Roland Forums

Help Please !

I have an FD 8 Hi-Hat control pedal which is connected through a Roland TD8 module.
I get inconsistent triggering, sometimes it seems to work with little downward force and other times it requires stamping on, the volume output is also very very poor even after checking and adjusting all the module settings.

I have been given the advice about turning down the other drum volumes, not the real answer I'm sure, but even when I do the hi-hat sounds are lost amongst the other drums.

Anyone got any ideas to improve this products performance, I'm very disappointed with it !

I had read similar reports before buying it and I was advised to go for an FD6 or FD7 but they don't appear to be available anymore.

Hi,

The FD8 was not available when the TD8 launched, so there is no dedicated setting for a FD8 on the brain unit of the TD8, only FD7 and 6. However, I would have thought it would still work okay, so maybe the inconsistency you have been suffering means you have been unfortunate and have a faulty unit. You should get that checked out by your dealer. Hopefully it will still be under warranty?

RE the low volume of the hi-hat sound on the TD8; This is something I have come across before. It is something we have learned from, and you will find none of the current models suffer in the same way. The only solution for this which I know about, is as you have suggested, to mix the other instrument sections to allow the hi-hat to sound defined within the mix. Boost the master volume to compensate if necessary.

I just bought a td8 vkit and i feel duped...exactly the hi hat is intermittent and you cant hear it at all when playing beats.. this is totally frustrating and as yourself, ive done everything to boost the volume.Worst 850 euro i ever spent....

Hi Newbie and others,

don't despair!

Yes, it seems the FD-8 _is_ inherently flawed, but apparently there are ways to remedy it. The most comprehensive discussion seems to be here:

http://www.vdrums.com/forum/showthread.php?23538-FD-8-Hi-hat-Controller-Pedal-Notes-on-Improving-Volume-and-Feel

There are 8 pages of this thread, but it's worth reading (or at least skimming) all of it, as the first fix isn't necessarily the one you would try first.

I'd be interested to hear what John Sweeney thinks of this, if he still works for Roland, as everyone says that Roland *always* recommend altering the levels, even though *everyone* seems to find this unacceptable and the FD-8 problems seems to be very well-known. Surely bringing all your other pad volumes down to the hi-hat 'chick' (which can be almost inaudible!) would massively reduce your overall dynamic range?


Good luck and happy stomping,

Joe