i use mine as a drum brain for triggers on my hybrid kit with mesh heads & real cymbals, and also for extra synth drum sounds. it does up to 8 external triggers which ends up being more than i need, its an excellent device.
the trigger outputs are what really sold me on the octapad. being able to be a midi controller, percussion pad, & a drum brain gives it so much utility.
An Octapad is a version of a trigger pad, so you hit it and it makes a sound. Whereas a drum machine is a sequencer - so it has built in drum sounds, and you order them to be able to play different patterns rather than triggering them. Hope this helps!
I've owned the octapad and used it at home and on gigs for 8 years, and only today did I learn that the middle knob will change the instrument groups in the edit mode... If I had a pound for every minute of time I've wasted scrolling I could probably buy another octapad 😂
hola! muy buen video. Puedes hacer una explicación más amplia de los loop?, si es que se pueden asignar a los pads y activarlos en cualquier momento como una frase pre grabada.
Enjoyed this video! I have a SPD 20. I use a single QSC K8.2 speaker plugging straight in with no mixer. Using just a 1/4" to 1/4" TS cable from mono out works fine. Question: Would using dual TS from Roland to XLR into speaker improve sound or give any more gain?
In short, no. The signal wouldn’t change going through a different cable. From my (limited!) knowledge, it would just be different depending on if you had a balanced source or not. For example, if the SPD-20 had a balanced output and the speaker had a balanced input, then using a balanced cable would clean up the signal. But in this case, I believe the SPD-20 is an unbalanced output, so you don’t need to worry!
@MusicChannel-rf5zz I haven’t found any. I’d love to be able to download a sample pack for this and the SPD-SX Pro, but there doesn’t seem to be a direct download anywhere
Absolutely! I can’t remember if the Octapad has MIDI through USB, so I’d look at getting some 5-pin MIDI cables and going through an audio interface that has MIDI. Then you can check out my playlist on Ableton and follow the steps for connecting a drum pad! I use the SPD-SX for that video, but the general steps will be the same
Hey Pierre! Great question, it really depends on your situation and what you need. The Octopad is amazing, but is over 10 years old. The SPD-SX PRO can do all the Octopad can and more, but is heavily weighted on the ‘one shot’ sample side of things (and is WAY more expensive). If you can afford it, I’d always recommend the SPD-SX PRO as it’s a good way to future proof yourself but may have too many features than you need
@@DrumElectric Hi, Harry. I used to play acustic drums in the crossed wayt, and I noticed all the kits on the spd come organized for right handed drummers. Its like I should need all the pads in mirror: I used to play: hi hat on the right, snare in the middle, "chancha" (big tom) on the left and down, tom 1 (low) up and left, and tom 2 (high) up and right. But everything seems to be backwards for a left handed person who plays crossed... :( What should I do? change pad by pad in every kit? Is there another way? Thank you
@chantalrosengurt4820 ah that completely makes sense! Unfortunately without any software with this pad (as it’s very old now!) I think the only way to swap everything would be to painfully change each pad ☹️
i honestly hate to admit this but I have had my octapd for over a year and i could not figure out how to use the click until very recently. That said, i love it and play it a lot as a mini kit - KD8 - Tama kick pedal and Tama Hi HAt - V11s . I have played it so much but it still looks as good as new and I don't have a seperate snare. I am interested in the Roland SP sc pro - does that not have dual velocities?
I’m with you! Took me ages to find the click option. Some of them are really hard to find or figure out! The new SPD-SX PRO does have dual velocities, yes! It’s like the more refined version of the Octapad in terms of playing
@@DrumElectric thank you so much for your reply! do you think you'll be able to hook up the octapad as the midi slave to the spd sx pro? Or is it just pretty much a replacement? Roland are very good at this stuff. I live in a small unit and without this i would have zero drums which is not ok. :)
It’s funny you say that, because that’s exactly what I did out of curiosity! 😆 so yes, you can have it linked together. The only thing I haven’t had time to figure out yet is whether the Octapad is treated as an extension of the SPDSX-PRO, or if it is just assigned to the already-plotted midi notes
@@DrumElectric now that is a video I would love to see.- I'm curious because if i used the spd sx pro as the main module that'll ii'll accidentally smash the face of it
Two questions: Do you think these sounds are compared to a td-17 or td-25 Do you believe Roland will make another version of it ? It’s been a couple years now
The sounds on the TD-17 and 25 I would presume are better as they’re newer machines. But they’re different beasts! The Octapad generally has more percussive sounds, whereas the TD-17 and 25 will have more ‘drum kit’ based sounds. I doubt Roland will make another version as you can do everything on this on the newer sample pads. The only thing missing would be the live looping, but that’s easily fixed with a loop pedal. Plus with the newer ones, you can import your own samples whereas the Octapad, you can’t!
Like what I do? Click here: www.buymeacoffee.com/drumelectric
i use mine as a drum brain for triggers on my hybrid kit with mesh heads & real cymbals, and also for extra synth drum sounds. it does up to 8 external triggers which ends up being more than i need, its an excellent device.
That’s a great use! I’ve only had it a short time, it’s a really great device that surprisingly still lives up 10 years later!
the trigger outputs are what really sold me on the octapad. being able to be a midi controller, percussion pad, & a drum brain gives it so much utility.
What's the difference between an octapad and a drum machine?@@DrumElectric
An Octapad is a version of a trigger pad, so you hit it and it makes a sound. Whereas a drum machine is a sequencer - so it has built in drum sounds, and you order them to be able to play different patterns rather than triggering them. Hope this helps!
I've owned the octapad and used it at home and on gigs for 8 years, and only today did I learn that the middle knob will change the instrument groups in the edit mode...
If I had a pound for every minute of time I've wasted scrolling I could probably buy another octapad 😂
No way!! 😂 Well I'm glad I can make your life easier after 8 years!
hola! muy buen video. Puedes hacer una explicación más amplia de los loop?, si es que se pueden asignar a los pads y activarlos en cualquier momento como una frase pre grabada.
Enjoyed this video!
I have a SPD 20. I use a single QSC K8.2 speaker plugging straight in with no mixer. Using just a 1/4" to 1/4" TS cable from mono out works fine. Question: Would using dual TS from Roland to XLR into speaker improve sound or give any more gain?
In short, no. The signal wouldn’t change going through a different cable. From my (limited!) knowledge, it would just be different depending on if you had a balanced source or not. For example, if the SPD-20 had a balanced output and the speaker had a balanced input, then using a balanced cable would clean up the signal. But in this case, I believe the SPD-20 is an unbalanced output, so you don’t need to worry!
Thanks!@@DrumElectric
Great Video! Thanks. Is it possible to download these tones to use on SPD SX?
Thanks! Not without recording them first and then exporting them sadly. I thought the same thing!
@@DrumElectric Are these tones available anywhere online to download? I'm sure Roland has them atleast for those who purchase.
@MusicChannel-rf5zz I haven’t found any. I’d love to be able to download a sample pack for this and the SPD-SX Pro, but there doesn’t seem to be a direct download anywhere
nice video! is there a way to play using an ableton rack? how can i connect all?
Absolutely! I can’t remember if the Octapad has MIDI through USB, so I’d look at getting some 5-pin MIDI cables and going through an audio interface that has MIDI. Then you can check out my playlist on Ableton and follow the steps for connecting a drum pad! I use the SPD-SX for that video, but the general steps will be the same
Hi Harry. Great video. Can I connect the octopad to speakers so I can hear the sound through those as opposed to headphones. Thanks!
Thanks so much! You absolutely can. You can use the headphone output or the “Master L & R” outputs to go through speakers
Thanks!
Hey Harry.. Great video. Thanks. I'm an amateur player. I wanna buy a drumpad, do you recommend Spx pro or octapad 30?
Hey Pierre! Great question, it really depends on your situation and what you need. The Octopad is amazing, but is over 10 years old. The SPD-SX PRO can do all the Octopad can and more, but is heavily weighted on the ‘one shot’ sample side of things (and is WAY more expensive). If you can afford it, I’d always recommend the SPD-SX PRO as it’s a good way to future proof yourself but may have too many features than you need
@@DrumElectric Thanks Harry.. much appreciated
Bro what mic you use for vocal
I was testing out a lav mic. I believe it’s just the cheapest I could find on Amazon and then some EQ in Logic!
How to import sound to spd 30?
Unfortunately you can’t on this model
Hi! Do you know how can I do to change the kits for a left handed drummer? thanks!!
How would you like it set? In theory it shouldn’t make any difference as it’s not a left hand/right hand piece of gear!
@@DrumElectric Hi, Harry. I used to play acustic drums in the crossed wayt, and I noticed all the kits on the spd come organized for right handed drummers. Its like I should need all the pads in mirror: I used to play: hi hat on the right, snare in the middle, "chancha" (big tom) on the left and down, tom 1 (low) up and left, and tom 2 (high) up and right. But everything seems to be backwards for a left handed person who plays crossed... :( What should I do? change pad by pad in every kit? Is there another way? Thank you
@chantalrosengurt4820 ah that completely makes sense! Unfortunately without any software with this pad (as it’s very old now!) I think the only way to swap everything would be to painfully change each pad ☹️
Learn to play right handed.
i honestly hate to admit this but I have had my octapd for over a year and i could not figure out how to use the click until very recently. That said, i love it and play it a lot as a mini kit - KD8 - Tama kick pedal and Tama Hi HAt - V11s . I have played it so much but it still looks as good as new and I don't have a seperate snare. I am interested in the Roland SP sc pro - does that not have dual velocities?
I’m with you! Took me ages to find the click option. Some of them are really hard to find or figure out! The new SPD-SX PRO does have dual velocities, yes! It’s like the more refined version of the Octapad in terms of playing
@@DrumElectric thank you so much for your reply! do you think you'll be able to hook up the octapad as the midi slave to the spd sx pro? Or is it just pretty much a replacement? Roland are very good at this stuff. I live in a small unit and without this i would have zero drums which is not ok. :)
It’s funny you say that, because that’s exactly what I did out of curiosity! 😆 so yes, you can have it linked together. The only thing I haven’t had time to figure out yet is whether the Octapad is treated as an extension of the SPDSX-PRO, or if it is just assigned to the already-plotted midi notes
@@DrumElectric now that is a video I would love to see.- I'm curious because if i used the spd sx pro as the main module that'll ii'll accidentally smash the face of it
@@aishadixon148 I have that fear too!! I've used it on a few shows now though and it's incredibly robust! Still terrifying though, haha!!
Two questions:
Do you think these sounds are compared to a td-17 or td-25
Do you believe Roland will make another version of it ? It’s been a couple years now
The sounds on the TD-17 and 25 I would presume are better as they’re newer machines. But they’re different beasts! The Octapad generally has more percussive sounds, whereas the TD-17 and 25 will have more ‘drum kit’ based sounds.
I doubt Roland will make another version as you can do everything on this on the newer sample pads. The only thing missing would be the live looping, but that’s easily fixed with a loop pedal. Plus with the newer ones, you can import your own samples whereas the Octapad, you can’t!
@@DrumElectric yeah I just wish there was some way to have different sound along with the with the sensitivity to have a more natural drum feel
Although way more expensive, the new SPD-SX PRO does exactly that!
Does it have Bluetooth?
It doesn’t