Handsonic 10 - What other equipment needed?

[trickyricky]

Hey all you HPD-10 and 15 users out there. I am thinking about purchasing the HPD-10 (never seen one but am very interested). I can't find where there is listed what other equipment you have to have to make it function: I assume you need an amp or PA system. Are there special foot pedals one must have? I see there is a stand available, kinda pricey but available. Anything else you folks can think of?

Peace in our lifetime (I hope),
rick

[Bongorific]

I have a handsonic15, their a ball. totally tunable massive amount of voices. If you have a Guitar center close go fool a round with one. Basically you have two outputs. a High hat trigger..a fd-7 and a kick pedal trigger...kd-7. those are available on E-bay for half what you'd pay new. probably another $125. Amp wize go for a Good Keyboard Amp..it wil have all the range you'll need don't go Bass amp unless you have one or get one free. Great devise for recording and you can record you beat then play against it. I've taken mine to open mic's and was able to play with a wide varity of music styles. Has drum kits and just every drum sound concievable.....Not cheap but it's a Roland and they make the best. Go for it

[109-1176549166]

Trickyricky,

I, too, have a Handsonic 15 like Bongorific. Nothing beats having your main percussion instruments to be acoustic in terms of pure sound, dynamics and visual impact, of course. But, on the other hand, having a Handsonic 10 or 15 enables you to have on demand other percussion instruments too numerous to enumerate here and are physically impractical to lug around in their acoustic version.

I also happen to be a sound technician with some amount of formal training but lots of on-the-job experience. In fact, I own a full set of high-end live band sound system complete with monitors and subwoofers.

Having said this, if you'll be using your Handsonic 10 in a band (during gigs or rehearsals) and your band's sound system already have monitors, then it's my opinion that you don't have to have your own amplifier. Just plug your Handsonic directly to the mixer and ask your sound technician to feed you back with your own electronic percussion sound via the monitor(s).

And if you're just practicing at home by yourself, then you can just listen through your headset earphones as your "quiet" amplifiers. That's the advantage and beauty of electronic percussion.

I happen to be a guitarist, too, and own a Martin electric acoustic guitar and a SWR California B. acoustic guitar amplifier. The California B. has 2 separate channels and, therefore, 2 instrument inputs. If I have to bring my SWR, I just use it as my percussion amplifier, too.

During gigs that require only my percussion instruments and not my guitar, though, I find that most of the time I don't have to bring my SWR.

Hope this helps,

Manny T.

[GuruPimpi]

Hello guys!

Can't say much more about hpd-15 that i also own. A fun thing to have and very usable!

Do you guys have any problems on stage with the different sounds volume that coming out the Handsonic... It really took time to adjust to different volume outputs (some presets are very quiet and controlable, but some of them just WWIIIII! come out like a loose bull!) ?

I wonder...

Primoz

[109-1176549166]

GuruPimpi,

Yup, I do have that problem of uneven sound volumes coming from different instruments with my Handsonic 15.

For example, on Patch #P01-01-Latin-Conga, the Bell Tree triggered by the D-Beam Controller is much louder compared to the other instruments on this patch number.

And on Patch #P01-04-Latin-Latin Toys, the Tree Chimes controlled by the Ribbon Controller on the left is relative weak compared to the volumes of the other instruments on this patch number.

With the Bell Tree on the D-Beam Controller, too often this has been accidentally triggered causing me many embarassing moments. I've been very lucky that, as far as I can remember, all these incidents have happened during band practice and not during actual gigs. Still, these incidents have caused other bandmembers to get startled.

Manny T

[Diceman]

I have taped the D-beam controller up and dont use it. Nothing worse than a loud gong going off as you reach for your beer during a quiet passage

Diceman

[trickyricky]

Thanks for the great info gang! I plan to go to Colorado Springs soon and will check one out, if they have a guitar center there. I too like having the real tubs and cajon on stage but maybe this will expand my horizons. I do a lot of gigs in a duo "thang" where we loop some of the patterns etc. for conga and cajon. Sounds like the Handsonic might open up a world of other sounds and fun too.

thanks again
rick

[GuruPimpi]

Yes, using it for that kind of gigs and at practicing is great!

Pimpi