Alesis USB Pro Kit Drumset with SURGE Cymbals Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the first drum kit without any rubber triggers at this price point. Or at twice the price. Real drum heads, real brass cymbals. And loaded with features. All the triggers except the kick are dual zone. The ride is dual-zone, bell and edge. The crash is chokeable. The mounting hardware is plenty rigid, much more sturdy than I expected. It's too soon to say how it will last, but since the joints and mounting collars are tightened with metal nuts and bolts (with drum key heads) I know there won't be any problems stripping plastic threading.
For an entry-level kit, it has quite a bit of upgrade potential too. The TriggeriO interface is also being used as standard equipment by other trigger makers (such as RET) so adding a larger snare or better toms will not be an issue. Feel free to mix 'n match. And since the stock triggers use real drum heads, switching to mesh heads is also an option.
It does take a bit of tuning. The default settings on the TriggeriO result in lots of cross talk. Be sure to punch in the recommended settings from the back of the manual immediately, or your initial experience will be disappointing. This really should have been taken care of at the factory. The BFD Lite demo software included is also underwhelming. You will need to budget for either BFD Pro or EZdrummer to get drum sounds that show this kit off to best advantage.
These are really quibbles though. Even after adding the cost of a little time and a few extra bucks for software, this kit is a great bargain.

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Designed for USB/MIDI performance with your Mac, PC, or other MIDI device, the Alesis USB Pro Drum Kit features dual-zone RealHead drum pads, genuine alloy SURGE Cymbals, and a compact, studio-friendly StealthRack drum rack. The true touch of real, tunable, mylar drum heads, combined with the natural feel of brass-alloy SURGE Cymbals creates an acoustic-feeling, great-sounding drumming experience.
It also includes the Alesis Trigger I/O, which enables you to connect the Pro Kit to a wide range of MIDI sound sources. Use up to ten trigger inputs to play traditional MIDI devices like drum machines, sound modules and synthesizers, or connect the USB output directly to your computer to play software drum modules or lay down tracks in your favorite MIDI sequencer application.

Key Features
Five-piece electronic drum set with USB/MIDI computer interface
RealHead drum pads feature genuine 8-inch mylar drum heads for customizable feel
Alloy SURGE cymbals with built-in triggers for serious acoustic-cymbal feel
SURGE Cymbals feature sound-dampening underside coating to cut their acoustic sound
Dual-zone snare and tom pads for a wide palette of sounds from a standard setup
Ultra-fast triggering with software sequencers, recording software, and MIDI hardware
10 TRS inputs'for kit expansion with additional pads, cymbals, and acoustic drum triggers''

USB/MIDI For Hardware And Software Just plug the kit's Trigger I/O interface into your Mac or PC's USB port, load up your sequencing, recording, or virtual instrument software, and you're ready to play. Because the USB Pro Drum Kit is MIDI compatible, you can track a performance, and then go back afterward and tweak your sounds. And it opens up a new world of software including BFD, Toontrack, and Reason to drummers and producers looking for realistic drum performances.
Advanced Drum Pads The USB Pro Drum Kit's acoustic-feeling RealHead drum pads are built around 8-inch mylar drumheads and acoustic-dampening foam for quiet response. The snare and tom pads are dual-zone, enabling rimshot or rim-click sounds on the snare and additional sounds such as wind chimes, cymbals, gongs, and cowbells on the tom rims. The heads are tunable with a standard drum key for adjustable tension and feel. The triple-flanged counterhoops are covered in removable, sound-reducing rubber sleeves, which further cut acoustic noise.
The USB Pro Drum Kit includes a self-standing RealHead Kick Pad with stand, to which any model of single or double-bass-drum pedal can be attached. The kick pad also features a tunable, 8-inch mylar playing surface.
Cymbals With Built-In Triggers The best choice in electronic cymbals, the Pro Kit includes the following SURGE cymbals: a 12-inch SURGE Hi-Hat, a 13-inch SURGE Crash with choke, and a 16-inch SURGE dual-zone Ride Cymbal with choke. Comprised of a genuine alloy cymbal coated with a clear sound-dampening layer, SURGE Cymbals feel like acoustic cymbals because they begin life as just that. The Crash and Ride cymbals feature large choke strips on the undersides for even more attention to accurate cymbal control. The SURGE Ride also features multiple-zone triggering on the bell, face and edge. The SURGE Hi-Hat Cymbal offers continuously variable control using the included pedal.
StealthRack and Hardware The fully adjustable, compact StealthRack is built of 1-1/2-inch metal tubing, which is standard throughout the drum industry. It's easy to expand the USB Pro Drum Kit with any manufacturer's clamps and mounts. All necessary clamps, professional 1/4-inch cables, and mounting hardware are included. All clamps adjust with the included drum key. Pad-mounting L-arms feature non-round arms to eliminate slippage from playing. All of the hardware on the USB Pro Drum Kit is designed for sure grip and extensive adjustability.
What's in the Box
(4) RealHead 8-inch Dual-Zone Pads
RealHead Kick Pad with stand, for use with single or double kick pedals, sold separately
RealHat Pedal hi-hat continuous controller
SURGE 12-inch Hi-Hat Cymbal
SURGE 13-inch Crash Cymbal
SURGE 16-inch Ride Cymbal
StealthRack black drum rack, complete with all mounts and cables
Trigger I/O trigger-to-MIDI USB interface
Software CD
USB cable
Quick start guide

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Boss Dr. Rhythm DR-880 Rhythm Machine Review

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(More customer reviews)Okay, so there's a bit of a learning curve with this drum machine. You have to go into it knowing that. Also, you'd be an absolute fool to not also invest in the DVD manual. The DVD walks you through every single nuance of the DR-880 and you can easily index any portion of the DVD to learn the specific skill you need to learn for what you're trying to accomplish.
That being said, this thing is untouchable! There is no reason why anyone can't achieve the precise sound they're looking for with this drum machine. You can make it sound as synthetic or authentic as you need it to, depending upon the style of music you're creating. The bass guitars can be made to sound like fingers are sliding on the strings. The drums can be made to sound like there's a real drummer in the room inadvertently brushing and tapping his (or her) sticks on the snare between actual strokes. For those in the know, these are called "ghost notes," and the DR-880's got 'em!
You can record in step mode or real time... or a combination of both to get the exact sound quality, timing precision, velocity, and little nuiances you're looking for.
For guitarists, there are pre-programmed grooves, or you can use the EZ Compose feature to quickly give your jam a sick backbone in like seconds. So while there is a learning curve for composers, this thing is also very much a plug-and-play unit for someone who just needs a quick rhythm section to jam with. And check this out: This thing even has built-in Roland effect pedals and amp simulations built right in! From metal to jazz, chorus, distortion, 60's, 70's, and whatever the hell you need! You're getting literally thousands of dollars worth of top of the line Roland pedals built-in to it.
I use mine every single day and simply cannot recommend it enough to... well, anyone who is serious about recording, jamming out, or composing a professional sounding piece of music with complete and total control of the situation. I strongly urge anyone who buys this drum machine to get the DVD as well. Frankly, you'd be an idiot not to.
If you want to know what kind of amp is best for the DR-880, I run mine through a Roland KC-350 120W Keyboard Mixing Amp, and it sounds absolutely brilliant!

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Boss EBand JS-8 Audio Player Review

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(More customer reviews)I've owned a lot of Boss guitar products over the years. Before getting the JS-8, I was using a Boss ME-30 and a Korg Pandora PX4D. I never thought anything could replace my ME-30 until now. Simply put... The JS-8 is an amazing device! The jam tracks installed at the factory are top notch and you can add your own. If you run out of storage space on the included SD card, buy a high capacity SD card and store your entire music or backtrack library on the machine. Personally, the included jam tracks will keep me occupied for months.
The other impressive feature(s) are the guitar effects, which are based on the GT-10 effect engine. The designers included dozens of preset effects, but you can also make up your own. Now if you're a tone junkie like me, the JS-8 will allow you to dial in just about any guitar sound. The amp modeling is simply amazing! The first distortion patch I made included a Peavey 5150 amp model as the foundation. It took me about 40 minutes to set up my first patch because you can tweak so many sound parameters. After learning the interface real well, I could probably design an effect patch in under 15 minutes. The buttons and knobs make everything associated with the unit a cinch to use.
The only negative thing I could say about this device is the speakers. A lot of reviewers have also commented about them. But don't let this turn you away. The speakers are really a positive thing because you can take it on the road and play quietly in a motel or dorm room. You can also attach headphones and achieve satisfying results. The unit also comes with a USB cable that will allow you to use it as an interface with your computer. After setting the driver parameters, I was playing it through my Mixcraft software. And Boss, (unlike other companies out there), provide 64 bit drivers for both Vista and Windows 7. They also have firmware updates and add-on jam tracks. This was a very big selling point because I use Windows 7 x64. I should also mention that I saw several Mac OS drivers on their website.
Furthermore, the unit has RCA jacks on the side which allow you to play it through a regular stereo or boom box. That worked fine for me, but I had to try it with my Crate 4x12 amp. I simply ran a mini-stereo cable out of the unit's headphone jack, and added a 1/4" guitar adapter on the other end, which I plugged into the amp. With a little sound tweaking, I got VERY impressive results. So much that I dumped the ME-30 and just use the JS-8 with my main amp. I've even read about players running this thing directly into a PA system at gigs. From what I've experienced, I think that would work well because the JS-8 really shines when plugged into higher-end speaker systems.
So who would really benefit from this device?
1) Players who like to play along and improvise with good jam and rhythm tracks
2) Players who use computer software to write music and need a solid, versatile digital interface
3) Players who are real fanatical about their tone and don't mind digital/solid state devices
4) Players who need something relatively portable and easy to use
5) Players who will only buy things that are sturdy and well constructed
6) Players who need a new toy and can afford 300-400 bucks
The JS-8 has many other features such as a nice tuner and the ability to record. I suggest you check out some of the videos on YouTube and read the spec's on the Roland/Boss website. My personal favorites are Jack Thammarat's YouTube videos.

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Roland HD-1 V-Drums Lite Electronic Drums Review

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(More customer reviews)This kit is near-to-perfect for someone who finds their acoustic kit has become too loud, too big, too difficult to transport, and too time-consuming to set up.
If you are looking for something that is small with a small footprint that is light, portable, and that sounds good, this kit will fill the bill. I haven't been able to put the sticks down (geeze, now I know why I got away from playing for 15 years - it's as additive as crack cocaine).
The other reviews voice criticism and they are justified, depending on what you are looking for. Unlike the higher-end kits, you cannot select individual drums. The drums for any of the pre-programed ten kits, and the volume of those individual drums are "global," meaning you can turn the whole kit up or down, but not adjust the tune or volume of one drum vs. another.
The voices are sampled and really sound incredible, but if I could "have it my way," I would have the snare be a bit more sensitive (you can set the sensitivity, but again, it's "global" for all the drums in the kit), and would make the snare and cymbal louder in relation to the toms and kick.
The peddle system is ingenious, and works well. It took a little while to find a the sweet spot to allow me to do "Banham doubles," and it still is not as easy to do as it is with a true peddle, but it's close.
The other thing that I have seen on the more expensive kits that the HD1 does not have is the ability to be able to choke out cymbals with your hand.
If these thing are important to you, you might want to look at a more expensive kit. But those kits are bigger, heavier, and more time-consuming to set up. If the reason you wanted is primarily for portability (the greatest kit in the world that you won't take to friends' house to jam with will do you no good, right?) - or what this thing is, for how tiny it is, and for what it weighs (32 lbs), you can't beat it with a stick - well, actually you can, and I have been, a lot.
More information: Kit 1 has a nice acoustic sound, like a kit in an intimate setting. Kit 1A is a "jazz kit," the snare sound of which I like the best. The crash is a bit more splashy, and the ride sounds like it has rivets. The hat is really crisp and clean. The second tom becomes a cross-stick on a rim. Kit 2 sounds just like drums in a big empty hall. Kit 2A sounds the same as 2, but the hat peddle becomes a second kick (open hat) and the second tom become a cowbell. Kit 3 is a snare, crash, ride, hat, and three "island drums." Kit 3A is a snare, crash, ride, hat, and three percussion instruments of some kind or another. Forget about Kits 4 & 5 and their Alternates, unless you like Devo and dance music from the 80s.

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A New All-In-One Drum Kit for the MassesRoland's V-Drums are the most popular electronic drums in the world, but not everyone has the room or budget for a full V-Drums kit. Introducing the new Roland HD-1. It's forged from the same technology as its predecessors, but it's much simpler to use. It's also incredibly quiet, thanks to the newly designed kick beater, cushioned tom pads, and snare head. The HD-1 is also conveniently compact and stylish - perfect for every home, school, studio, etc. - and it's priced for the masses. Most of the HD-1's components are mounted on one stand for easy setup and transport, and for a clean look. Just take it out of the box and play.

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Roland Micro Cube RX Guitar Amplifier Review

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(More customer reviews)This is an awesome amp. Great for tagging along and providing bunches of stuff you would normally want for practice (tuner, drum machine, etc.) It really has it all and it is two channel so you can pump your mp3 player or bass trainer in one side and jam on the other. I has amp models as well so you crank up what you want. Runs on batteries for over 10 hours. Not very heavy (about your Fender in a hard case. Uses a strap to tote it (I would get strap locks for peace of mind.) I can't think of anything else I would want, especially at the price they are selling them. Gets pretty loud and can really get down and growl. Blows the headphone dealyos completely away. Find a nice spot, plug in, strap on, and jam. Works best placed on a picnic table or even with the guitar so you can adjust all the knobs and get some good feedback. It's a rocker for sure!

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BOSS ME-70 Guitar Multiple Effects Pedal Board Review

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(More customer reviews)"Excelent item!.. but, no where in specs did it let you know that this came without AC Adaptor and needed to run on batteries...disappointed when arrived". Este multiefectos es excelente, facil de usar. Tiene lo justo y necesario, algunos gabinetes y preamplificadores, los mas comunes.

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