Drummers love expanding and customizing their acoustic and V-Drums kits. Upgrading V-Drums is easy too as you’ll see in this helpful guide.
Customization helps to reflect a drummers personality, as well as assisting them to fit into any musical situation.
Already well known for their huge possibilities for great sounds and playability, Roland’s V-Drums are also capable of some fantastic customizing.
Apart from making sure you have the latest software updates for your instrument, there are many ways of adding new possibilities and excitement to your drumming and your sound.
Let’s look at the expansion options for the current range of V-Drums instruments.
Contributed by Simon Ayton for the Roland Australia Blog
Monitoring
Before we start on all the things you can add to your kit, you need to be able to hear it first!
To enjoy playing electronic percussion, some form of monitoring system is required.
For a great experience, it’s critical to choose a monitoring system designed specifically for electronic drumming.
Amplifiers designed for electronic drums are able to reproduce mono and stereo instruments and have the power and durable, efficient speakers to push air and reproduce the huge dynamic and frequency range of drums and the music drummers play to.
Roland has been designing speakers and amplifiers for musicians in mind for decades and has several models to suit any style and player.
In conjunction with headphone specialists V-Moda, Roland has designed the world’s first headphones especially made for electronic drummers. Long cable, ear covering dual drivers, holder clip and with low impedance and EQ to give drums the power and presence drummers love.
Headphones
Amplifiers
Expanding the SPD-SX PRO Sampling Pad
Trigger inputs: 4x Head and Rim triggers (Dual zone) or splittable using an insert cable
Trigger compatibility: All except PD-140DS, CY-18DR, VH12/VH13, VH-14D
Typical Add-ons:
PDS-20: Stand
VH-10: V-Drums Hi-Hat
FD-9: Controlling HH open and close or switching layers
RT-30K: Triggering an acoustic kick drum
RT-30HR: Triggering an acoustic snare drum or tom
BT-1: Externally triggering samples or loops
KT-10: For triggering a sound
FS-6: Dual foot-switch for changing kits, triggering sounds or controlling parameters
FC-300: Foot Controller
EV-5: Expression Pedal
Expanding the SPD-SX Special Edition Sampling Pad
Trigger inputs: 2x Head and Rim triggers (Dual zone) or splittable using an insert cable
Trigger compatibility: All except PD-140DS, CY-18DR, VH12/VH13 & HH controllers, VH-14D
Typical Add-ons:
PDS-20: Stand
RT-30K: Triggering an acoustic kick drum
BT-1: Externally triggering samples or loops
KT-10: For triggering a sound
FS-6: Dual footswitch for changing kits, triggering sounds or controlling parameters
FC-300: Foot Controller
Related Articles:
EXPANDING THE POSSIBILITIES WITH YOUR SPD-SX
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE SPD-SX SAMPLE PAD
HOW TO ADD SAMPLES TO YOUR V-DRUMS
ROLAND SPD-SX SAMPLING PAD VS ROLAND OCTAPAD SPD-30
Expanding the OCTAPAD SPD-20PRO Percussion Controller
Trigger inputs: 4x Head and Rim triggers (Dual Zone) or splittable using an insert cable. HHC input (hi-hat control)
Trigger compatibility: All except PD-140DS, CY-18DR & VH12/VH13, VH-14D
Typical Add-ons:
PDS-20: Stand
KT-10: For triggering a kick drum
KD-7: Kick trigger
FD-9: Controlling HH open and close or switching layers
CY-12C-T: Crash cymbal
CY-5: Small crash or Hi-Hat
Expanding the OCTAPAD SPD-30 Percussion Controller
Trigger inputs: 4x Head and Rim triggers (Dual Zone) or splittable using an insert cable. HHC input (hi-hat control).
Trigger compatibility: All except PD-140DS, CY-18DR & VH12/VH13, VH-14D
Typical Add-ons:
PDS-20: Stand
KT-10: For triggering a kick drum
KD-7: Kick trigger
FD-9: Controlling HH open and close or switching layers
CY-12C: Crash cymbal
CY-5: Small crash or Hi-Hat
Related Article:
ROLAND SPD-SX SAMPLING PAD VS ROLAND OCTAPAD SPD-30
Expanding the TM-1 Trigger Module
Trigger inputs: 1x Head and Rim trigger (Dual Zone) or splittable using an insert cable (HOSA STP-204RR)
Trigger compatibility: All except PD-140DS, CY-18DR, VH12/VH13 & HH controllers, VH-14D
Typical Add-ons:
RT-30K: Triggering an acoustic kick drum
RT-30HR: Triggering an acoustic snare drum or tom
BT-1: Externally triggering samples or loops
FREE TM-1 samples available from Roland artist Chris Whitten through CP Samples Expanding the TM-2 Trigger Module
Trigger inputs: 2x Head and Rim triggers (Dual Zone) or splittable using an insert cable (HOSA STP-204RR)
Trigger compatibility: All except PD-140DS, CY-18DR, VH12/VH13 & HH controllers, VH-14D
Typical Add-ons:
PDS-20: Stand
RT-30K: Triggering an acoustic kick drum
RT-30HR: Triggering an acoustic snare drum or tom
Expanding the TM-6 PRO Trigger Module
Trigger inputs: 6x Head and Rim triggers (Dual Zone) or splittable using an insert cable (HOSA STP-204RR)
Trigger compatibility: All except PD-140DS, CY-18DR, VH-14D
Typical Add-ons:
PDS-20: Stand
RT-30K: Triggering an acoustic kick drum
RT-30HR: Triggering an acoustic snare drum or tom
KD-10: Kick trigger
FD-9: Controlling HH open and close or switching layers
CY-14C-T or CY-16R-T & MDY-STD or MDY-12: Crash cymbal & mount
BT-1: Externally triggering samples or loops
Additional TM-6PRO samples available from Roland artist Chris Whitten through CP Samples Expanding the TD-1K/KV V-Drums
Expanding the TD-02 Series V-Drums Kits
Additional Trigger inputs: 1x CRASH2 input
Trigger compatibility: All except digital trigger: PD-140DS, CY-18DR, VH12/VH13/VH14D
Typical Add-ons:
OP-TD1C: Additional Crash
KD-10: Upright, double kick compatible trigger. Mechanical kick pedal(s) required. Available separately (Swap with supplied silent kick pedal)
CY-13R: 3 way edge, bow, bell Ride (SWAP with current ride. Uses the CRASH2 as the bell control)
Expanding the TD-17KL/KV/KVX V-Drums
Trigger inputs: 2x additional dual head & rim (1x KVX)
Trigger compatibility: All except PD-140DS, CY-18DR, VH12/VH13
Typical Add-ons:
CY-12C-T or CY-16R-T & MDY-STD or MDY-12: Crash cymbal & mount
PDX-100 & MDH-STD or MDH-12: 10″ Mesh head trigger pad
TDM-10: Mat
Expanding the TD-25K/KV/KVX V-Drums
Trigger inputs: 2x additional dual head & rim on TD-25K, 1x additional dual head & rim on TD-25KV/KVX
Trigger compatibility: All except PD-140DS, CY-18DR, VH12/VH13
Typical Add-ons:
TDM-20: Mat
CY-14C-T or CY-16R-T & MDY-STD or MDY-12: Crash cymbal & mount
PDX-100 & MDH-STD or MDH-12: Extra tom pad & mount
Expanding the TD-27KV/KV2
Trigger inputs: 3x additional dual head & rim AUX1-3
(1 additional Digital Trigger in on the TD-27KV for digital HH etc)
Trigger compatibility: All
Typical Add-ons:
VH-14D 14″ digital hi-hat (TD-27KV)
TDM-20: Mat
KD-180 or KD-220 18″ or 22″ Kick Triggers
CY-14C-T or CY-16R-T & MDY-STD or MDY-12: Crash cymbal & mount
PDX-100 & MDH-STD or MDH-12: Extra tom pad & mount
Related Articles:
HOW TO ADD SAMPLES TO YOUR V-DRUMS
SUPERCHARGE YOUR DRUMMING WITH A HYBRID KIT
Expanding the VAD716 V-Drums
Trigger inputs: 4x additional dual head & rim
Trigger compatibility: All
Typical Add-ons:
TDM-20: Mat
KD-22: Additional 22″ Maple kick drum with integrated trigger (K/KV)
PDA-140F Additional 14″ Floor Tom
Additional crash CY-14C-T or CY-16R-T & DBS-10 Cymbal boom stand
MDS-STAGE2 Rack System
Expanding the VAD-706 V-Drums
Trigger inputs: 4x additional dual head & rim
Trigger compatibility: All
Typical Add-ons:
TDM-20: Mat
KD-22: Additional 22″ Maple kick drum with integrated trigger (K/KV)
PDA-140F Additional 14″ Floor Tom
Additional crash CY-14C-T or CY-16R-T & DBS-10 Cymbal boom stand
MDS-STAGE2 Rack System
Expanding the TD716 & TD713
Trigger inputs: 4x additional dual head & rim
Trigger compatibility: All
Typical Add-ons:
PM-200: Drum Amplifier
TDM-20: Mat
KD-18-BK: 22″ Maple kick drum with integrated trigger (K/KV)
SPD-SX: Sampling pad
BT-1: Externally triggering samples or loops
CY-14C-T or CY-16R-T & MDY-STD or MDY-STG or MDY-25: 14” Crash & mount
Related Article:
SUPERCHARGE YOUR DRUMMING WITH A HYBRID KIT
Expanding the TD-50K/KV/KVX & K2/KV2 V-Drums
Trigger inputs: 4x additional dual head & rim
Trigger compatibility: All
Typical Add-ons:
VH-14D 14″ digital hi-hat
TDM-20: Mat
KD-220: 22″ Maple kick drum with integrated trigger (K/KV)
SPD-SX: Sampling pad
BT-1: Externally triggering samples or loops
CY-14C-T or CY-16R-T & MDY-STD or MDY-STG or MDY-25: 14” Crash & mount
Related Article:
SUPERCHARGE YOUR DRUMMING WITH A HYBRID KIT
Expanding the V-Drum Acoustic Design 1, 3 and 5 series Kits
Trigger inputs: 1x Tom2 head & rim input
Trigger compatibility: All except PD-140DS, CY-18DR, VH12/VH13
Typical Add-ons:
PDA100L-BK 10″ Tom
OR
PDA120L-BK 12″ Tom
DCS-10 Combo Tom & Cymbal stand
TDM-20: Mat
CY-16R-T Upgrade to 16″ crash/replace the standard 12″ crash
MDS-GRAND2 Rack System
Trigger inputs: 1x additional dual head & rim
Trigger compatibility: All except PD-140DS, CY-18DR, VH12/VH13
Typical Add-ons:
TDM-20: Mat
CY-12C-T or CY-16R-T
DBS-10 Cymbal Boom Stand
MDS-GRAND2 Rack System
Trigger inputs: 3x additional dual head & rim AUX1-3
Trigger compatibility: All
Typical Add-ons:
VH-14D 14″ digital hi-hat (VAD503)
TDM-20: Mat
PDA-120-MS 12″ Tom and clamp stand
DCS-10 Combination Stand and clamp
DBS-10 Cymbal Boom Stand
CY-14C-T or CY-16R-T 14″ Crash or 16″ Crash/Ride
MDS-GRAND2 Rack System
Trigger inputs: 3x additional dual head & rim AUX1-3
Trigger compatibility: All
Typical Add-ons:
VH-14D 14″ digital hi-hat (VAD506)
TDM-20: Mat
PDA-140F-MS 14″ Floor Tom
KD-200 20″ Kick Trigger
DBS-10 Cymbal Boom Stand
CY-14C-T or CY-16R-T 14″ Crash or 16″ Crash/Ride
MDS-GRAND2 Rack System
Upgrading your V-Drums kit
Exchanging your V-Drums module for a higher level model is the most effective way to boost functionality, playability and enjoyment.
Thanks to compatibility between components in the V-Drums range, it is easy to upgrade your kit to a newer model by simply replacing the sound module.
Modules and components are available separately, so simply choose the upgrade path that suits you. Here are some typical upgrades.
1. TD-12 | TD-20 | TD-30 | TD-27 | TD-50=> TD-50X | TD-50/X=>V71
V71 Module or TD-50X upgrade for the TD-50
2. TD-9K/KV | TD-11K/KV | TD-15K/KV => TD-17 or TD-27
TD-17 Module or TD-27 Module + CY-16R-T Ride
3. TD-4K/KV => TD-17
TD-17 Module + CY13R Ride + PDX-12 Mesh Snare Pad
4. TD-1K/KV
PDX-8 Mesh Snare Pad
(L-Rod needed from Roland spares-Contact your dealer)
5. TD-25=> TD-27
TD-27 Module + PD-140-DS Digital Snare + CY-18-DR Digital ride + VH-14D 14″ Digital hi-hat
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