Roland TD-4 to MIDI?

[SeanHart213]

I was wondering what would happen if I connected my TD-4 kit to my DAW (Presonus Studio One) and added it as an instrument device.

Would playing the kit make MIDI notes appear on my DAW? And would these MIDI notes need a plug-in instrument VSTi or would they just make the sounds from the Roland module? I have a feeling that I need to use the kit as a MIDI controller to record the MIDI notes, then send these notes to the kit as if the module were a plug-in.

I don't have any plug-ins for drums, such as EZDrummer, they're way too expensive and I'm working on a cheap Dell PC. So I'm hoping that I can use the sounds on the Roland. I want to be able to quantize the performance as well as mix each drum and cymbal on its own track.

A breif tutorial would be helpful, I haven't been able to dig up anything on youtube as far as recording goes with E-Kits.

*EDIT: I DON'T have a MIDI interface to test this out, I am going to buy one only if I can use the Roland Module as a plug-in for my MIDI like EZDrummer

[tacman7]

I looked at a td-4 at MF, kind of weird, it calls itself a midi module but it doesn't look like it has midi in, only midi out.

So you plug all your drum triggers into it?

If so you could record all your drumming but you would need something else to make sound for what you recorded. Get a decent new or used midi interface, not a $10 cable one.
You can use a free program like proteus at emu.com for your drums until you can get EZ or addictive drums.

[SeanHart213]

Originally Posted by tacman7

I looked at a td-4 at MF, kind of weird, it calls itself a midi module but it doesn't look like it has midi in, only midi out.

So you plug all your drum triggers into it?

If so you could record all your drumming but you would need something else to make sound for what you recorded. Get a decent new or used midi interface, not a $10 cable one.
You can use a free program like proteus at emu.com for your drums until you can get EZ or addictive drums.

Actually, I'm using the TD-4 kit itself, the pads. I don't own a real drum set to record yet.

But since its only MIDI out, I guess I do need to use a plug-in, which is fine because software drums sound better than the module. I just ordered Addictive Drums on musiciansfriend it looks very promising and is compatible with my ram.

I'm not concerned with using a $10 MIDI cable, in fact I'm borrowing an EMU MIDI to USB one from a friend. It works well with my Boss BR recorder (using it as a control surface)

I guess I will be using the AD sounds, the only thing I'm worried about now is if my triggers will respond correctly with the software. I've heard that some people have issues with this ie: snare pad triggers a cymbal sound, rim shots won't work, etc.

I'll have to post again after my Addictive Drummer software arrives

[tacman7]

I didn't see what DAW your using but you can make a drum map that will map any incoming pitch to whatever you want it to be so if it's triggering the wrong thing just change it to the one you want. That's in cubase but they all have something like that.

Yes I really like AD. I use my hardware synths a lot of the time but every once in a while I'm taken aback by how good the AD drums sound for a certain part. You can really tweak them also. Make custom sets.

They don't match up real great with GM drum files but with a little editing they're good to go.