Pre-Sales Advice Please!

[thedrumdoctor]

My TD-20 is on its way out so I need to replace it ASAP. I don't use onboard sounds so it was only ever an expensive MIDI interface. Before I buy, I'd just like to confirm if it's a 10 input and a 4 input I will need. My needs are as follows:

3 x stereo inputs for Toms & Snare
1 x mono input for Bass drum
1 x stereo input for Roland BT1 pad
1 x mono input for 4" trigger pad
3 x stereo inputs for Crash cymbals
2 x stereo inputs for Roland 3-zone Ride
1 x stereo input for Hi-Hat top
1 x foot controller input

I'm 1 mono input short of the 10 input unit!

However, I'm not phased about buying a 10 and a 4 as it's either that or a more expensive used Roland TD-30 which I simply don't need. I'm not so keen on the stereo splitter-cable element either as it just adds another potential point of failure to the set-up. Maybe I've answered my own question!

[Rob]

I hear you about wanting to avoid using a splitter, but a good reliable splitter is significantly cheaper than an eDRUMin 4 and also simplifies your setup. In fact, you could easily put two of your toms on a splitter and use edge sense to get two articulations from each tom. But if you're keen to spend the money, I'll of course be happy to sell you the extra device.

Rob

[monospace]

You don’t necessarily need a stereo input for the BT-1, depending on how it’s mounted. I use mine as a cowbell/percussion pad on its own stand, so crosstalk is not an issue. I’ve got it sharing an input with the kick drum, using a cheap Hosa splitter cable. It works flawlessly.

[Mylo]

I wouldn’t worry about splitter malfunction. The splitter will be at the eDRUMin so it’s not like it will be taking a beating. My cable failures always happen at the cymbal. The constant movements of a cymbal is rough on cable joints.

I was going to suggest what Rob said but he beat me to it.

Another option is trying to get the Roland ride to work with one cable and use Bell Sense to get the bell back. I think people have good success with Bell Sense on Roland cymbals.

[thedrumdoctor]

Thanks to all for the replies, I’m going to join the club and give Rob extra money!!!! It’s nice to have spare channels and at the end of the day, I was prepared to shell out on a used TD-30 so this is a significant saving either way.

[thedrumdoctor]

But if you're keen to spend the money, I'll of course be happy to sell you the extra device.

Well, I did just that!

I'm looking at the manual now on connecting them. I've got a powered USB hub so I'm guessing I put them into that but I'm not sure whether I should still go MIDI out from one of them into my Focusrite sound interface. I'm guessing I won't need my Focusrite for MIDI any more? I had MIDI out from the TD-20 into the Focusrite which passed the MIDI to the computer. I'm just wondering if there's any advantage in using the Focusrite to handle any latency issues. I've never actually used MIDI over USB so I don't know what to expect. I've always assumed a sound interface trumped going straight into a USB port on a computer, every time.

[Rob]

Plug the ED4 into the USB Host port of the ED10, and then connect the ED10 into your computer. You can, if you wish, go MIDI out from the ED10 into your audio interface, but that will increase your latency by about 1ms.

[Dadwrshpdrum]

I started out with an ED10 and I used splitters for my Toms with edge sense. It all worked great. However, I upgraded and got a ED4 to compliment the ED10. I moved my snare, kick, HH, HH controller and BT1 to ED4. That gave me room to have stereo connections for all my pads. Not necessary, but I do like having a rimshot articulation available for all pads. Main benefit of ED4 is now if I need to take a small kit somewhere I can pull the ED4 from kit and leave the ED10 at home.

I tried the BT1 as a mono connection and a stereo connection. With the mono connection and BT1 mounted to snare I did need to increase crosstalk cancellation relatively high. I did not notice any issues doing this. But once I got the ED4 I switched to stereo connection and linked BT1 to snare. I feel like either setup is good. I’m going to stay with stereo connection.

[Dadwrshpdrum]

Post in error. Deleted.

[thedrumdoctor]

Plug the ED4 into the USB Host port of the ED10, and then connect the ED10 into your computer. You can, if you wish, go MIDI out from the ED10 into your audio interface, but that will increase your latency by about 1ms.

Thanks Rob!

I’ll put the Focusrite back in its box then.