Roland V-Drums
January 16, 1997
Roland Corporation is proud to introduce an instrument which is poised to revolutionize electronic percussion as we know it, the V-drums. The V-drums represents a completely new concept in electronic percussion: a percussion sound source that goes beyond PCM (sample-based) technology with Roland's proprietary Composite Object Sound Modeling (COSM) technology. This revolutionary modeling method, which provides almost unlimited sound creation possibilities, has been combined with lightning-fast drum trigger response and unique new "V-pads" to deliver an electronic percussion environment with unbelievable sounds and an amazingly expressive, "natural" feel.
V-drums TD-10 Percussion Sound Module
The V-drums TD-10 Percussion Sound Module contains over 600 percussion instruments and 50 melody instruments - the sonic "building blocks" for Variable Drum Modeling - as well as 50 drum kits with four assignable percussion groups. This vast array of percussion sounds is accessed via 12 dual-trigger inputs which are fully backward compatible with Roland's current TD-5, TD-7 and TD-9 electronic percussion pads. The trigger inputs deliver unmatched sensitivity, positional sensing and lightning-fast response, ensuring that a drummer's unique playing style and sticking nuance is faithfully transferred to this amazing new sound module.
Where the V-drums really shine is in the TD-10 Sound Module's sonic flexibility. Because the TD-10 employs 56-voice polyphony and amazing COSM technology - the same technology used in Roland's award-winning VG-8 V-Guitar System - sonic control far surpasses that of any other electronic drum system (see COSM Technology Background, p. 4). Drum type, drum head type, drum shell materials, drum depth and drum tuning can all be "modeled" via the TD-10's intuitive, graphic icon-based interface. Taking this modeling concept a step further, even drum microphone type, mic placement on the "virtual" drum, and the type of room ambiance can be completely customized as well.
The TD-10's "Positional Detection" senses the location of each pad hit and allows for the triggering of sounds with slightly different timbres - just like an acoustic drum. Positional Detection is compatible with current Roland electronic percussion pads like the PD-7 and PD-9, as well as the new PD-100/120 "V-pads." And to provide drummers and drum programmers with the most complete percussion environment possible, the TD-10 also includes high-quality Roland effects like compression, reverb, delay and three-band parametric equalization.
Control of the TD-10's sonic arsenal is provided via six group faders, an alpha dial, a host of dedicated buttons and a 160 x 64 dot backlit LCD. Other TD-10 functions include a built-in 8-track sequencer with realtime phrase recording capability and a full-featured metronome section with adjustable time signature and output select. The advanced metronome even includes audio voice count (one, two, three ...).
TD-10 connections include the aforementioned 12 stereo triggers (two of which include Positional Detection), eight output jacks (four stereo pairs), a headphone jack, a hi-hat control jack (for use with FD-7 hi-hat control pedal), MIDI In, MIDI Out/Thru, a "Monitor Mix" Audio In jack, a Wave Expansion Board slot for future sound expansions and a Memory Card slot for data storage.
PD-100 and PD-120 "V-pads"
Complementing the amazing new V-drums TD-10 Percussion Sound Module are the 10-inch PD-100 and 12-inch PD-120 "V-pads." The PD-100 and PD-120 V-pads were designed through a partnership between Roland and REMO Inc. USA to provide the perfect electronic percussion pad/trigger for the V-drums TD-10 Percussion Sound Module. Employing a fine mesh drum head and rubber-coated rim, the V-pads combine silent, extremely accurate triggering with the unique feel and response of an acoustic drum.
The V-pads' unique design dramatically increases trigger sensitivity, allowing for playing with brushes, and supports Positional Detection capability - triggering sounds with varying timbres corresponding to where the drum pad is hit.
Like Roland's popular PD-7 and PD-9 pads, the PD-120 V-pad sends separate (stereo) outputs for drum head and drum rim, allowing for the triggering of distinct sounds through rim shots.
The combination of the responsive, "natural" feel of the V-pads and the unprecedented sound modeling and trigger response of the TD-10 Percussion Sound Module create the most expressive, versatile electronic percussion system ever developed.
V-Pro Kit / V-Basic Kit
Providing drummers with the most advanced electronic percussion set in the world, Roland has developed the V-Pro Kit. The V-Pro Kit offers serious drummers a turn-key electronic percussion system which includes a V-drums TD-10 Percussion Sound Module, three 12-inch PD-120 V-pads, two 10-inch PD-100 V-pads, three 10-inch PD-9 dual-trigger pads, a 7-inch PD-7 dual-trigger pad, a KD-7 kick drum trigger, an FD-7 hi-hat control pedal and the new MDS-10 V-stand. This system can be configured as desired for maximum sonic flexibility; drummers need only provide their favorite bass drum pedal, seat and snare stand to gain access to a whole new dimension in electronic percussion.
The V-Basic Kit offers a scaled-down version of the V-Pro Kit. It includes a V-drums TD-10 Percussion Sound Module, two PD-120 V-pads, one PD-100 V-pad, one PD-9 dual-trigger pad, one PD-7 dual-trigger pad, one KD-7 kick drum trigger, one FD-7 hi-hat control pedal and the new MDS-10 V-stand.
An expansion kit, V-Expansion, offers drummers the ability to expand from the V-Basic Kit to the V-Pro Kit.
COSM Technology Background
Roland's proprietary Composite Object Sound Modeling (COSM) is the cornerstone of the V-drums TD-10 Percussion Sound Module. Though various "sound modeling" technologies have been introduced over the years by other manufacturers, Roland's notion of integrated or "composite" computer-based modeling - where not only the instrument parts, but the entire audio/recording chain is modeled - is unique. With COSM, the V-drums allows for modeling drum type, material, depth, tuning and a host of other factors in a drum's final sound. Additionally, factors like mic type, mic position and room ambiance can be modeled so thoroughly and convincingly that the V-drums will leave many drummers and recording engineers in awe.
In developing COSM, Roland's extensive R&D division performed painstaking and all-encompassing analyses of the properties of the many components involved in the creation of music and sound. The findings of these studies were then used to create psychoacoustic models in the DSP environment. In the V-drums' case, these models include everything from the effect that wood type has on a snare drum's tone to the effect that repositioning a condenser mic has on a kick drum's punch. With advanced DSP technology, these sophisticated computer-generated models are used to simultaneously recreate a "complete" sound based on all the requirements of its audio chain.
For drummers, COSM's introduction into electronic percussion and the V-drums yields a percussion environment of limitless possibilities. For more information, contact Roland Corporation U.S., 7200 Dominion Circle, Los Angeles, CA 90040, 213.685.5141, www.rolandus.com. | 
