Main advantage
The main thing that recommends this drum set is how suitable it is for beginners. Every small aspect of it has been thought to offer more to the inexperienced player. It all starts with how the set comes together – it’s easy to set up, and in a few minutes, you should be able to put it together if you’re following the instructions.
You won’t have to worry if you haven’t played a drum set before. The sound module gives you plenty of room to experiment, and it’s varied enough to include different musical genres. As a result, there is something there for every kind of player, and beginners will benefit from diversity, as they will be able to learn more that way.
Let’s not forget that this particular set features a practice mode. This also includes a fast record and replay function that will let you revisit the parts that you have played to see if you did a good job or not. The Coach function will be of utmost use for the self-thaught musicians.
When you’re playing the drums you want to learn about editing your sound, and with the USB connectivity, this set gives you that opportunity.
Buy from Amazon.com for ($1495)
Main disadvantage
Roland didn’t put much emphasis on the hi-hat, and as a result, this model comes with the same hi-hat stand as some of the older models. That means you will get the same free-floating pedal that you can get on much cheaper drum kits. While the hi-hat itself isn’t that bad, it would have been better if there was some improvement on that, because you don’t want to be playing a brand new kit with all but one element being of the best quality.
One more thing to keep in mind when buying this kit is that it doesn’t come with its own sticks.
Main features explained
Loads of features
Two USB ports can be found on the back of the drum set module. One of these ports can be used to download songs and sound samples into the device’s sound banks and folders. You will be pleased to find out that this set can read MP3, MIDI, or Wav files and play them accordingly. The other USB port is used for connectivity with laptops or computers.
It’s a great thing that the device is compatible both with PCs and Macs, and it can run along most major DAWs. With this port, you will be able to send MIDI information to the computer and use that to create original tracks.
There are multiple ways to send and receive audio outputs and inputs with this device. First of all, you have the standard headphone slot that you can use when you want to enjoy simple practice sessions without disturbing your neighbors. You can also use a separate monitor with the audio output found at the back of the machine.
If you’re looking to play along with something that you know, you can always plug in an iPod or MP3 player, and you are free to set the volume how high you want from there. The Coach feature will help you keep your playing in check, and it comes with many activities and exercises ready to improve your ability.
There is the metronome function that also comes with something called Time Check, which is something that monitors your tempo and how close you are to the metronome tick. It looks like the dial on a chromatic tuner when you’re using it. The metronome can be adjusted using the circular dial on the interface and it allows customization according to your preferences. If you feel that all these features aren’t enough, you can purchase a special Roland tutor program.
Sound
This drum set features dual-zone technology which basically means that you can play each pad to produce more than one sound sample. You can thus execute complicated drum techniques like rim clicks. Everything is made easier thanks to this technology. Furthermore, you can set up the rims of each tom so that they produce the sound of other instruments like cowbells or tambourines.
The interface is clean and most importantly user-friendly. It comes with only a few buttons, a large display, and a dial. Changing the settings can be done quickly with the help of the dial – flicking through it gets you to the features onboard. Roland has done a lot to keep this interface an intuitive and fuss-free one.
As a result, getting to the perfect sound and playing the perfect song is made much easier. You can also create and save folders so you can access the sounds later. These folders can store up to 100 songs each, and you can also categorize the songs and the playlists. You have 14 songs to start with but this library can be vastly expanded.
The initial songs are nice play-along tools for beginners, but some of them are challenging enough for those looking to experiment. There are also 50 different drum kits for each player’s style, and in those kits, you have many acoustic drums, and of course some digital ones as well. You can get to a total of 190 sounds, and while you don’t use that many in a practice session, it’s still a nice thing that the set lets you be creative in different ways.
If you’re not pleased with the selection that the set gives you at first, you can also add your own samples with the help of the USB port at the back.
Jack of all trades
There are some drum sets made for live performances, others that have been created for the best practice sessions, while some sets are great for recording. This model from Roland seems capable of doing it all. For recording purposes, this drum set brings out good quality and range of sounds. No matter if you’re recording jazz or heavier styles like metal, it’s still a decent sounding machine.
With the 190 different sounds already on the set and the possibility to add many others, it’s clear why this drum set can be so great for recording. You can also define 25 more drum kits yourself if you feel the ones already present aren’t enough to satisfy your ambitions.
Generally speaking, you can always use an electronic drum set to play live, taking into account that you can always change the settings fast with just a button. What’s great about the TD-11KV is the fact that it has 50 different slots for various sounds. This means you can always instantly choose one of those predefined sounds in a live performance.
You can even change the ambiance, and use this to your advantage in venues where there isn’t that much space. You will be able to transform a small room into a large hall. Don’t forget that this drum set is also great for practice. It’s the kind of set that will excel at giving you the information needed for learning to keep the tempo, to perform the right motions and to maintain coordination.
It’s a great thing that you can plug in any sort of electronic music player and that allows you to play along with the music you want. It’s a fun and easy way to keep yourself motivated. The warm-up mode is a good way to get your rhythm in check before you start playing.
Intuitive
Following the quick and simple instructions that come with the kit, you will be able to set this thing up in a few minutes. The rack system that forms the basis of the set’s structure is the standard Roland one, and it can also be considered a standard in the industry, as the length is a normal one, and it’s intuitive to use.
You will find that the overall frame, however, is shorter than average, and that can feel a bit awkward at first. On the flip side, this makes the whole set more compact and carrying it around becomes an easier task. The design is a V-drums one, which is perfect to make the whole set a compact one.
Placed at arm’s reach from your seating position, the controls are intuitive, intelligently designed and straightforward. They are also made to be easy to use. One great thing about this instrument is that nothing that makes it feels out of place – every small component has its own purpose. Changing every setting is a an easy task, and you usually only need to turn a dial or press a button to alter the sound as you wish.
When it comes to different inputs and outputs, there is a MIDI port placed at the rear of the device. This port is meant to help you connect the set with a computer and use that device to further experiment with your music and edit your sounds. You can also import and export MIDI sounds, which increases the instrument’s versatility.
There are also USB ports placed at the rear of the machine, with one of the ports being used for storage. You can play any track from this port, and that removes the need for additional storage spaces.
Buy from Amazon.com for ($1495)
