Welcome to the drummer's guide to the Roland TD-27 V-Drums!
Use this TD-27 Comprehensive Drummer’s Guide as a goto resource of practical how-to’s.
In the following TD-27 Comprehensive Drummer’s Guide, we will go from setup through expanding and on to how to use the kit’s features to improve your drumming in a clear and simple way.
Contributed by Simon Ayton for the Roland Australia Blog
In this TD-27 Comprehensive Drummer’s Guide we’ll:
- Setup the TD-27
- Configure the TD-27
- Customize and expand the TD-27
- Use the TD-27 features to improve your drumming
- Record the TD-27
The Key to a Smooth TD-27 Setup
Setting up the TD-27 takes around 45 minutes from unpacking to playing.
See more detail on setting up here!
Setup V-Drums left or right-handed. Choose your preference.
Whilst referring to the manual, clear a space and unpack all the items checking them off as you go.
if you are setting up your kit on hard floors, see the optional Roland TDM series drum mats here that have a grippy surface with padded bottom to reduce vibrations.
To further reduce vibration to other rooms or apartments, there are the noise eater products which de-couple mechanical vibration and significantly reduce transmission between the hardware and floor.
Start by building the V-Drums rack then attach the pads and cymbals.
Once the rack and pads are in place, connect the module and run the cable loom.
Finally, connect your drum hardware including hi-hat stand, pedals and stool. If you don’t have these optional items yet, see the Roland options here.
TIP: Don’t discard any V-Drums boxes until you are sure you have all the parts needed!
CONFIGURING THE TD-27 MODULE
The same TD-27 module comes with several kit configurations so the module is pre-configured to match each particular trigger combination.
Make sure your trigger settings for the TD-27 match your actual kit configuration.
See the detailed steps for configuring the TD-27 module here.
CALIBRATING THE HI-HAT – VH OFFSET ADJUSTMENT
The free-standing VH-10 hi-hat shipped with the TD-27KV kit has a manual open/close adjustment on top which needs calibrating before use.
V-Drums hi-hat offset adjustment is critical so that the module is aware of your hi-hat foot position.
If this adjustment is not performed, you will have a hi-hat that either sounds too closed or open which will be difficult to play with.
See the detailed steps to calibrate the V-Drums hi-hat here.
CHOOSING THE BEST TRIGGER SETTINGS
Most people are happy to just switch on the TD-27 module and play with the standard factory settings.
Stock settings are carefully chosen to suit a wide range of players.
The TD-27 is completely configurable to suit any player and music style.
Dive in a little deeper once you’re comfortable to take your playing experience to a new level.
This guide has a detailed section on all the things you can do to tweak the way the TD-27 plays so dive in here.
PLAY ALONG TO YOUR FAVOURITE MUSIC WIRELESSLY WITH BLUETOOTH AUDIO
The Bluetooth audio/MIDI streaming feature of the TD-27 is designed for fun and effective drumming sessions.
You can even stream audio and MIDI to GarageBand on iOS for wireless interactive recording and learning.
For a really fun and rewarding practice session, connect your smartphone directly to the TD-27 module and stream audio through the TD-27 audio outputs and headphones directly.
There’s a dock built-in to the top of the TD-27 module and you can even record the incoming Bluetooth stream along with your playing.
See the details on using this cool feature here which is the same as with the TD-17 module.
TD-27 COACHING FUNCTIONS
Though it can be confronting at first, getting continual and accurate feedback on your playing is the most effective way of improving your drumming.
The TD-27 has extensive coaching functions built-in which helps you to identify your weaknesses and tackle them head-on in a fun and rewarding way.
Coaching modes are a button press away and range from realtime TIME CHECK to WARM UPS and QUIET COUNT.
Each of these coaching functions is specifically designed to help you refine your technique and develop your internal clock. Two things are great drummers have in common.
Good technique allows you to comfortably play what you want as you feel it without limitation.
Building a strong sense of internal clock allows you to keep a steady and dependable beat for fellow musicians to follow. They are listening to you!
See the details here.
USING WAV SAMPLES WITH THE TD-27
User WAV files open a completely custom route for your playing and sound.
Create or record anything you want and trigger it directly from the kit.
Follow the link here to an in-depth guide to preparing WAV samples for the TD-27 and checkout the fun example below.
CREATING YOUR OWN TD-27 KITS
Creating your own kits on the TD-27 is easy and expected!
See 4 fun things you can do with V-Drums here.
The TD-27 sound engine is loaded with sounds arranged into kit patches for quick selection.
Each kit has its own sound assignments for each pad trigger zone along with any effects or special playing features you can choose.
Trigger zones have two instrument layers main and sub that can be mixed, cross-faded or switched.
Snare head & rim for example each have their own uniquely tuned and muffled sounds.
For a great playing experience, assign a hi-hat sound to any trigger zone and control it from the hi-hat pedal.
User WAV samples can be imported, tuned and adjusted and assigned to trigger zones too and even combined with the internal factory sounds.
To explore the incredible TD-27 kit creation possibilities, see the detailed info here
USING EFFECTS WITH THE TD-27
The TD-27 features the same powerful effects engine as the flagship TD-50.
You can use effects to simulate famous drum sounds or create entirely new sounding kits that are fun and engaging.
The TD-27 sound engine features 3 multi-effects engines as well as ambience, room and overhead simulators.
“Use the TD-27 effects engines to simulate spaces or create completely new playing experiences.”
To explore the incredible TD-27 kit effects possibilities, see the detailed info here
USING THE TRANSIENT EDITOR
There’s a unique transient shaping tool in the TD-27 derived from the TD-50 sound engine.
To modify the attack and release of sounds, the transient editor goes way beyond eq and compression and is used to adjust the shape of sounds so they cut through the mix.
Unlike compression that is a time based effect, the transient editor effects every single hit no matter how fast you play so it’s like a microscope for your sound.
“With the TD-27 transient editor, shape sounds to a degree that’s impossible with conventional EQ and compression.”
See how to use the transient editor here
HOW TO USE EQ AND COMPRESSION WITH THE TD-27
EQ and compression are two of the most frequently used creative tools in sound production.
There are many types of EQ and compression effects available in the TD-27 and learning how to use them best is a creative and hands-on experience.
There are no rules just starting points and tips you can use to find your favourite sound.
How EQ’s and compressors work is explained in detail below.
“All famous drum sounds have something unique and interesting about the EQ and compression used”
To explore the incredible TD-27 kit effects possibilities, see the detailed info here
ADDITIONAL TD-27 FEATURES & FUNCTIONS
A song player function is built in to the TD-27 to allow MP3 and WAV files to be played directly from an SD Card.
The song player has a loop function allowing you to repeat any section of music again and again until you perfect it.
If the song you are learning is too fast, use the realtime speed control to slow down the tempo of the audio and slowly build back up to original speed as your skill improves.
See all the details on the additional TD-27 features here.
EXPANDING THE TD-27
Each TD-27 model is easily expanded via the three AUX inputs and the three digital trigger inputs.
Add extra triggers such as an additional crash or floor tom or even another side snare.
There are a huge range of compatible triggers for the TD-27 including bar triggers, acoustic triggers, cymbals and pads. Each trigger comes with its own cable to get going quickly.
Each of these additional triggers can have its own sound or two if it’s a dual trigger which can be different for each and every kit patch.
Expand the TD-27 here.
Download the TD-27 user manual here.
RECORDING THE TD-27
Record the TD-27’s audio and MIDI using one USB cable.
Long gone are the days of drummers having to take their drums somewhere else to record!
The TD-27 streams 28 channels of pure digital audio along with MIDI via a single UBS cable for a complete recording experience you can create at home.
download the latest driver here and set the module to “Vendor” to use it’s full functionality.
For the complete ins and outs including an explanation on MIDI, see the article on recording the TD-27 here.
To understand the difference between MIDI and audio, this article is made for you.
Drum performances made from V-Drums are heard every day across every music genre without you even knowing.
Audio and MIDi are recorded digitally in one pass via USB with standard DAW software such as Ableton Live, Apple Logic Pro or any other recording software
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