Roland V-Drums

Brand of electronic drums
(Learn how and when to remove this message)

KJ Sawka playing Roland Drums at the NAMM Show January 2020
Expanded Roland TD-12S V-Stage set

V-Drums (Virtual Drums) are a line of electronic drums by Roland Corporation Introduced originally in 1997.

Trigger types

V-Drums trigger devices are of four major types: mesh-head drum pads, rubber pads, cymbal pads and acoustic drum triggers. Mesh-head pads look very similar to acoustic drums, and attempt to emulate their feel. The simpler, more generic type is a rubber pad, which is less expensive, but also looks and feels less like an acoustic drum. There are several models of cymbal pads (also called V-Cymbals). The more expensive ones attempt to emulate the physical properties of acoustic cymbals of various types (e.g.: hi-hat, crash, ride), while the simpler, less expensive cymbal pads are less realistic. Acoustic drum triggers can be used to provide trigger signals from standard acoustic drums.

From an electrical point of view, trigger pads can be of the following types:

Rubber pads

Round rubber pads were introduced with the TD-7 drum module in 1992 (previous Roland pads were polygonal) and were universally used as trigger pads for drums and cymbals. Since the introduction of mesh-head drum pads and cymbal-shaped trigger pads, standard rubber pads are only used as tom-tom and (until recently) bass drum trigger pads on Roland's less expensive drum kits. More expensive kits no longer include any rubber pads.

The downsides of rubber pads are their less realistic rebound and their relatively high ambient noise level (compared to mesh-head pads), but their lower price and increased durability still makes them a better choice in some cases.[1]

Cloth-head pads

Cloth-head drum pads were introduced with the KD-9 in 2011, using a cloth-like material as the drum head with an underlying, relatively thick layer of foam. These pads are softer than rubber pads and feel more realistic, while producing less ambient noise. However, they are only available in small sizes, and the head tension cannot be adjusted like on mesh-head pads.

Mesh-head pads

Roland V-Drums mesh-head triggers resemble acoustic drums in both appearance and feel. The striking surface is a two-layer taut woven mesh of fibers fitted with several electronic sensors. This allows the mesh-head trigger to respond to the play of a drumstick in a manner that feels more like real drums than their earlier rubber predecessors. Roland developers have stated that the design of the mesh-head V-Pad was inspired in part by a small toy trampoline.[2]

In 1997, Roland developed and patented an updated version of mesh-head drum triggers, a key feature of the V-Drums line. As such, the name "V-Drums" sometimes refers specifically to Roland's mesh-head based drum triggers. The company began marketing the mesh-head triggers under the "V-Drums" name in 1997, in conjunction with the TD-10 drum module.[3]

Most Roland mesh-head V-Drums have a playable rim which have their own electronic sensors (and corresponding sounds) - exceptions being the PD-100, PD-80, and mesh head drums on the HD series of kits, which only have a single head sensor. V-Drums and other electronic drum products have taken substantial market share from acoustic drums[4][5] due to advances in electronic drum technology that have improved the value proposition of electronic drums over acoustic.[6] Electronic drum kits, especially mesh-head based ones, make significantly less ambient noise than acoustic drum kits[7] and mesh heads provide a playing feel more similar to acoustic drums than non-mesh electronic pads (typically rubber).[1]

Mesh heads used in V-Drums kits today are made by the American drumhead company Remo.[8]

List of Roland drum and cymbal pads
Pad Name Type Years

Available

Diameter Zones/

Channels

Trigger Positional

Sensing

Colors Notes
Head/Bow Rim/Edge Bell
BT-1

In Production

Bar-shaped Rubber Pad 2013- – 1 (Mono) Piezo – – No Black/Gray Needs to be connected to a stereo input, despite being a mono pad
CY-5

In Production

Cymbal Pad (fixed) 2006- 10 Inches 2 (Stereo) Piezo Switch – No Black, White No edge trigger on pads that shipped with the HD-1
CY-6 Cymbal Pad (fixed) 2001–2003 12 Inches 2 (Stereo) Piezo Switch – No Black
CY-8

In Production

Cymbal Pad (fixed) 2003- 12 Inches 2 (Stereo) Piezo Switch – No Black
CY-12C

In Production

Cymbal Pad (movable) 2011- 12 Inches 2 (Stereo) Piezo Switch – No Black
CY-12H Hi-Hat Cymbal Pad (fixed) 2000–2004 12 Inches 2 (Stereo) Piezo Switch – No Black
CY-12R/C

In Production

Cymbal Pad (movable) 2001- 12 Inches 3 (Three-way) Piezo Switch Switch Yes Black
CY-13R

In Production

Cymbal Pad (movable) 2011- 13 Inches 3 (Three-way) Piezo Switch Switch Limited

(TD-50, TD-30, and TD-25 only)

Black
CY-14C

In Production

Cymbal Pad (movable) 2000- 14 Inches 2 (Stereo) Piezo Switch – No Black, Silver, Metallic Gray
CY-14C-T

In Production

Cymbal Pad (movable) 2020- 14 Inches 2 (Stereo) Piezo Switch – No Black Thinner version of CY-14C
CY-14R-T

In Production

Cymbal Pad (movable) 2022- 14 Inches 3 (Three-way) Piezo Switch Switch Limited

(TD-50, TD-30, and TD-25 only)

Black
CY-15R

In Production

Cymbal Pad (movable) 2000- 15 Inches 3 (Three-way) Piezo Switch Switch Yes Black, Silver, Metallic Gray
CY-16R-T

In Production

Cymbal Pad (movable) 2020- 16 Inches 3 (Three-way) Piezo Switch Switch Yes Black Thinner, larger version of CY-15R
CY-18DR

In Production

Digital Cymbal Pad (movable) 2016- 18 Inches 3 (Digital) Digital Yes Black
KD-5 Kick Drum Pad 1994-199? 2 Inches 1 (Mono) Piezo – – No Black
KD-7

In Production

Kick Drum Pad 1992- 2 Inches 1 (Mono) Piezo – – No Black Piezo polarity can be switched
KD-8 Rubber Kick Drum Pad 2003–2011 5 Inches 1 (Mono) Piezo – – No Black No dynamics when connected to HD-1
KD-9 Cloth-head Kick Drum Pad 2011-2020 6 Inches 1 (Mono) Piezo – – No Black
KD-10

In Production

Cloth-head Kick Drum Pad 2018- 6 Inches 1 (Mono) Piezo – – No Black
KD-80 Mesh-head Kick Drum Pad 1999–2003 8 Inches 1 (Mono) Piezo – – No Black, White
KD-85

In Production

Mesh-head Kick Drum Pad 2003- 8 Inches 1 (Mono) Piezo – – No Black, White
KD-120 Mesh-head Kick Drum Pad 1998-2021 12 Inches 1 (Mono) Piezo – – No Black, White, (Red), (Purple)
KD-140

In Production

Mesh-head Kick Drum Pad 2008- 14 Inches 1 (Mono) Piezo – – No Silver, Black Chrome
KD-180

In Production

Mesh-head Kick Drum Pad 2018- 18 Inches 1 (Mono) Piezo – – No Black
KD-220

In Production

Mesh-head Kick Drum Pad 2018- 22 Inches 1 (Mono) Piezo – – No Black
KD-A22

In Production

Acoustic Kick Drum Conversion Kit 2016- 22 Inches 1 (Mono) Piezo – – No Black
KT-9

In Production

Kick Trigger Pedal 2016- – 1 (Mono) Piezo – – No Black/Silver
KT-10

In Production

Kick Trigger Pedal 2014- – 1 (Mono) Piezo – – No Silver/Black
PD-5 Rubber Pad 1994-199? 8 Inches 1 (Mono) Piezo – – No Black
PD-6 Rubber Pad 2001–2003 8 Inches 1 (Mono) Piezo – – No White
PD-7 Rubber Pad 1992-???? 7 Inches 2 (Stereo) Piezo Switch – Yes White Piezo polarity can be switched
PD-8

In Production

Rubber Pad 2003- 8 Inches 2 (Stereo) Piezo Switch – Yes Black
PD-8A

In Production

Rubber Pad 2012- 8 Inches 1 (Mono) Piezo – – Yes Black Pad not available separately, ships with the TD-11K and TD-17K drum sets
PD-9 Rubber Pad 1994-???? 10 Inches 2 (Stereo) Piezo Switch – Yes White Piezo polarity can be switched
PD-80 Mesh-head Drum Pad 1999–2003 8 Inches 1 (Mono) Piezo – – Yes Black, White
PD-80R Mesh-head Drum Pad 1999–2003 8 Inches 2 (Stereo) Piezo Piezo – Yes Black, White
PD-85

In Production

Mesh-head Drum Pad 2003- 8 Inches 2 (Stereo) Piezo Piezo – Yes Black, White
PD-100 Mesh-head Drum Pad 1997–2003 10 Inches 1 (Mono) Piezo – – Yes Black, White, Red, Purple
PD-105

In Production

Mesh-head Drum Pad 2003- 10 Inches 2 (Stereo) Piezo Piezo – Yes Black, (White)
PD-105X Mesh-head Drum Pad 2008–2012 10 Inches 2 (Stereo) Piezo Piezo – Yes Silver Replaceable shell wraps
PD-108

In Production

Mesh-head Drum Pad 2012- 10 Inches 2 (Stereo) Piezo Piezo – Yes Black Chrome Replaceable shell wraps
PD-120 Mesh-head Drum Pad 1997–2003 12 Inches 2 (Stereo) Piezo Piezo – Yes Black, White, Red, Purple
PD-125

In Production

Mesh-head Drum Pad 2003- 12 Inches 2 (Stereo) Piezo Piezo – Yes Black, (White)
PD-125X Mesh-head Drum Pad 2008–2012 12 Inches 2 (Stereo) Piezo Piezo – Yes Silver Replaceable shell wraps; Also available as PD-125XS for snare stands (without rack mount)
PD-128

In Production

Mesh-head Drum Pad 2012- 12 Inches 2 (Stereo) Piezo Piezo – Yes Black Chrome Replaceable shell wraps; Also available as PD-128S for snare stands (without rack mount)
PD-140DS

In Production

Digital Mesh-head Drum Pad 2016- 14 Inches 2 (Digital) Digital – Yes Silver
PDX-6

In Production

Mesh-head Drum Pad 2006- 8 Inches

(6 inch head)

2 (Stereo) Piezo Piezo – No Black
PDX-8

In Production

Mesh-head Drum Pad 2006- 10 Inches

(8 inch head)

2 (Stereo) Piezo Piezo – No Black No rim trigger on pads that shipped with the HD-1
PDX-12

In Production

Mesh-head Drum Pad 2018- 12 Inches 2 (Stereo) Piezo Piezo – No Black
PDX-100

In Production

Mesh-head Drum Pad 2012- 10 Inches 2 (Stereo) Piezo Piezo – Yes Black
RT-3T Acoustic Tom-Tom Drum Trigger 2003–2006 – 1 (Mono) Piezo – – No Silver
RT-5S Acoustic Snare Drum Trigger 2003–2006 – 2 (Stereo) Piezo Piezo – No Silver
RT-7K Acoustic Kick Drum Trigger 2003–2006 – 1 (Mono) Piezo – – No Silver
RT-10K Acoustic Kick Drum Trigger 2006–2015 – 1 (Mono) Piezo – – No Black
RT-10S Acoustic Snare Drum Trigger 2006–2015 – 2 (Stereo) Piezo Piezo – No Black
RT-10T Acoustic Tom-Tom Drum Trigger 2006–2015 – 1 (Mono) Piezo – – No Black
RT-30H

In Production

Acoustic Drum Trigger 2015- – 1 (Mono) Piezo – – No Black
RT-30HR

In Production

Acoustic Drum Trigger 2015- – 2 (Stereo) Piezo Piezo – No Black
RT-30K

In Production

Acoustic Kick Drum Trigger 2015- – 1 (Mono) Piezo – – No Black
VH-10

In Production

Integrated Hi-Hat Cymbal Pad and Controller (movable) 2018- 12 Inches 2 (Stereo) Piezo Switch – No Black
VH-11

In Production

Integrated Hi-Hat Cymbal Pad and Controller (movable) 2005- 12 Inches 2 (Stereo) Piezo Switch – No Black Only limited support of controller part by some drum modules (see list of hi-hat controllers below)
VH-12 Integrated Hi-Hat Cymbal Pad and Controller (movable) 2004–2012 12 Inches 2 (Stereo) Piezo Switch – No Black, Silver Controller part only compatible with the TD-50, TD-30, TD-20 and TD-12 drum modules
VH-13

In Production

Integrated Hi-Hat Cymbal Pad and Controller (movable) 2012- 12 Inches 2 (Stereo) Piezo Switch – No Metallic Gray Controller part only compatible with the TD-50, TD-30, TD-20 and TD-12 drum modules
VH-14D

In Production

Digital Hi-Hat Cymbal Pad and Controller (movable) 2021- 14 Inches 2 (Digital) Digital –

Acoustic drum triggers

Roland also makes acoustic drum triggers, which can be mounted on the rims of standard acoustic drums to provide trigger signals from those drums, effectively turning them into trigger pads. The acoustic drumhead can either be left on the drum, to get the acoustic sound as well as a trigger signal, or the drumhead can be replaced with a mesh-head to lower ambient noise, if only the trigger signal is needed.

Cymbal pads

In the early 2000s, Roland moved away from using standard rubber pads as cymbal triggers and introduced new cymbal-shaped trigger pads with a rubber surface, which they call V-Cymbals.

The more expensive cymbal pads can swing freely after being hit (only rotation of the pad is prevented by a special cymbal mount), so they feel more like real cymbals, while the less expensive cymbal pads are not movable and always stay in their fixed position, thus feeling less realistic. Some of the movable pads also feature a third bell zone, which is triggered when hitting the bell area of the cymbal pad. These cymbal pads are called three-way cymbals because of their three trigger zones (bell, bow and edge).

Electronic hi-hats

Electronic hi-hats are always made up of two components: a trigger pad to detect hits, and a variable resistor-based hi-hat controller to detect the foot position, so the drum module can determine whether the hi-hat is supposed to be open or closed (or somewhere in between).

The simpler, less expensive solution uses a simple fixed V-Cymbal pad in combination with a separate foot pedal controller, which allows the drum module to replicate the sound of a hi-hat, but does not emulate the feel and scope of expressiveness of acoustic hi-hats.

The more expensive V-Hi-Hats integrate trigger pad and controller into a set of two opposing pieces, designed to be mounted on a conventional hi-hat stand. Because the hi-hat pad moves with the position of the pedal and can swing freely when the hi-hat is opened, this solution is more similar to a traditional acoustic hi-hat. The most complex and most expensive VH-13 V-Hi-Hat and the older VH-12 can also detect different amounts of foot pressure in the closed position, but they are only compatible with the TD-30 and the older TD-12 and TD-20 drum modules. The simpler VH-11 can be used with more modules, but it cannot sense foot pressure in the closed position.

Roland drum modules

Roland drum modules range in features and price from the top-of-the-line TD-50X to the TD-50, TD-27, TD-17, TD-07, and TD-1. Higher model numbers denote more advanced models, while lower numbers are used for less expensive ones.

Available drum modules

List of Roland Drum Modules
Drum Module Years
Available 		Drum
Kits 		Instruments Trigger Inputs Outputs[d] MIDI Voices
(Polyphony) 		Features/Notes
Drum Backing TOTAL MONO STEREO THREE-
WAY[b] 		DIGITAL Stereo
Pairs 		Single
Channel 		Positional Sensing Training features Other
mono/
mono[a] 		piezo/
switch 		piezo/
piezo
HD-1
Superseded by HD-3 		2007–2012 10 70 – 7
(+ Kick)		 7 – – – – – 1 – Out ? No Module not sold separately
HD-3   2012-2018 20 ? – 7
(+ Kick)		 3 – 3 1 – – 1 – Out ? No Module not sold separately
TD-1
In Production 		2014- 15 ? – 9 4 – 4 1 – – 1 & USB – USB ? No Coach modes Module not sold separately
TD-3
Superseded by TD-4 		2004–2009 32 114 – 9 4 – 4 1 – – 1 – In/out 32? No Coach modes  
TD-4
(Partially superseded by TD-11) 		2009-2012
2012-2016 		25 125 – 9 4 – 4[b] 1 –[b] – 1 – Out ? No Coach modes Module was briefly out of production in 2012,
TD-4KP cable only allows up to 8 pads
TD-5 1994–2001 32 210 – 8 – – 8 – – – 1 – In/out 14 No  
TD-6 TD-6
Superseded by TD-6V 		2001–2003 99 1024 262 9
(11[a])		 1 2 5 1 – – 1 – In/out 64 No  
TD-6V
Superseded by TD-9 		2003–2008 0–2[c] 5–7[c]
TD-7 1992–1999 32 256 (512) 9 – – 9 – – – 1 2 In/out 14 No  
TD-07
In Production 		2020- 25 143 10 4 – 5 1 1[b] – 1 & USB – USB,

Bluetooth

? No Coach modes One extra stereo input for a second crash or a three-zone ride.
TD-8
Superseded by TD-12 		1999–2005 64 1024 262 10
(12[a])		 – 2 7 1 – – 2 – In/out 64 Yes  
TD-9 TD-9
Updated to TD-9 v2.0 		2008–2011 50 522 ? 10 1 – 3 5 1[b] – 1 – In/out ? No Scope mode USB Port (for USB Memory)[f]
TD-9 v2.0
Superseded by TD-15 		2011–2012 99 552 TD-9 Firmware Update, also adds support for MP3 backing tracks
TD-10 TD-10
Updated with TDW-1 		1997–2000 50 600 54 12 – – 11 1 – – 4 – In/out 56 Yes Proprietary Memory Card Slot[e]
TD-10 with TDW-1
Superseded by TD-20 		2000–2004 100 960
TD-11
Superseded by TD-17 		2012–2018 50 190 – 9 1 – 3 4 1[b] – 1 & USB – Out,
USB[g] 		? No Coach modes Two USB ports: 1x PC (MIDI[g]/Audio) 1x Memory[f]
TD-12
Superseded by TD-30 		2005–2012 50 560 262 11 – – 4 6 1[b] – 1 2 In/out 64 Yes  
TD-15
Superseded by TD-25 		2012–2015 100 500 – 10 1 – 3 5 1[b] – 1 & USB – Out,
USB[g] 		? No Coach modes,

DT-1 Tutor interface

Two USB ports: 1x PC (MIDI[g]/Audio), 1x Memory[f]
TD-17
In Production 		2018- 50+50 310 – 10 1 – 3 5 1[b] – 1 & USB – Out,
USB[g] 		? No SD Card Slot,
can trigger WAV samples,
available as TD-17 with Bluetooth or TD-17-L without Bluetooth
TD-20 TD-20
Updated with TDW-20 /
Superseded by TD-20X 		2004–2008 50 560 262 15 – – 6[b] 9 1[b] – 3 4 In/out 64 Yes CompactFlash Slot[e]
TD-20 with TDW-20
or TD-20X
Superseded by TD-30 		2008–2012 100 920
TD-25
Superseded by TD-27 		2015–2020 18+18 233 – 10 1 – 3 5 1[b] – 1 & USB – Out,
USB[g] 		? Yes "Time Check" from Coach mode Two USB ports: 1x PC (MIDI[g]/Audio), 1x Memory[f]
TD-27
In Production 		2020- 100 728 – 12 1 – 3 7 1[b] 3[i] 2 & USB & Bluetooth – In/out,
USB[g],
Bluetooth 		? Yes Coach Modes USB port (MIDI[g]/Audio), SD Card Slot, can trigger WAV samples
TD-30
Superseded by TD-50 		2012–2016 100 1100 262 15 – – 6[b] 9 1[b] – 3 & USB 4 In/out,
USB[g] 		64 Yes Two USB ports: 1x PC (MIDI[g]/Audio), 1x Memory[f]
TD-50
In Production 		2016- 100

(55+45)

422 – 14 1 – 3 9 1[b] 3[i] 4 & USB 4 In/out,
USB[g] 		? Yes Coach modes SD Card Slot
TD-50X
In Production 		2021- 100

(70+30)

961 – 14 1 – 3 9 1[b] 3[i] 4 & USB 4 In/out,
USB[g] 		? Yes Coach modes SD Card Slot
TM-2
In Production 		2014- 99 >100 – 2
(4[h])		 – – – 2[h] _ – 1 – In/out ? No SD Card Slot,
Can trigger WAV samples
TM-6 Pro 2018 0 external audio songs 6 6 -- - 1 4 In/out ? No SD Card Slot, can trigger WAV samples and play back song Audio (WAV/MP3)
TMC-6
Discontinued 		2002–2015 – – 6 – – 5[b] 1 –[b] – – – Out – No Trigger-to-MIDI converter
^ a Two Mono pads can be connected to Mono/Mono inputs by using an insert cable (Tom2/Aux and Tom3/4 inputs on the TD-6, Kick1/2 and Aux1/2 inputs on the TD-8).
^ b Three-way (piezo/switch/switch) inputs can be used to connect a three-way cymbal like the CY-12R/C, CY-13R or CY-15R, or one non-three-way pad. On the TD-4, TD-10 with TDW-1, TD-20, TD-30 and TMC-6, three-way cymbals can be connected using two designated Piezo/Switch inputs. Connecting them to any two stereo inputs on any module works with some limitations and is not officially supported.
^ c On The TD-6V, two stereo inputs (Tom2/Aux and Tom3/4) can be configured to be either mono/mono inputs or piezo/switch inputs.
^ d Outputs excluding the headphone jack.
^ e Memory card slots can only be used to store module settings.
^ f USB Memory can only be used for wav/mp3 backing tracks, recording to MIDI files and to store module settings. The TD-9 writes proprietary MIDI files and the TD-9 v1.x only supports WAV backing tracks.
^ g MIDI In/out is available through USB.
^ h On the TM-2, the inputs can also be configured to be mono/mono inputs, allowing up to two pads per input by using an insert cable.
^ i Enabling a digital trigger input disables an analog trigger input.

Availability Timeline

References

  1. ^ a b "Rubber Pads vs. Mesh Drum Heads - Which are Better?". Andertons Blog. 24 August 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  2. ^ Roland Drums & Percussion Resource Guide, rolandus.com
  3. ^ V-Drums History: How Roland Became the Biggest Drum Company in the World, Roland Users Group
  4. ^ "Electronic drums retail sales value US 2020". Statista. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Drumsets retail sales value US 2020". Statista. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  6. ^ "The History of Electronic Drum Sets - 1960s to the 2020s". Electronic Drum Advisor. 18 November 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Electronic Drums vs Acoustic Drums - Drumming Basics". www.drummingbasics.com. 6 February 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Roland V-drum Replacement Heads". Retrieved 15 March 2022.

External links

  • v
  • t
  • e
Synthesizers
Electronic drums
Keytars
Grooveboxes
Samplers
Workstations
Sequencers
MIDI interfaces
Modules
Software
Amplifiers
Effects units
Organs
Boss effects
Founder
Other