Roland Handsonic & Electronics

[mc77]

Any of you guys use the roland handsonic? Do any of you mix in electronic with the real thing? What are your views on digital percussion. I know it's a hot or cold issue in the drum set world. What about the real world of percussion.

[zaragemca]

Greeting, those are products which were introduced to facilitate the work of arrangement,in the music,and film industry,were also used for some percussionists trying to get an easy way out,or to avoid carring large rack of gears to the gigs,but it showed its limitation,(in quality first),and in workability,in the field,( since there is a difference in having ready access to an expecific gear which is there for an expecific moment), than having to go through the bank of sounds looking for the sound you need when playing.In the drum-set world it have kept the drummers going in and out for difference reasons.I have done shows were somebody had used those EP for many others sounds,effects which could be used for the environment of songs.Dr.Zaragemca



Edited By zaragemca on 1116095096

[Diceman]

Hey MC77,

I use a Handsonic mixed in with the real thing, and it works great depending on the stuff you are doing. For traditional acustic stuff obviously you need the real thing, for the subtle sounds you can get, but for more modern stuff with amplified instruments and a drum kit or a DJ, it is the 'dogs bollox', as you have control over the volume and no feedback.It is worth spending time customising the feel of the instrument to suit your hands, and I have found that using a 'pandeiro' or 'bongo' technique using thumbs and tips independently, you can get some serious grooves going.
What are you using it for?
Diceman

[mc77]

Diceman, I been thinking about getting the handsonic but have not talked with anyone using one. Can you program your own loops with the handsonic? That would be one of the reasons why I would like to have this piece of gear. Hey, I see that your from London. I know this is a long shot but do you know Terl Bryant or any of the guys with psalm drummers?

[Diceman]

MC77,

Yes, you can programme your own percussion kit setup and sequence your own loops. I tend to use it in a live situation with clave or shaker loop and then add live perc on top, and then pulling out a few unusual sounds from the handsonic to add colour and surprise. It is great for taking to rehearsals to work out what you can add to the song, its like carrying all your kit around with you on the bus. On its own it is a very groovy piece of kit and has all the right sounds, but it can never replace the real thing, so in a noisy band situation (with drummer) where subtlety is not necessary, it works great, because you can turn up the volume[B] and hear yourself without busting up your hands.
I dont know Terl I'm afraid, London is a big old place. maybe we can contact through this site!!
If you are thinking of buying a Handsonic, let me help------do it!!!!!!!
sabor
Diceman

[congamyk]

The first 10 minutes I played the handsonic in the drum store I thought .... "this is cheesy" and I hated it. After playing it and experimenting for an hout I wanted one BADLY.

I love the handsonic. It is perfect for udu, tabla and literally a thousand other tones. It is perfect for an audition and works perfectly sitting in the middle of 2 nicely tuned tumbas. The slap is always perfect and there are no micing problems. Of course I love the congas and most usually have the handsonic to the right of the congas for effects. You can quickly program the exact sounds you want assigned to the 15 pads. Until you've sat down and played one for an hour, you will never know how fun and practical a tool this can be. I find it to be a VERY cool part of my setup.

[GuruPimpi]

Hi guys!

I'm planning to buy myself a handsonic and i wonder if any one of you has a handsonic on a stand (what's the price of it?)? Does any one use the pedals (left and right optional pedal for hihats, bass drums, claves...) and how much they cost?

Thank you a lot!

Primoz

[Diceman]

Hi Primoz,

I have a stand for my Handsonic, but not the pds 15, which is the stand made for it and is pretty expensive.
I use a meinl bongo stand without the top for playing standing up, or you can use a snare stand quite easily, which are more available and cheaper, and with the rubber grips in the right position it is good for sitting and playing.

I noticed a Handsonic and stand on ebay the other day, dont know if it is still there.

Have fun with it!!

Diceman

[GuruPimpi]

Hi Diceman!

Hmmmm.... You use meinl bongo stand, i have it...

How do you fix the handsonic onto it? You get a fix rod (the thing you put in instead of (bongo) top?

Thanks for replay, and yes, the stand is quite expensive, although i'm thinking of buying PDS-25 stand (aluminium)...

Groove on!

Primoz

[Diceman]

Primoz,

The boss of the bracket which screws to the bottom of the Handsonic fits perfectly into the top of the bongo stand if you take the top Tee piece off the stand. The bracket should come with the Handsonic. Have you bought it yet?

I'll have a look at the pds 25, it sounds as if it could be lightweight.

Sabor
Diceman

[congamyk]

The 25 stand is better than the 15. I purchased a regular speaker stand for $39 (less than half) and it is more stable, stronger and more adjustable. You will need the bracket for the bottom of the Handsonic.

[GuruPimpi]

Hello guys!

Thanks for the tips about the stands for Handsonic, i'll see with my budget how it goes...

One other question for you, handsonic owners, are you left or right handed? Is the usage of handsonic in any way much harder or clumsy for left handed user?

Can't wait to get the Futuristic Toy-Tool though

Peace and Prosperity!

PimpS

[Diceman]

Hi GP,

It is'nt really either left or right, but you can customise and save any combination to suit how you play.
I like to use my thumb to play one rhythm, like bass drum, and finger of the same hand to play a snare sound, being able to play pandeiro helps here, but easy to master and it leaves the other hand free to play conga, bell, guiro etc.
Dont worry, you can change most things on Handsonic and save them.

Hope that helps
Diceman

[combomhumor]

1. I already used the Handsonic for practicing and sometimes to play live on. Now I started to use its sequenzer while I´m playing on other instruments but I´m missing features to play intros, fills or endings or more complexe arrangements (the hard disc is to small). I have an Midi foot pedal that is programable and could control more than only starts & stops.
Is there somebody who uses other applications (extern hard or software Midi sequenzer) to play intros, fills and arrangement via Midi on the handsonic and live on stage?

2. What kind of monitoring/amplifying do you use on smaller stages??
Thanks

[Diceman]

You could try using the Chain function.
I dont use the sequencer or midi on stage, so I can advise. I use the Handsonic as another live instrument, although I am practicing now with Boss RC 20XL to get live loops going to free up my hands to play other percussion and build up.

I use a Roland Cube monitor CM 30 to play the Handsonic through, it works well for me either as a stage monitor or as amplification for small gigs. It gives a nice clean sound, which is what you need as all the effects are onboard the Handsonic.

Hope that helps

Diceman