V-Drums trigger devices are of four major types: mesh-head drum pads, rubber pads, cymbal pads and acoustic drum triggers. Mesh-head pads look very similar to acoustic drums, and attempt to emulate their feel. The simpler, more generic type is a rubber pad, which is less expensive, but also looks and feels less like an acoustic drum. There are several models of cymbal pads (also called V-Cymbals). The more expensive ones attempt to emulate the physical properties of acoustic cymbals of various types (e.g.: hi-hat, crash, ride), while the simpler, less expensive cymbal pads are less realistic. Acoustic drum triggers can be used to provide trigger signals from standard acoustic drums.
From an electrical point of view, trigger pads can be of the following types:
Mono pads, using onePiezoelectric sensor for the head. Usually kick-drum pads or older and less expensive pads.
Stereo pads, using one piezo sensor for the head and an additional switch for the rim. If the rim switch is triggered, the signal strength is determined by the head's piezo sensor. Mostly rubber pads and cymbal pads.
Stereo pads using two piezo sensors, one for the head and one for the rim. Mostly mesh-head pads.
Three-way pads using one piezo sensor and two switches. Roland's three-way cymbal pads (CY-12R/C, CY-13R and CY-15R) work this way, the piezo triggers the bow, and the switches trigger edge and bell.
Rubber pads
Round rubber pads were introduced with the TD-7 drum module in 1992 (previous Roland pads were polygonal) and were universally used as trigger pads for drums and cymbals. Since the introduction of mesh-head drum pads and cymbal-shaped trigger pads, standard rubber pads are only used as tom-tom and (until recently) bass drum trigger pads on Roland's less expensive drum kits. More expensive kits no longer include any rubber pads.
The downsides of rubber pads are their less realistic rebound and their relatively high ambient noise level (compared to mesh-head pads), but their lower price and increased durability still makes them a better choice in some cases.[1]
Cloth-head pads
Cloth-head drum pads were introduced with the KD-9 in 2011, using a cloth-like material as the drum head with an underlying, relatively thick layer of foam. These pads are softer than rubber pads and feel more realistic, while producing less ambient noise. However, they are only available in small sizes, and the head tension cannot be adjusted like on mesh-head pads.
Mesh-head pads
Roland V-Drums mesh-head triggers resemble acoustic drums in both appearance and feel. The striking surface is a two-layer taut woven mesh of fibers fitted with several electronic sensors. This allows the mesh-head trigger to respond to the play of a drumstick in a manner that feels more like real drums than their earlier rubber predecessors. Roland developers have stated that the design of the mesh-head V-Pad was inspired in part by a small toy trampoline.[2]
In 1997, Roland developed and patented an updated version of mesh-head drum triggers, a key feature of the V-Drums line. As such, the name "V-Drums" sometimes refers specifically to Roland's mesh-head based drum triggers. The company began marketing the mesh-head triggers under the "V-Drums" name in 1997, in conjunction with the TD-10 drum module.[3]
Most Roland mesh-head V-Drums have a playable rim which have their own electronic sensors (and corresponding sounds) - exceptions being the PD-100, PD-80, and mesh head drums on the HD series of kits, which only have a single head sensor. V-Drums and other electronic drum products have taken substantial market share from acoustic drums[4][5] due to advances in electronic drum technology that have improved the value proposition of electronic drums over acoustic.[6] Electronic drum kits, especially mesh-head based ones, make significantly less ambient noise than acoustic drum kits[7] and mesh heads provide a playing feel more similar to acoustic drums than non-mesh electronic pads (typically rubber).[1]
Mesh heads used in V-Drums kits today are made by the American drumhead company Remo.[8]
List of Roland drum and cymbal pads
Pad Name
Type
Years
Available
Diameter
Zones/
Channels
Trigger
Positional
Sensing
Colors
Notes
Head/Bow
Rim/Edge
Bell
BT-1
In Production
Bar-shaped Rubber Pad
2013-
–
1 (Mono)
Piezo
–
–
No
Black/Gray
Needs to be connected to a stereo input, despite being a mono pad
CY-5
In Production
Cymbal Pad (fixed)
2006-
10 Inches
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Switch
–
No
Black, White
No edge trigger on pads that shipped with the HD-1
CY-6
Cymbal Pad (fixed)
2001–2003
12 Inches
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Switch
–
No
Black
CY-8
In Production
Cymbal Pad (fixed)
2003-
12 Inches
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Switch
–
No
Black
CY-12C
In Production
Cymbal Pad (movable)
2011-
12 Inches
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Switch
–
No
Black
CY-12H
Hi-Hat Cymbal Pad (fixed)
2000–2004
12 Inches
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Switch
–
No
Black
CY-12R/C
In Production
Cymbal Pad (movable)
2001-
12 Inches
3 (Three-way)
Piezo
Switch
Switch
Yes
Black
CY-13R
In Production
Cymbal Pad (movable)
2011-
13 Inches
3 (Three-way)
Piezo
Switch
Switch
Limited
(TD-50, TD-30, and TD-25 only)
Black
CY-14C
In Production
Cymbal Pad (movable)
2000-
14 Inches
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Switch
–
No
Black, Silver, Metallic Gray
CY-14C-T
In Production
Cymbal Pad (movable)
2020-
14 Inches
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Switch
–
No
Black
Thinner version of CY-14C
CY-14R-T
In Production
Cymbal Pad (movable)
2022-
14 Inches
3 (Three-way)
Piezo
Switch
Switch
Limited
(TD-50, TD-30, and TD-25 only)
Black
CY-15R
In Production
Cymbal Pad (movable)
2000-
15 Inches
3 (Three-way)
Piezo
Switch
Switch
Yes
Black, Silver, Metallic Gray
CY-16R-T
In Production
Cymbal Pad (movable)
2020-
16 Inches
3 (Three-way)
Piezo
Switch
Switch
Yes
Black
Thinner, larger version of CY-15R
CY-18DR
In Production
Digital Cymbal Pad (movable)
2016-
18 Inches
3 (Digital)
Digital
Yes
Black
KD-5
Kick Drum Pad
1994-199?
2 Inches
1 (Mono)
Piezo
–
–
No
Black
KD-7
In Production
Kick Drum Pad
1992-
2 Inches
1 (Mono)
Piezo
–
–
No
Black
Piezo polarity can be switched
KD-8
Rubber Kick Drum Pad
2003–2011
5 Inches
1 (Mono)
Piezo
–
–
No
Black
No dynamics when connected to HD-1
KD-9
Cloth-head Kick Drum Pad
2011-2020
6 Inches
1 (Mono)
Piezo
–
–
No
Black
KD-10
In Production
Cloth-head Kick Drum Pad
2018-
6 Inches
1 (Mono)
Piezo
–
–
No
Black
KD-80
Mesh-head Kick Drum Pad
1999–2003
8 Inches
1 (Mono)
Piezo
–
–
No
Black, White
KD-85
In Production
Mesh-head Kick Drum Pad
2003-
8 Inches
1 (Mono)
Piezo
–
–
No
Black, White
KD-120
Mesh-head Kick Drum Pad
1998-2021
12 Inches
1 (Mono)
Piezo
–
–
No
Black, White, (Red), (Purple)
KD-140
In Production
Mesh-head Kick Drum Pad
2008-
14 Inches
1 (Mono)
Piezo
–
–
No
Silver, Black Chrome
KD-180
In Production
Mesh-head Kick Drum Pad
2018-
18 Inches
1 (Mono)
Piezo
–
–
No
Black
KD-220
In Production
Mesh-head Kick Drum Pad
2018-
22 Inches
1 (Mono)
Piezo
–
–
No
Black
KD-A22
In Production
Acoustic Kick Drum Conversion Kit
2016-
22 Inches
1 (Mono)
Piezo
–
–
No
Black
KT-9
In Production
Kick Trigger Pedal
2016-
–
1 (Mono)
Piezo
–
–
No
Black/Silver
KT-10
In Production
Kick Trigger Pedal
2014-
–
1 (Mono)
Piezo
–
–
No
Silver/Black
PD-5
Rubber Pad
1994-199?
8 Inches
1 (Mono)
Piezo
–
–
No
Black
PD-6
Rubber Pad
2001–2003
8 Inches
1 (Mono)
Piezo
–
–
No
White
PD-7
Rubber Pad
1992-????
7 Inches
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Switch
–
Yes
White
Piezo polarity can be switched
PD-8
In Production
Rubber Pad
2003-
8 Inches
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Switch
–
Yes
Black
PD-8A
In Production
Rubber Pad
2012-
8 Inches
1 (Mono)
Piezo
–
–
Yes
Black
Pad not available separately, ships with the TD-11K and TD-17K drum sets
PD-9
Rubber Pad
1994-????
10 Inches
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Switch
–
Yes
White
Piezo polarity can be switched
PD-80
Mesh-head Drum Pad
1999–2003
8 Inches
1 (Mono)
Piezo
–
–
Yes
Black, White
PD-80R
Mesh-head Drum Pad
1999–2003
8 Inches
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Piezo
–
Yes
Black, White
PD-85
In Production
Mesh-head Drum Pad
2003-
8 Inches
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Piezo
–
Yes
Black, White
PD-100
Mesh-head Drum Pad
1997–2003
10 Inches
1 (Mono)
Piezo
–
–
Yes
Black, White, Red, Purple
PD-105
In Production
Mesh-head Drum Pad
2003-
10 Inches
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Piezo
–
Yes
Black, (White)
PD-105X
Mesh-head Drum Pad
2008–2012
10 Inches
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Piezo
–
Yes
Silver
Replaceable shell wraps
PD-108
In Production
Mesh-head Drum Pad
2012-
10 Inches
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Piezo
–
Yes
Black Chrome
Replaceable shell wraps
PD-120
Mesh-head Drum Pad
1997–2003
12 Inches
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Piezo
–
Yes
Black, White, Red, Purple
PD-125
In Production
Mesh-head Drum Pad
2003-
12 Inches
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Piezo
–
Yes
Black, (White)
PD-125X
Mesh-head Drum Pad
2008–2012
12 Inches
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Piezo
–
Yes
Silver
Replaceable shell wraps; Also available as PD-125XS for snare stands (without rack mount)
PD-128
In Production
Mesh-head Drum Pad
2012-
12 Inches
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Piezo
–
Yes
Black Chrome
Replaceable shell wraps; Also available as PD-128S for snare stands (without rack mount)
PD-140DS
In Production
Digital Mesh-head Drum Pad
2016-
14 Inches
2 (Digital)
Digital
–
Yes
Silver
PDX-6
In Production
Mesh-head Drum Pad
2006-
8 Inches
(6 inch head)
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Piezo
–
No
Black
PDX-8
In Production
Mesh-head Drum Pad
2006-
10 Inches
(8 inch head)
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Piezo
–
No
Black
No rim trigger on pads that shipped with the HD-1
PDX-12
In Production
Mesh-head Drum Pad
2018-
12 Inches
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Piezo
–
No
Black
PDX-100
In Production
Mesh-head Drum Pad
2012-
10 Inches
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Piezo
–
Yes
Black
RT-3T
Acoustic Tom-Tom Drum Trigger
2003–2006
–
1 (Mono)
Piezo
–
–
No
Silver
RT-5S
Acoustic Snare Drum Trigger
2003–2006
–
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Piezo
–
No
Silver
RT-7K
Acoustic Kick Drum Trigger
2003–2006
–
1 (Mono)
Piezo
–
–
No
Silver
RT-10K
Acoustic Kick Drum Trigger
2006–2015
–
1 (Mono)
Piezo
–
–
No
Black
RT-10S
Acoustic Snare Drum Trigger
2006–2015
–
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Piezo
–
No
Black
RT-10T
Acoustic Tom-Tom Drum Trigger
2006–2015
–
1 (Mono)
Piezo
–
–
No
Black
RT-30H
In Production
Acoustic Drum Trigger
2015-
–
1 (Mono)
Piezo
–
–
No
Black
RT-30HR
In Production
Acoustic Drum Trigger
2015-
–
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Piezo
–
No
Black
RT-30K
In Production
Acoustic Kick Drum Trigger
2015-
–
1 (Mono)
Piezo
–
–
No
Black
VH-10
In Production
Integrated Hi-Hat Cymbal Pad and Controller (movable)
2018-
12 Inches
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Switch
–
No
Black
VH-11
In Production
Integrated Hi-Hat Cymbal Pad and Controller (movable)
2005-
12 Inches
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Switch
–
No
Black
Only limited support of controller part by some drum modules (see list of hi-hat controllers below)
VH-12
Integrated Hi-Hat Cymbal Pad and Controller (movable)
2004–2012
12 Inches
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Switch
–
No
Black, Silver
Controller part only compatible with the TD-50, TD-30, TD-20 and TD-12 drum modules
VH-13
In Production
Integrated Hi-Hat Cymbal Pad and Controller (movable)
2012-
12 Inches
2 (Stereo)
Piezo
Switch
–
No
Metallic Gray
Controller part only compatible with the TD-50, TD-30, TD-20 and TD-12 drum modules
VH-14D
In Production
Digital Hi-Hat Cymbal Pad and Controller (movable)
2021-
14 Inches
2 (Digital)
Digital
–
Acoustic drum triggers
Roland also makes acoustic drum triggers, which can be mounted on the rims of standard acoustic drums to provide trigger signals from those drums, effectively turning them into trigger pads. The acoustic drumhead can either be left on the drum, to get the acoustic sound as well as a trigger signal, or the drumhead can be replaced with a mesh-head to lower ambient noise, if only the trigger signal is needed.
Cymbal pads
In the early 2000s, Roland moved away from using standard rubber pads as cymbal triggers and introduced new cymbal-shaped trigger pads with a rubber surface, which they call V-Cymbals.
The more expensive cymbal pads can swing freely after being hit (only rotation of the pad is prevented by a special cymbal mount), so they feel more like real cymbals, while the less expensive cymbal pads are not movable and always stay in their fixed position, thus feeling less realistic. Some of the movable pads also feature a third bell zone, which is triggered when hitting the bell area of the cymbal pad. These cymbal pads are called three-way cymbals because of their three trigger zones (bell, bow and edge).
Electronic hi-hats
Electronic hi-hats are always made up of two components: a trigger pad to detect hits, and a variable resistor-based hi-hat controller to detect the foot position, so the drum module can determine whether the hi-hat is supposed to be open or closed (or somewhere in between).
The simpler, less expensive solution uses a simple fixed V-Cymbal pad in combination with a separate foot pedal controller, which allows the drum module to replicate the sound of a hi-hat, but does not emulate the feel and scope of expressiveness of acoustic hi-hats.
The more expensive V-Hi-Hats integrate trigger pad and controller into a set of two opposing pieces, designed to be mounted on a conventional hi-hat stand. Because the hi-hat pad moves with the position of the pedal and can swing freely when the hi-hat is opened, this solution is more similar to a traditional acoustic hi-hat. The most complex and most expensive VH-13 V-Hi-Hat and the older VH-12 can also detect different amounts of foot pressure in the closed position, but they are only compatible with the TD-30 and the older TD-12 and TD-20 drum modules. The simpler VH-11 can be used with more modules, but it cannot sense foot pressure in the closed position.
Roland drum modules range in features and price from the top-of-the-line TD-50X to the TD-50, TD-27, TD-17, TD-07, and TD-1. Higher model numbers denote more advanced models, while lower numbers are used for less expensive ones.
^a Two Mono pads can be connected to Mono/Mono inputs by using an insert cable (Tom2/Aux and Tom3/4 inputs on the TD-6, Kick1/2 and Aux1/2 inputs on the TD-8).
^b Three-way (piezo/switch/switch) inputs can be used to connect a three-way cymbal like the CY-12R/C, CY-13R or CY-15R, or one non-three-way pad. On the TD-4, TD-10 with TDW-1, TD-20, TD-30 and TMC-6, three-way cymbals can be connected using two designated Piezo/Switch inputs. Connecting them to any two stereo inputs on any module works with some limitations and is not officially supported.
^c On The TD-6V, two stereo inputs (Tom2/Aux and Tom3/4) can be configured to be either mono/mono inputs or piezo/switch inputs.
^d Outputs excluding the headphone jack.
^e Memory card slots can only be used to store module settings.
^f USB Memory can only be used for wav/mp3 backing tracks, recording to MIDI files and to store module settings. The TD-9 writes proprietary MIDI files and the TD-9 v1.x only supports WAV backing tracks.
^g MIDI In/out is available through USB.
^h On the TM-2, the inputs can also be configured to be mono/mono inputs, allowing up to two pads per input by using an insert cable.
^i Enabling a digital trigger input disables an analog trigger input.