Roland SPD-SX E-kit using external trigger pads.

A walkthrough of my Roland SPD-SX E-kit setup. I'm using the kit as a midi controller for the SSD5 drum plugin in this video, but you can use this setup with samples loaded on the SPD as well.
Roland:
Sampler - SPD-SX
Hi Hats - CY-12C
Snare - PDX-100x
Kick - KD9
Crash - CY-8
You need 2 x stereo to dual (split) mono 1/4" cables.

[@Kirbys911Heaven]

Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for the explanation. Nice chops by the way.

[@MikeyLikesItt]

This is soooooo dope!!!!! I like having an acoustic kit, But with floor space and room in the studio I can't justify another full electric kit, But this setup is WAAAAYY more compact, I reaaaally like this, I had no idea you could plug external pads into SPD, This is genius, I will highly consider this in the future, Thanks for the detailed breakdown, I much prefer the SPD + a few externals with splitters over a full kit and drum module etc.etc.... Thanks a lot for the demooo

[@PrecisionPodcasting]

Haha you're welcome! I've had it up and running a few months now and play it all the time. I'm playing drums much more because it's so convenient.

[@altomiresoliveira]

The Best!

[@coryroberts5048]

Thinking of getting the new spd sx pro to do something like this and I'm pretty convinced the extra inputs will make it super easy

[@PrecisionPodcasting]

The Pro looks awesome.

[@kuskenigen]

How did it turn out? You also get HH control with the pro

[@Hemiliotheman]

Splendid. What is the Foot SW 1/2 input for? Wouldn’t this be for the basedrum foot pedal? I’ve tried to get some sound out of it, but it does not work. I can only use the trig in 1/2 and 3/4, as you only use as well in this video. Cheers, Emil, Denmark

[@elheavio]

Hey Emil, I use the Foot SW input for a foot switch when I'm using the SPD with my acoustic kit. It's dual function and allows me to change kits and turn on/off the click with my foot. Pretty sure you can set it to control other functions as well.

[@Hemiliotheman]

⁠ thanks. I read that its not possible to use it for sounds, only a foot switch

[@MrGruenrock]

Really great idea for homerecording! Greets from germany

[@mitchmcturtle6890]

This is sick. I’ve considered doing this exact same thing

[@elheavio]

Do it!

[@thth-tr1bq]

yeah, got motion sickness halfway

[@alexsawyer7313]

I’m working on doing the exact same thing with my Alesis Strike Multipad at the moment! …has its challenges for sure.

[@PrecisionPodcasting]

Good luck!

[@mattryan6886]

Really wish Alesis would release another firmware update and try to fix the few small issues holding it back from being great device. Be careful with loading samples on SMP. If any files get corrupted on internal SD card memory your SMP will start freezing at blue start up screen. I had to take mine apart and diy fix b/c my 2nd SMP the warranty replacement device started freezing 8 months after I got the brand new pad .was out of warranty. Warranty on replacement hardware only 30 days even if machine was brand new unit like mine. Not being able to mount SMP as HDD Device like Roland can means only way to fix is to get sd card out of motherboard. When I put mine back together the ribbon cable that connects top 9 pads keeps coming loose so 2 of 9 pads will only trigger via 5 pin midi. I’m trying to find electronic repair place that will fix my ribbon cable issue and get my SMP fully functional again

[@KirklandWilliamsWorkout3000]

Oh wow

[@daniells71]

What are you using for your expression pedal?

[@OliverOliverio1]

How do you control hi hat open and closed positions?

[@PrecisionPodcasting]

There's no Hi Hat control - the SPD-sx doesn't have the capability. I just assign an open hi hat sound to a pad and have it in the same mute group as the closed hi hats. It works quite well!

[@ttk_rufus_gaming]

The spd sx pro has the functionality on it to be able to use a true hi hat pedal fully functional.

[@AndreiGrozea]

Can't really fit a small edrum kit in my room and bought one of these after finding your video :D What holder do you use for the snare? I found the MDY-12 from Roland for the CY 8 so far

[@rory-mcnamara-photography]

Am I right in hearing a bit of sepultura and rage against the machine in your drum sample playing? 🤔😆🤘🏻😎🤘🏻

[@PrecisionPodcasting]

😂Not on purpose (or anything specific), but they were both huge influences for me back in the day. Amazing you picked that up!

[@drummerdrumdrums]

Very good, where can I get these sounds for the spdsx?? hug from Brazil

[@PrecisionPodcasting]

I'm using the kit as a midi controller for the SSD5 drum plugin in this video.

[@zsub7723]

Awesome! What boom clamp did you use to connect the pdx-100? Can "peace DA-114" connect?

[@PrecisionPodcasting]

I'm using the Gibraltar SC-GCA 18" - gibraltarhardware.com/collections/cymbal-arms-clamps/products/sc-gca-18-inch-cymbal-arm-clamp - the Peace DA-114 looks like it could work.

[@zsub7723]

thats cool! thanks!!

[@Detorion]

can you play along a random song -e.g. from youtube - and get it all in phones with the drum-set output?

[@PrecisionPodcasting]

Yep! Either by playing KZbin through your computer, or using the audio input on the SPD itself.

[@glystongracias7239]

super cool set up!! hey man can i connect the roland kd 10 to the spd sx ? and what trigger type should i select? since the spd sx doesn't show kd 10

[@PrecisionPodcasting]

I can't say for certain, but I'm pretty sure you can just assign it as any other kick pad.

[@Manjiro93]

How you make this settings?

[@juarezmartinez7971]

Name of the hi hat

[@loss5374]

I'd like you to teach me how to connect hihat to drumpad I think it can't be done.

[@mircosapienza]

Big idea 💡 great !!! I have a question … if i have roland pedal kt10 can i use it for hi hat control ?

[@PrecisionPodcasting]

The SPD-SX doesn't have a hi hat control function, so unfortunately not.

[@mircosapienza]

@@PrecisionPodcasting thank you, maybe l'spd sx pro ?

[@amjan]

I would love to see a major metal band going on stage with such a drumset! Huh!

[@PrecisionPodcasting]

😂

[@TheOneMonk]

Thanks for the overview. Could you pls share what arms/rods you are using to attach snare and cymbals? Looks like everything is attached to the SPD SX stand?

[@elheavio]

I'm using the Pearl CH-70 for the crash and the Gibraltar SC-CLBAC 18" Cymbal Arms for hats and snare.

[@TheOneMonk]

Brilliant, thank you!

[@garciamoses95]

Can I use it as a standalone and plug-in at the same time ?

[@PrecisionPodcasting]

Not sure on this one - you'd have to test it out.

[@shiner_music]

hi, can i plug the triggers straight in to a computer as a midi pads?

[@PrecisionPodcasting]

Don't think so. You'd need some type of midi controller/converter, which in this case is the SPD.

[@shiner_music]

@@PrecisionPodcasting thats unfotunate. thanks!

[@thanoscarr]

Amazing! How do you do to use HH control? I`m thing to change my SPD-30 for a SPD-SX, but I read that is not possible to use a HH control pedal in SX. Is that true?

[@PrecisionPodcasting]

Thanks! No Hi Hat control - the SPD doesn't have the capability. I just assign an open hi hat sound to a pad and have it in the same mute group as the closed hi hats. It works quite well!

[@jeffjohnson6064]

@@PrecisionPodcasting Can we get a demo of that? I am wanting to try that at least.

[@MrJomoli]

How you resolve the midi out to computer, because the triggerinput(kickpedal) have not midiout? Or is this resolved with the last systemupdate?

[@jvmusicph]

Spdsx is now serve as module right?

[@PrecisionPodcasting]

In this video technically the module is SSL drums, using the SPD to trigger midi, but the SPD can be the module standalone as well.

[@jvmusicph]

@@PrecisionPodcasting How about your kick for hi-hat??

[@chemz1]

Hey, would you be able to use one of the midi inputs as a trigger?

[@PrecisionPodcasting]

You can use the SPD-sx as a midi controller, and you can also send midi from the SPD-sx via another midi module to trigger samples....so I'm not entirely sure, but it's a possibility!

[@chemz1]

@@PrecisionPodcasting when I get mine, ill see if I can figure it out...

[@cirocarbajalcastro3018]

Sería genial que me ayudes a instalar con doble zona se puede instalar?

[@mubirujay1908]

How are you getting output sound

[@PrecisionPodcasting]

For this video I was using SSD drums via USB.

[@MrBernie1970]

What cymbal stand adapter are you using and is it the same for the snare?

[@PrecisionPodcasting]

I'm using the Pearl CH-70 for the crash and the Gibraltar SC-CLBAC 18" Cymbal Arms for hats and snare.

[@jvmusicph]

what stand you use in spd sx?

[@PrecisionPodcasting]

@@jvmusicph Just a normal boom stand.

[@robertf7056]

What computer program are you using? Logic, ableton, ect??? How did you get the SSD drum sounds on your computer into the SPD-SX? Thx

[@elheavio]

I'm using Pro Tools and SSD as a plugin. For this video the SPD is a midi controller for SSD.

[@robertf7056]

@@elheavio thank you!

[@according2john]

I have a question? 1st I have the Roland Spd-sxe & I have a Roland electronic set- My question is, can I midi sounds out of my Spd-sx & assign them to different pads on the Drum set? Will that work?? Thank you for your time-

[@PrecisionPodcasting]

I can't see why not? That's pretty much what i'm doing here.

[@DeeJaySane]

Very nice setup! I noticed that you have a double bass there but... how?

[@PrecisionPodcasting]

Thanks! It's just a standard KD9 trigger pad and double bass pedal.

[@charisbafitis8590]

How about hi-hat controler?? Does anyone knows if roland spd sx pro allows hi hat controler?

[@PrecisionPodcasting]

No Hi Hat control - the SPD doesn't have the capability. I just assign an open hi hat sound to a pad and have it in the same mute group as the closed hi hats. It works quite well!

[@lloydbastard7254]

How to control hi hat?

[@PrecisionPodcasting]

No Hi Hat control, as the SPD doesn't have the capability. I just assign an open hi hat sound to a pad and have it in the same mute group as the closed hi hats. It works quite well!

[@lloydbastard7254]

Thank you sir Can you use dual zone cymbals on roland spd?

[@PrecisionPodcasting]

@@lloydbastard7254 I think dual zone is fine, but it would take up two inputs? And you would need to assign different sounds to each zone. Not sure on this one.

[@JasonLee-kr3hi]

hey man, im using a CY-5 as an external ride pad but looks like the choking function isn't working. Any idea how to solve this or is it a limitation with spd-sx itself?

[@PrecisionPodcasting]

Pretty sure it's an SPD limitation due to the trigger input type since I'm splitting each pad to a single input. I think a dual zone cymbal that used both trigger inputs (eg 1&2), with the right trigger type selected might work? Dunno sorry.

[@sean7343]

Might that be sepultura war for territory 🤷🏻‍♂️👍

[@markhofland1898]

Which clamps do you use for the pads?

[@PrecisionPodcasting]

I'm using the Pearl CH-70 for the crash and the Gibraltar SC-CLBAC 18" Cymbal Arms for hats and snare.