Roland Electronic Drums

Paul White picks up his sticks and puts Roland’s electronic kit through its paces. Can it hold its head up against some stiff competition?

The Perfect Beat

Is this the ideal way to programme rhythm patterns into your drum machine? Paul Ireson gives Roland's updated drum-to-MIDI convertor a good bashing!

Drumcheck

Bob Henrit misses the Kinks to hit the kit

MIDI Drum Pad

A clever pad-to-MIDI converter takes some stick from Matt Isaacson. A blow-by-blow account.

Drumcheck

Eight pads, one reviewer. Bob Henrit puts one over the eight

Following the success of the Octapad and Octapad II, Roland have come down-budget with a MIDI percussion controller to suit all pockets. Simon Trask scores a hit.

Roland strike a happy note with a new MIDI percussion device that doesn't fill the stage or empty your pocket. Nigel Lord and Alex Murray declare it a hit.

MIDI Pad Controller

Roland's follow-up to their successful Pad8 Octapad features expanded memory and enhanced programmability. Simon Trask hits it off with Roland's new percussion controller.

Electronic Drums

Pick up sticks; the latest electronic kit from Roland doesn't come with its own voices but Nicholas Rowland discovers its MIDI converter may have other uses in the studio.

Total Percussion Pad

On the trail of Roland's successful Octapads comes the SPD8 - a MIDI percussion controller with a neat line in onboard sounds. Simon Trask says beat it.

Roland SPD8 Total Percussion Pad

Roland's latest 8-pad midi percussion controller adds internal sounds to a tried and tested formula. Paul Ireson checks it out.

Phil Collins explores the Octapads.

The 1000-piece Drum Kit

Hot percussion news

Beating Like This

...Beating Like This. In the third part in our series on creative drum programming, Chris Meyer and Matt Isaacson take a detailed look at the various trigger-to-MIDI converters now available.