Unbiased, candid review, tutorial, demo, and how to video of the Digitech SDRUM Strummable Drums, drum machine guitar pedal. *SUBSCRIBE* / @reidsreviews For more reviews go to www.reidsreviews.com
It sounds like some of the user frustration is with the SDRUM not nailing the beat you're tapping/strumming in - i.e. It sounds like it is shifting or misinterpreting the feel of the rhythm you're going for. If that's the case, you have to absolutely nail the '1' when you finish tapping out your rhythm. If you're off by a tiny bit, it will incorporate that bit of space you added or left out & the feel of the rhythm will shift because of the pedal's syncing function. I found that in my first day or so using the SDRUM, but you can clean up your 'punch out' on the footswitch & get what you're after for the basic kick/snare patterns. Also, training it to pickup your strumming variations between kick and snare is tricky. If you go top three strings for kick and bottom three for snare, you'll get some tonal similarities that will confuse the pedal. I use mine on bass and have best luck using single strings spaced furthest apart. (Muted E is kick; muted G is snare.) I still prefer using the pads for total accuracy on complex or crowded drum patterns, but again you can improve the pedal's functionality by adjusting your approach. Just my 2-cents, as I've been getting some great use out of this thing...
Nice comment, I'm glad you've been able to tame it and make some good use oit of it! The sounds from the kits really are nice. For access to my library of reviews don't forget to subscribe :) ru-vid.com/show-UC50M5kowQE905DDpz5g98tg
I have had one for a month or so but I haven't been able to delve into it .I want to give it the time needed but I'm in the middle of moving for the first time in over 25 yrs so my life is a wreck right now.i' m also a bassist but my 63 yr old brain is technology resistant as it is for some of us that grew up before the computer age.lol.Hope to get a reasonable outcome.
Great video! Really liked how you demonstrated the pedal. I agree that the kits on the pedal seem to sound pretty good. I don’t think I’d get this though as I have no real use for it, but the video was a great watch! Also I wanted to mention that I noticed an improvement in the quality of your video, well done!
I had one for years, loved it. it was nearly perfect. you can't edit or tweak drum sounds. some of the snares are too loud but I loved it. if it was a tad bit different it would be perfect
I agree with your conclusions. I bought it when it first came out and just could not make it work for me. It's to complex, takes to long to get what you want. I just needed something simpler. I still have it, but I am going to try to sell it and get a BeatBuddy Mini 2 instead.
Do you have to calibrate the guitar bass drum strings and snare drum strings every single time you want to play a beat or only the 1st time you plug your guitar in?
Hey so I'm trying to follow along with what you're doing, but it's going off the rails at around 2:30. When I push the bottom foot switch to make the "learn" button flash, it doesn't go into record mode, but it just starts playing whatever was just recorded. Even if I unplug the pedal and plug it back in this still happens. Can you please help? Thanks.
I love the drum sounds but I struggle to delete 'songs' using the press and hold footswitch as advised. The beats are still there afterwards! I must be doing something wrong...
I use this pedal for a year. There is one big problem with this pedal. In sync with DigiTech looper, Sdrum sometimes make loop to “hickup” for the quarter of beat. Thats can be very frustrating in live gig. I contacted tech support, they are know for this issue but thay dont have a solution.
Well. That sucks. I was thinking about "upgrading" from the 'original' JamMan Solo SD to the XT model because the SD does not have a Jam Sync jack. Thanks for that news because nowhere else have I heard about that issue.
Buddy, is it really so difficult to set up a linear sound for recording a demo of a device? This is really nonsense on rip-audio, it’s not at all clear what quality this pedal is and what kind of drum samples there are ... I’ll look for another video about this pedal.
It takes a bit of practice but this thing is still an amazing tool for performance and recording in 2024 in my opinion. The worst thing is the layout. They put both the volume and tempo right above the stomp button. Sooo dumb! I had the duct tape across both to stop accidentally hitting them and throwing everything off and louder or quieter in the middle of a take or performance. They easily could have swapped places with the top two dials that select the kits, time signature, hi hat patterns etc. Otherwise this thing is still the best free flow outboard production drum/percussion gear for the money. Frustrating at first to program what you want but you can get what you need with a few tries and practice. The sound quality for the kits is top notch and a lot of happy accidents are made. Best part is it automatically stores your last programmed rhythm on I believe 24 or more banks so when you do nail the beat you want you have forever the next time you turn it on. Preserving more than a couple set lists for fire all future performances. Pair it through jam sync with a jam man or 5 (my rig) and you have a real full band experience. I love this thing quirks and all and still have yet to find anything in the outboard gear market to compare as far as sound quality and work flow.
Is there a way to speed up or slow down the tempo with a pedal while it is playing? Also When using the guitar as drums , you finish and you stop it no problem but when you wanna start a new rhythm (new song) you need to delete what you have recorded so when you press and hold the button to delete, the last rhythm starts playing for afew seconds before it gets deleted . . is there a way to eliminate that? thank you I wanna use it on the stage as a solo musician and that makes it impossible. Subscribed. Thank you
Hi, I no longer have this pedal so I'm no longer able to experiment with it. I did look at the manual, and as you probably already know, it states that with the external foot switch playback must be stopped before using it to tap the tempo. If you find out anything differently, respond with a comment. Thanks!
I used many Digitech products and their multi effect pedals are awesome. However..My experience with their loopers and other practice devices were not so good. It always seem to make an incomplete product so they can do a follow up on it. It’s a common selling campaign strategy but sometimes it is just too obvious. The Trio and the Trio plus, Jamman Solo and the XT are just few examples. The SDRUM could be an awesome pedal if it had: 1)not only 3/4 and 4/4 options. Creative guitarists need to create odd meters to expand. 2) A looper function! Not a must have but could make this pedal all in one for a quick plug N play, without running it through a looper. For these reasons, I recommend to wait till digitech address these factors.
i bought this some time ago and found it ok to a point, but was frustrating me to no end wanting n getting the beat i was chasing, therefore i haven't played it now for month not a recommend,
Nobody does just a basic beat on these reviews also no foot switch. What if you just want a kick by its self or dose it have to complicate it thanks for the effort
You can do a kick by itself. Don't let some people discourage you. The pedal is cheap enough and a good tutorial video on YT will set you straight. You don't need to use the guitar to make a beat, its much easier without it.
I love the Digitech Trio Plus. It includes base lines as well. Check out the review.: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-c2mnEA1voZg.html For access to my library of reviews don't forget to subscribe :) ru-vid.com/show-UC50M5kowQE905DDpz5g98tg
It's not called "S" Drum, it is called SDRUM, pronounced like "strum" but with a D. It's a play on words meaning a drum that you strum. Almost as confusing as the "O"Neders instead of Wonders, in "That Thing You Do."
Great question... Although it's not the exact same thing, I love the digitech trio plus. Drums aren't nearly as configurable, but there is there is a variety of selections. It also has a bass line generator, a basic looper and the ability to sequence multiple tracks. The beat buddy is also something that I'm planning on getting and reviewing.
I think so. It's super configurable if you're willing to put the time into it. It just requires a fair amount of time and patience. For access to my library of reviews don't forget to subscribe :) ru-vid.com/show-UC50M5kowQE905DDpz5g98tg
With the exception of something that changes drum patterns every measure, you can pretty much program any rhythms/patterns that you can physically tap out with the kick & snare buttons. To me the more obvious limitation is the kit sounds. You may not get the exact combo you're looking for in terms of the kick & snare timbre, and you'll have to get to know the different options for cymbals, hi-hats, rides, etc. Those are basically preset to different patterns/accents, but I haven't found them to be severely lacking. It's a sub-$100 drum pedal, so just don't go in expecting a complex drum programming unit & I think you'll find it capable of doing what you need. Hopefully that makes sense...
love it but the strum teaching is not right better to tap it out it does misinterpret its glitchy maybe effects are tricking it but i tried it clean too still misfires
It can work with either guitar or bass. Thanks for commenting! For access to my library of reviews don't forget to subscribe :) ru-vid.com/show-UC50M5kowQE905DDpz5g98tg
It really isn't complex. This is the impression I got from some youtubers while others made it very simple. I bought one as it's only $139 and I'm glad I did. It's pretty easy to learn, at least all the basics. Its very easy to get started. It just looks complicated, but take 10 minutes to learn it and it's worth it. Too bad you sent it back.
Damn! Thought i commented on this pedal here long ago but,..anyway,..a fine pedal of the “Drum Machine” regiment to own & use! The “Jam Sync” feature alone gives one full advantages with midi on your pedalboard with other gear or midi compatible gear. Of course works well w/various Digitech pedals; JamMan Solo XT etc;…but what i dig the most is one can create your own beats/drum Rythm patterns and not have to just deal with what’s offered!! b(‘_
User interface is so unintuitive, but probably most of that comes from the challenge of trying to fit the design into a standard guitar pedal size. Aside from all of that, the samples aren’t to good in my opinion, in 2019 where that is a make or break for consumers. Overall I was considering purchasing this used, but I’ll stick to a drum machine/ keyboard triggered drum loops for my intents and purposes. The novel idea of strumming to trigger samples seems like a tricky gimmick as confirmed by this vid...
Too bad you didn't buy it. I happen to think it's great. Don't be discouraged by people that don't know how to use it. Its 10 mins of learning it. I almost didn't get it because I watched videos of people being frustrated with it. Then I watched other really use it to its capabilities. Is it perfect? No. It can't give the nuance and dynamics a drummer can give in real time. Is it a great practice tool for a guitar player? Absolutely.
I love this pedal. i can't say enough good things about it.first, to compare it to beatbuddy isn't accurate. this pedal is for guitarists/keyboardists/bassists that want to MAKE THEIR OWN BEAT. no matter how simple or complex. the way it builds on what you make is really great and can come up with surprising results. I have used it as only making one beat and jamming over that each time. finally getting into creating songs and everything else and it is just great. the first thing you MUST do is get the FOOTSWITCH. there are some cool features with it, the best one is the setting where you can change from VERSE/CHORUS/BRIDGE with the footswitch. that is great cause you can switch between parts as soon or as long as you like, and you can adjust the complexity of the symbals/hi hats/toms, and stuff for each part, as well as the intensity the drums hit, for each part. it is fairly easy to learn. the fact that it takes a little while is a good sign. it shows it has plenty to offer. I can't recommend it enough. oh, and DON'T PLUG YOUR GUITAR INTO IT. I use it separately! on it's own, into my mixer and tascam 24dp. I also have it raised up so I use the bass and snare button to make the beats. it is a great pedal and a huge leap forward for easy to use drum machines that make your beats better for you
Thanks for the review first of all. Good point made all around. While I've only had it two weekends, I've found it useful in the 10 hours or so of use. Think some of it depends on where you are at and purpose. I only have a few years experience and the first 1.5 years was hampered a bit by just learning open chords and trying to play my favorite songs with little or no backing music. In the last 6 months or so my focus has been on timing, so just having something like this to jam along using chords in a key is not only fun, but seems like an inherent learning mechanism for timing. Also, one of the big attractions of this was the verse, chorus, bridge options. As someone that has not played with a drummer, it's fun learning to move between parts of songs. Actually quite exhilarating. Got the footswitch just for the ability that skyflyer above said. On demand changes to each of these sections and the extra embellishments at any point in the song. And I can have the pedal on a table top next to me for playing around with the various options and live control on the floor. I did also find it odd to set the beat with the guitar. Like the pad better. I'm running into a looper. Prior, I'd do a chord progression and then solo over it. Now I can tune that same chord progression to a drum beat and have it sound 10x better because of the drum and fact that it's in time. Then solo over something much better. Finally, as someone that knows nothing about drums... just giving a general beat and have this thing create a realistic drum pattern allows a lot of creativity. I used the same song setting last weekend and just played difference chord progressions and guitar tones and came up with some really interesting stuff. For $70 used, I think it has already paid for itself in what a few guitar lessons would have cost.
Sounds like you don't use the "strum" portion which I find extremely inaccurate and was a deal breaker for me. Hitting the same string the same exact way would randomly produce a snare or kick. Never consistent through so many various calibration attempts with various eq, attack approaches, pick vs finger, nothing made is seem to be more accurate.
Next a pedal for drummers that makes piano parts and a pedal for bass players that makes guitar parts. I will pass. I would rather play with a drummer. Hard to have chemistry,a beer, or become lifelong friends who talk about the great times they had with a pedal. Music is emotion. A pedal is not. Will never create anything unique with this. Just the most generic straight forward beats.
