Roland V-Drums 3 and 5 Series – Better Kits, Clearer Message
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Roland introduce the V-Drums 3 and 5 Series kits based around new modules derived from the stunning V71, and in doing so, simplify their offering.
Trying to get your head around all the different Roland V-Drums models was always a bit confusing. TD this, VAD that, numbers all over the place that seemed to only make sense to Roland employees. Now, Roland have made things easier to understand and, at the same time, made them much better too!
When I reviewed the stunning TD716 kit, Roland had definitely taken e-Drums to a new level of precision, playability and performance, if you’ll excuse the alliteration. The new digital pads were incredibly accurate and displayed levels of sensitivity once only associated with acoustic drums.
The New Roland V-Drums 3 and 5 Series
And the V71 module was, in my opinion, the first Roland module to sound as good as the top drum plugins. So it stands to reason that this had to filter down into the rest of the product line. The new 5 and 3 Series offer a simplified range, easily distinguished from each other and all sporting new modules derived from the V71.
Each range now has three distinct kits: the VADx16, the TDx16 and the TDx13, where x denotes the series number. Typically, VAD kits are Acoustic Designs with proper shells for better stage presence, TDx16 kits feature traditional pads with a full-size snare, and the TDx13 is the entry-level kit with traditional pads all round.
New V51 and V31 Modules
The key difference between each series is the module. Following on from the excellent V71, we now have the V51 for the 5 Series and the V31 for the 3 Series. Whilst each version comes with fewer features and capabilities, they still sport a lot of what makes the V71 special.
Built-in wireless adapters so that you can connect directly with your Roland Cloud account to download and audition new kits and sounds is a real highlight. There’s built-in Bluetooth audio/MIDI for jamming wirelessly or hooking up with other hardware. Each module also sports an integrated USB audio/MIDI interface, allowing for multi-channel drum recording via a single cable.
DW Soundworks and Customisation Options
There’s a whole host of customisation tools for editing and processing, and they also provide access to DW Soundworks drum samples because the new modules share the same internal engine as the V71.
More Information
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