V-Drums

We never thought that we’d live to see “MIDI-Controlled”, “Fire” and “Cannon” go together in one nice, juicy Synthopia headline, but there you go.

Absolute proof that there’s still reason to wake up in the morning.

This video captures a demonstration of Rob Darman’s completely mental MIDI-controlled Fire Cannon.  The cannons are controlled by MIDI notes being sent from Steven Asaro’s Roland V-Drums. Notes are decoded using an MSA-T MIDI Decoder.

You play the drums, fire shoots out the cannon.

Anybody else want to see this beast do battle against MIDI-Controlled Tesla Coils?
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2008 Summer NAMM Show: Roland announced the TDW-20 Expansion Board for the V-Drums TD-20 Percussion Sound Module.

Description:

This add-on lets drummers extend the power of their V-Drums with wider dynamics, new sounds, new ambience effects, enhanced V-Editing, and improved functionality.

The TDW-20 Expansion Board can be user-installed easily, adding hundreds of new drum and percussion instruments. The TDW-20 also features improved expressiveness and dynamics, additional ambience effects to create customizable drum sounds, advanced COSM editing features and a new and improved operating system.

NAMM Update: Roland introduced it new V-Drums V-Tour Series TD-9S/TD-9SX.

They should give Roland some sort of record for having the worst name ever for a piece of cool gear.

I’m not sure if it’s the V-Tour part – which makes it sort of sound like you’d use these to play drums in Second Life, or if it’s the TD-9S/TD-9SX part – which sounds sort of like they might be C3PO’s robo-girlfriends.

Description: 

The TD-9 is the anchor of Roland’s new Mid-line V-Drums kits. With hundreds of new sounds, real-audio songs & patterns onboard, plus new practice function of Scope & Quick Rec/Play built-in even with V-Hi-Hat (VH-11) full compatibility and 3-way ride triggering available, and a Scope Mode skill builder built-in, the TD-9 raises the bar in its price range.

Outfitted with a large, backlit display with accompanying oversized buttons and controls, the TD-9’s icon-based interface makes editing sounds and customizing kits, fast and fun.

Drummers can play along with real-audio backing songs to build their own musical experience base. They can also use the USB port to import audio files (.wav) of their choice. “Quick Record” and “Quick Play” features allow drummers to immediately record and play back solo drum parts, or drum parts performed with the backing songs.

The new MDS-9 drum rack offers a sturdy four-leg design with new, improved ball-joint mount for snare & cymbals, and angle-adjustable hi-hat arms, for fast, and flexible component placement.

The CYM-10 Cymbal Mount optional package includes three essential components as spare parts for V-Drums owners: Stopper, Felt Washer, and Wing Nut for V-Cymbal. Compatible products include all Roland CY series used in TD-20/-12/-9/-6/-3 series drum kits, that is, V-Cymbals: CY-15R (ride), CY-14C (crash), CY-12R/C (ride/crash) and dual-trigger cymbal pads: CY-8/-5