Feb 06 1991 15:517
    I recently bought a new Roland SPD-8.  Without the pedals and stand it
    was in the $500 area.  It functions as both a MIDI controller and as a
    SGU.. I didn't understand your statement  that the SGU will be a DX7..
    you want to play DX7 notes using a percussion controller ?  You want to
    play a percussion SGU using the DX7 keyboard ?
    
    karl
242.11doosh, dooshSALSA::MOELLERKarl has... left the building.Wed Feb 06 1991 15:523
    .. the Roland SPD-8 also has a bunch of Simmons sampled sounds in it.
    
    karl
242.12CAVLRY::ROBRThe adventures of Cmdr. McBraggFri Feb 08 1991 01:3716
    
    I am a drummer and want to be able to trigger DX-7 sounds from pads.  I
    also want to have something where I have room to expand with in the
    future.  I don't know what different brains have to offer, so I'm
    trying to learn what I can before I go buy something that won't cut the
    mustard 6 months down the road when I pick up a sequencer, etc.
    
    Thanks, Rob
    
    I just have the DX-7 sitting around doing nothing so I figured I'd find
    a use for it, plus the band I'm working with will be doing alot of
    Rush/Kansas etc, so some sort of MIDI drum stuff will be handy. 
    CHeaper than buying bell trees, crotales,xylophones, and other
    effects...
242.13Basically content-free reply... ;-)TOOK::MCPHERSONi'm only 5 foot one...Mon Feb 11 1991 11:5015
This doesn't really answer your base question, but I'm really fond of my Roland
PM-16 (pad-midi converter).    It's really just a brain (i.e. pads not included
like with the PAD-8 and MIDI-KAT controllers) so you need to supply your own
pads, add water and mix (well maybe hold the water.)

The nice thing is that I can either augment or replace my drum SGU (an Alesis 
HR-16) as I see fit (actually as I can afford) withhout changing the rest of
my setup (pads, etc).

Also, as an experiment I hooked up a friend's CASIO keyboard and mapped my 
pads to a major scale.  I was wailing away on the Bells of St Mary's and the 
grooving on the vibraphone  presets in seconds. Real cool.  Brought back
memories of High School orchestra!

/doug