TD30 seems in short supply

[dingaling]

I was contemplating selling my Roland TD 30 module. Looking on eBay the prices seem to hover around $1,500 used, but what surprised me is the lack of them. There are only a couple for sale, I’d of thought there would be 30-50. There’s like 3-4 used ones.
I’m not using it right now and thought I’ll either upgrade or downgrade or buy another in a couple years.
Not sure what I’m going to do yet. The module itself is amazing.

 

[DrumKeys]

I know, I had been looking myself for a TD30. Then I realized it's not enough of an upgrade from my TD20 (expanded). I ended up getting a Mimic pro which I'm very happy with. But if I ever came across a great deal on a TD30 I just might be tempted.

 

[Tommy D]

I know, I had been looking myself for a TD30. Then I realized it's not enough of an upgrade from my TD20 (expanded). I ended up getting a Mimic pro which I'm very happy with. But if I ever came across a great deal on a TD30 I just might be tempted.

I've owned a TD-20X side by side with my TD-30 and the 30 is a very nice upgrade, IMO. I haven't used the Mimic, but I hear it's a great module.

 

[flurbs]

It's been discontinued for about 3 years!

 

[dingaling]

It's been discontinued for about 3 years!

Yes, but it was around for many years and they sold a lot of them. Seem like drummers are holding onto them.

 

[DrumKeys]

I've owned a TD-20X side by side with my TD-30 and the 30 is a very nice upgrade, IMO. I haven't used the Mimic, but I hear it's a great module.

I'm still in the learning stage with it but I'm really happy with it. Before you mentioned the Mimic in an earlier thread I had never even heard of it, so thanks for that. I've heard many good things about the TD-30 and would love to have one but after buying the Mimic I'll sit tight with that and my TD20x. My VH-11 works really well with the Mimic which to me is the most critical part of e-drums.

But I'm curious, besides more sounds, what else did you like better about the TD-30 over the TD-20x?

 

[Tommy D]

I'm still in the learning stage with it but I'm really happy with it. Before you mentioned the Mimic in an earlier thread I had never even heard of it, so thanks for that. I've heard many good things about the TD-30 and would love to have one but after buying the Mimic I'll sit tight with that and my TD20x. My VH-11 works really well with the Mimic which to me is the most critical part of e-drums.

But I'm curious, besides more sounds, what else did you like better about the TD-30 over the TD-20x?

Well, since I have the VH-13 hats I couldn't use the TD-20X for that, but overall triggering seemed smoother, the positional sensing was better and the snare was leaps better. Sure the sounds are great too. Much more nuance and less machine gunning. I think a lot of it came from the "supernatural" programming they did for the module.

As you probably know, the TD-30 has all the TD-20 sounds preloaded in it, so if you do ever find one for a good price you can switch over and not lose all the sounds you are used to. The only down side I see to the TD-30 is that the new snare sounds do not have an option for "snare wires off". It's not really the end of the world, but every module prior has snare sounds that gave you the option to turn the wires off. Unfortunately that doesnt exist on the new snare sounds of the TD-30.

 

[Bangkok Drum]

They have lost so much value here. I regularly sell them now for 29,900 baht, which is under 1000 USD in perfect condition. I still love this module.

 

[wolfereeno]

I bet most people who wanted to moved to TD50 have already done so. And those who gave up on Roland for sound quality and are switching to VST's, like me, aren't bothering to upgrade.

 

[Super_Freak]

Love my TD-30 and would never think to get rid of it. It replaced a TD-20 expanded which I ended up selling. The TD-30 is a backup to my Pearl Mimic Pro which is actually my daily/gigging kit.

With the drastic sound engine change from the TD-30 to the TD-50, I can imagine many TD-30 owners (like me) are holding on to their modules as it really is a great module (Roland's best IMO). I remember I couldn’t wait until I received my TD-50 only to be disappointed and let down.

 

[wolfereeno]

Love my TD-30 and would never think to get rid of it. It replaced a TD-20 expanded which I ended up selling. The TD-30 is a backup to my Pearl Mimic Pro which is actually my daily/gigging kit.

With the drastic sound engine change from the TD-30 to the TD-50, I can imagine many TD-30 owners (like me) are holding on to their modules as it really is a great module (Roland's best IMO). I remember I couldn’t wait until I received my TD-50 only to be disappointed and let down.

So you really had a lot of side by side comparison time with the TD30 and 50. I've only played it in stores or listened online. Did you go as far as selling the TD50?

What were the biggest let downs?

I didn't hate it - just didn't feel like it was worth 4 grand for the upgrade kit of the module, snare and cymbal. Especially since it didn't sound as good as SD3

Also hopefully a more interesting evolution is around the corner. The Roland all digital pad is a brute force way to solve a problem and is way too expensive.

I think BopPads, Erae Touch, Sun Drums, etc demonstrate that a dynamic and expressive drum can be less technically complicated.

 

[Super_Freak]

So you really had a lot of side by side comparison time with the TD30 and 50. I've only played it in stores or listened online. Did you go as far as selling the TD50?

What were the biggest let downs?

I didn't hate it - just didn't feel like it was worth 4 grand for the upgrade kit of the module, snare and cymbal. Especially since it didn't sound as good as SD3

Also hopefully a more interesting evolution is around the corner. The Roland all digital pad is a brute force way to solve a problem and is way too expensive.

I think BopPads, Erae Touch, Sun Drums, etc demonstrate that a dynamic and expressive drum can be less technically complicated.

Yes, I was able to compare the two modules side-by-side...IMO, TD30 has the better sounds for my tastes, which is why I still own it.

The biggest issue for me with the TD50 was the sounds, especially the snares. I installed expansion kits from VExpressions and Drum-Tec, but was never satisfied. I ended up going with SD3 and started triggering that from the TD50. SD3 sounds are phenomenal! After a few years, I finally sold the TD50/snare/ride - I couldn't stand the thought of it sitting around collecting dust after spending so much on it.

I do think the digital pads are superior, but like you said, way too expensive to be practical.

 

[Bangkok Drum]

Yes, I was able to compare the two modules side-by-side...IMO, TD30 has the better sounds for my tastes, which is why I still own it.

The biggest issue for me with the TD50 was the sounds, especially the snares. I installed expansion kits from VExpressions and Drum-Tec, but was never satisfied. I ended up going with SD3 and started triggering that from the TD50. SD3 sounds are phenomenal! After a few years, I finally sold the TD50/snare/ride - I couldn't stand the thought of it sitting around collecting dust after spending so much on it.

I do think the digital pads are superior, but like you said, way too expensive to be practical.

I agree that the 50 was not compelling enough to warrant an upgrade from the 30. I also feel that the 50X is a huge leap forward and completely buries the original 50 and 30, especially now with the new VH14D.

I was never super happy with the expansion kits because I play mostly metal and this genre is really largely ignored in the products. This is exactly why I started my own company to make expansions just for hard rock and metal LOL. If you can't find it; make it, right?

However, I stick with my original post that I still love the 30. It was easy to program and play and really sounded great with music from the era when it was made. Unfortunately, the sounds do not really suit newer styles of music, but if you are going the vst route, then this is a nonissue anyway. Happy drumming all!

 

[wolfereeno]

Thx guys! I was thinking about that module, cymbal, snare upgrade after reading the specs of the 50X. I didn't love the sounds I listened to online but was thinking about just playability and better triggering SD3. The only thing I haven't perfected with SD3 is triggering my HH. I think I need to figure out a way of filtering the pedal CC"s.

But the way I use my edrums is a lot different than trying to duplicate regular drums - I do that too for recording for others or practice. But musically for myself I guess, I'm interested in layering lots of non-drum sounds and have them do all sorts of strange things with scales and stuff using ableton max or other things.

 

[Tymp2002]

If I were buying a new Roland module, I would have to go with the TD-50 or the TD-50X. The reason is I want the digital ride, snare, and HH capabilities; and the TD-50 upgrade/TD-50X has 32-channel USB out capabilities, more than enough for any recording project.

As to the sounds, it now has more than double the sounds as before. And many of those sounds are similar to TD-30. In addition to that, did you know the TD-50/50X has more sound modification control than any other? And you can layer its sounds, and/or imported samples?

Most of the sounds you hear online are "stock" sounds and in many cases intended as templates or starting sounds. I can get any sound I want using all its capabilities.

If I don't want to have to take the time to tweak the sounds, I can always use VST's. Or, maybe get a Mimic Pro. But I doubt it has the versatility of a TD-50/50X.

Here is a good comparison of the TD-50/30; along with editing capabilities of each:

65 Drums - Roland TD-30 VS TD-50

 

[RockrGrl]

I'm still in the learning stage with it but I'm really happy with it. Before you mentioned the Mimic in an earlier thread I had never even heard of it, so thanks for that. I've heard many good things about the TD-30 and would love to have one but after buying the Mimic I'll sit tight with that and my TD20x. My VH-11 works really well with the Mimic which to me is the most critical part of e-drums.

But I'm curious, besides more sounds, what else did you like better about the TD-30 over the TD-20x?

Well since you asked: you can put a thumb drive with songs(only 100) in it and practice to them. You're thinking big deal right? But you can change the speed on those songs up or down, and you can loop parts of them. It also has midi lighting connection with lighting systems that use that. You can of course plug in your phone and listen to songs from that too. Each pad has its own slider for volume, And each pad also has its own input into the brain so you can run just the kick out to record, etc. One of my favs, you can run everything from the PA into the brain using it as your monitor while only your drums go to FOH. I upgraded from a TD-10Exp. I think the TD-30 is an AMAZING piece of kit. I've heard nothing but bad things about the TD-50, and I'm sure as others have suggested that TD-30 owners did not make the upgrade as with previous modules in huge amounts. I would have thought after the reviews Roland would have come out with something else but no.

 

[DrumKeys]

Well since you asked: you can put a thumb drive with songs(only 100) in it and practice to them. You're thinking big deal right? But you can change the speed on those songs up or down, and you can loop parts of them. It also has midi lighting connection with lighting systems that use that. You can of course plug in your phone and listen to songs from that too. Each pad has its own slider for volume, And each pad also has its own input into the brain so you can run just the kick out to record, etc. One of my favs, you can run everything from the PA into the brain using it as your monitor while only your drums go to FOH. I upgraded from a TD-10Exp. I think the TD-30 is an AMAZING piece of kit. I've heard nothing but bad things about the TD-50, and I'm sure as others have suggested that TD-30 owners did not make the upgrade as with previous modules in huge amounts. I would have thought after the reviews Roland would have come out with something else but no.

Thanks RockrGrl. I've heard nothing but good things about the TD-30. But now that I've got a taste of the Mimic, and more importantly learned how to take full advantage of it's features, I'm sold on it. It's really an amazing unit!

 

[RockrGrl]

That's great DrumKeys! I've heard great things about the Mimic as well. I think you will be very happy with it.