Roland TD-17 Version 2 Update Review 

I'm glad you're happy with it! Definitely a step up from the previous presets!

Totally agree! It'd be such an easy win that it must be hardware related.

Wow, thank you 🙏

You can make a full backup, update the module then reload the backup. That will overwrite the new samples with your previous backup and samples. But it will future-proof you for my next kits that will only work on v2 😁

@@TheeDrumWorkshop this requires 2 different sd cards correct? Just swap them out?

@@caltown79 No, you can make multiple backups on the same SD card. There are 100 slots you can save backups to. You can also have the update file on the same SD card, they're all separate processes.

Agreed!

TOTALLY AGREE. However, just like the volume knob being tied to both, I suspect it's a hardware limitation.

Thank you 🙏

Yes, nothing was removed from the previous version. All of the original 50 presets are there, they've just been switched around. All of the instruments are there and the samples are still there too, just a couple of samples are renamed.

Did you ever get a fix?

Same question. Did they ever patch this or is it a fact of life with v. 2.0?

Sorry, just seen this. I believe that it was something that actually happened in the last update prior to 2.00 (1.02, I think). From what I've read, someone got a response from Roland which explained that there was a bug in previous versions where the volume dial didn't use its full range - the entire volume spectrum was confined to approximately 2/3 of the volume dial. So the volume was maxing out at the 3 o'clock position rather than around 5 o'clock where the dial stops turning, meaning the last section of the dial did nothing. They apparently fixed this bug and redistributed the volume across the entire dial. In theory the maximum volume of the module should still be the same as before, you might just need to have it set a bit higher than you did before the bug was fixed. Whether or not this is 100% accurate, I can't say - this is just what this person reports that Roland told them.

@@TheeDrumWorkshop Thanks Luke. And nice to have an answer minutes after I asked! I'd been wondering. 👍

Does anyone have a practical fix to this? I now need to have the volume at 100% and it's still lower than I want...

I'm not sure I understand why you would need this? It's more likely that you're playing a different subdivision of a lower tempo, so I would personally just use 16th notes at 200bpm for "8ths at 400bpm". 400bpm as a "true" usable tempo is pretty much inhuman.

@@TheeDrumWorkshop not that complicated man. On coach > time check or quiet count, only discrete moments are checked for accuracy. These are spaced as per the bpm. Say I want to play in 140 bpm, not very fast, but I want to train my 8ths on the high hat? Then these are spaced at 280bpm and I already can't set the bpm that high. Whatever you're saying about 16th notes has no effect on checked time in coach modes. 260bpm is the max "resolution" in checking notes. The click is just that: extra clicking.

Ok. I rarely use the coach modes so didn't realise that it doesn't judge the subdivisions. Good to know.

I'd recommend them to anyone 😀 simple but good tools for drills

I'm really now sure how the memory is installed on these modules but I think it might be integrated on the board rather than a MicroSD like the SPD-SX. I could be wrong but I'm not willing to open my TD-17 up to find out since I need it for development 😅 I upgraded my old SPD-SX's memory too and it was great!

Hey! Unfortunately the Transient feature wasn't added to the TD-17. It's definitely odd that Roland left this feature out just for this module. Every kit can take up a different amount of space so I'm not able to say "you can fit X kits on". They all use one kit slot, but it's the sample memory that can differ - they're separate memories that interact. There is only approximately 32mb of User Sample space on the TD-17 in total. Some kits don't contain any samples so they won't take up any sample space, whereas you could technically fill the sample space with one kit if it had a lot of samples or ones that were big enough. All of the kits on my store have at least some samples and they can range from 1-2% up to 20%+. I usually detail the space they take up in the manuals and you can view those on the product pages before purchasing (I think only Huge 'N' Heavy and Famous Vol. 1 kits omit this information but I can find it for you if you need it.) I can't speak for other brands/vendors though!

@@TheeDrumWorkshop Thanks for your feedback. I resolved by purchasing a used TD-27 for nearly half the price. The difference compared to the TD-07 is significant, i'm very happy with it. I will definitely buy one of your metal kits.

I believe the volume dial had a bug that was fixed in v1.02. Previously only 2/3 or so of the volume knob actually increased the volume, so once you got to around 2 o'clock on the dial, it was at maximum volume. The fix redistributed the volume curve so that the full dial is used for the same volume range. So the overall max volume of the module shouldn't be any different, you'll just have to set it a bit higher to reach the same level.

You just connect the two jacks from your ride cymbal (bow/edge output and bell output) to the corresponding cables on your TD-17's cable snake (RD and RDB respectively). There are no digital inputs on the TD-17. My setup in this video is running into my TD-50X then sending the MIDI data to the TD-17, hence the digital snare/ride.

Hi Max. Really sorry for the delay, don't know how I missed your comment. If you've still not updated, here's an answer for you - any kits saved from the 2.0 version won't load on a previous version, unfortunately. It's a limitation that appears to apply to every software update on any of the Roland modules I've owned. I assume it's due to the difference in settings and possibly things like bug fixes (when that applies).

@@TheeDrumWorkshop oooh) Thanks for the answer 👍✌ I haven’t updated yet) Thx 😊 Luke, but tell me please, in the new firmware version, there are still installation sets from version 2.0 or some have been replaced or have new ones been added to those that were? And it would not be bad for Roland to expand the number of free slots for downloadable sets) Regards Max

It's labelled in the top corner - it's the YamRecCust kit from The eDW Originals Premium pack 😁 A custom kit I made using samples from a Yamaha Recording Custom acoustic kit. It's available from my store here - YamRecCust kit - theedrumworkshop.com/products/yamreccust-td17 The eDW Originals Premium pack (YamRecCust + StarEncore) - theedrumworkshop.com/products/originals-premium-td17

I have my Famous: METAL kits available here - theedrumworkshop.com/products/famous-metal-td17 😁🤘

In this video I'm using the Lemon LE-HHC12 hi-hats. I did a review of them that explains how they can work with the TD-17 due to a 3mm washer that was included with them. Check out the review to see why these two piece hi-hats can work (it might give you ideas for getting others to work too) - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TuAyEZDWUzs.html

Nicely spotted!

To be honest, that kit doesn't stand out as being amazing to me, so I don't understand why dedicating so much space to it was deemed acceptable.

The tracks can be split up into individual tracks in your daw. You will have to research the process for doing so.

Hi Steve. Thanks for your continued support with the purchases. I hope you're enjoying your new TD-17! The eDW Originals Premium (YRC and StarEncore) takes up approx. 24% in total if you install the "4 Tom" version or approx. 21% if you install the "3 Tom" version. The Slated Room Collection takes up approx. 31% in total. All of these kits come with an alternative "snares off" version, so if you don't install those and only install the "snares on" versions, that will roughly halve the amount of space it uses. I don't have the exact figures to hand for each individual file, but looking at the file sizes that seems about right. The eDW Originals Studio takes up approx. 47% in total due to the House Kit using 36% (cymbal samples take up a lot of room, that's why I stopped using them after this). So that's not going to fit without deleting some. So at a push you might get the Premium and Slated Room kits on there without deleting any stock samples if you don't install the "snares off" versions of the Slated kits. Otherwise you're going to need to remove some stock samples. Depending on how many of the packs you want to get, you can use the SD Card backup feature (SETUP > SD Card > Save Backup) to have different backups with different kits. For example, you could install the Premium kits to the module as it is now, then create a backup of this to your SD card. Once the backup is made, you can go into the User Sample menu and use the "Delete All" function. This will remove all of the eDW kit samples and the stock Roland ones. Then you can install more packs to the module, use up as much memory as necessary (overwrite the previous kit slots) and create a second backup to your SD card. You can swap between these with the SD Card > Load Backup function and it should only take a couple of minutes to load a backup that's 100% "full". If you wanted to plan it out differently, you could do so for flexibility (for example, just make a backup for the stock kits then do the second backup with only my kits etc). I hope that helps!

@@TheeDrumWorkshop thanks Luke! Two questions for you 1. If I delete the stock samples, are they gone forever or do you get them back with a factory reset? 2. If I factory reset on version 2 to get any stock samples back does the factory reset delete the version 2 update? Note* Sweetwater updated the module for me after purchase.

No problem! 1. Yes, as long as you have the "Reset with User Sample" box checked, it will remove any added samples and restore the stock samples during the factory reset 2. No, the reset just brings it back to a "factory" version of the current software version installed

I have 3 videos all about the TD-27 update! One explaining the issues it caused to my custom kits and how to fix them, one showing how to update my custom kits now that they've been updated and a review video like this one.

@@TheeDrumWorkshop Oh my 🤦🏽‍♂️ My apologies I will get caught up 😅 Thanks for responding and for all you do!

@@daaaMook No problem at all! They don't always get served up to the people who are interested! 😒

Yes, if the box is not checked then it will be turned off!

Hey Steve! I believe I've just replied to your email, but here's my response for the benefit of yourself or anyone else reading! - I have a couple of videos that might help with your situation. The first is my Pad EQ video that might help you improve the sounds of your cymbals on your own. You can watch that here - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-UlT067YUsj8.html The next is my custom kit loading tutorial in case you decide that you'd rather purchase kits from my store. Here's the link to that - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-c6C6YR2Dpcw.html All of my kits also come with a PDF installation guide too which can be downloaded from the product pages before purchase if you want to check them out first. A few of my most recent kits come with multiple files for different pad setups, so the process is slightly different - you'll need to check the manuals to see what the differences are between the pad assignments then pick one set of files to load to your SD card. But if you're familiar with general copying/pasting on a computer and managing an SD card, I doubt you'll run into any real issues! Beyond that, the best way to get a feel for the sounds of my kits is just to have a listen to the demo videos available on the product pages or on my RU-vid channel. If you listen with the same headphones/monitors that you use when you play your own kit, that should give you the most accurate representation of what you'll hear when they're loaded. I have one pack that has new cymbal samples added (The eDW House Kit which is part of The eDW Originals Studio pack). Unfortunately the sample space on the module is quite limited and cymbal samples are very long, therefore taking up quite a bit of space. The other kits are using onboard cymbal sounds, but many are modelled (layered, tuned and/or EQ'd) to make them sound different to the stock settings. I hope that helps and that you enjoy any kits that you pick up. If you have any further questions, just let me know.

There are quite a lot of videos on RU-vid about compression. They're mostly aimed at people using plugins on their computer but the settings found in them (attack, release, threshold, gain, knee etc) are usually universal. I'm hoping to do a video about it in the future myself but I can't promise when it would be.

@@TheeDrumWorkshop i am looking forward to it... take your time! your videos has helped me improved how to tweak my td-17 module! u can check my videos and give some feedback on how it sounds :)

😂

Hey! The triggering accuracy (sensitivity, tracking of dynamics etc) is just as good for the pads that it supports, yeah. However, you won't get some of the more advanced features like positional sensing on the TD-17 with any pads. The positional sensing isn't just tonal variation across the head, it also allows for shallow and deep rimshots (different tone depending on where you hit the rimshot), as well as giving you a "rim click" when you hit just the rim. So on the TD-17 you'll just get a head and rim zone for the snare and toms, plus you get the X-stick mode for the snare which is more of a velocity switch (changes from cross-stick to rimshot when you hit harder with this activated). The TD-17 doesn't support the digital pads so you lose out on some of the extra triggering benefits of those pads.

@@TheeDrumWorkshop thanks as always Luke . I am currently using the Alesis strike on an A2E set up for my group. It’s a disaster and I have tried everything with tweaking the cross talk and trigger settings. Alesis seems to only work well with there own pads! Take care.

For €1500 I would absolutely buy that myself. The TD-27 module alone is over €1000 new and all of the other pads are somewhere between €300 and €800 each when bought new too. Great deal, in my opinion.

Yes, it has Master L&R outputs that you can send to a mixer, as well as the headphone output. However the downside is that both the headphones and Master outputs share the same volume dial, so getting the balance right between both can be a little awkward.

I'm having the same problem. Thought I was going crazy...

@@BgirlSakura Reply from Roland support - this works Certain new settings have been applied in Version 2.0 to allow for an enhanced dynamic range from the pads. There are a few things you can adjust that will help: -Increase the Sensitivity for each of the pads slightly. (SETUP > Pad Settings > Sensitivity. -Increase the Kit Volume level in each of the Kits. (OTHER > F3 [VOLUME] > Kit Volume). -Increase the Gain setting using the new Kit Compression feature. (OTHER > F1 [KIT COMP] >F2 [DETAIL] > Gain). -Increase the Audio In and Song Levels. (F2 [MIX VOL] > Audio In /Song). We hope this clarifies things. Thank you for choosing Roland and BOSS products! Hope that helps

@@mandrumsmandrums hey thanks for replying! May I ask what your settings are for these parameters? I just tried this and it does help raise the drum volume to a decent amount. I do notice that the moment I start to play songs from my phone through Bluetooth, the volume of the drum set drops again and sounds really muddy.😩

I have no idea! The 07 has some features that the 17 doesn't even have (the overheads function) so I don't know if there's a lot more to add!

The module on its own seems to be about £50 more than it was when I bought it (I paid £1120, it's generally ~£1170 on most sites), so there's a good £540 or so between it and the TD-17! The full kits have crept up too, I think, though the new configd with the digital hats are probably overall better value (I don't keep up with their prices as often though, tbh).

Sorry to hear that. Feel free to check out my kits at theedrumworkshop.com/collections/td17-kits for more improved sounds too.

@@TheeDrumWorkshop THANKS!!!!