Comments for Steve Weiss Music Blog http://blog.steveweissmusic.net Percussion Instrument and Music Specialists Sat, 17 May 2008 10:20:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on Roland SPD-S Sample Pad by François Tadros http://blog.steveweissmusic.net/05/roland-spd-s-sample-pad/#comment-19408 François Tadros Thu, 15 May 2008 18:16:28 +0000 http://blog.steveweissmusic.net/05/roland-spd-s-sample-pad/#comment-19408 Hello, I got the SPD-S a week ago. I already spent many hours learning and playing with it and I totally love it. As said in the article, the built-in samples are of good quality although for me about 90% of them are useless. On the other hand, it's so easy to incorporate new sounds that it's not a problem. On top of what the article already mentioned, there are two other ways of adding new samples: 1) Perform all 4 steps already mentioned but replace step #1 with “Connect a microphone via 1/4″ jacks”. 2) You can also create/copy/edit your wave samples on your computer and save them to a Compact Flash memory card and transfer them to the SPD-S. This brings me to the only but important downside of the SPD-S. The built memory capacity of the SPD-S is not really big. You can wipe out all existing sounds to free-up some memory but still only a few minutes of sampling time is available. By itself, it’s not a huge issue since the SPD-S allows adding external memory. Roland stopped their choice on using Compact Flash cards for that matter. Here’s a list of PRO and CONs that comes along with this choice and the way it was implemented. PRO: - Compared to most other technology, Compact Flash is among the fastest and most durable card type (which is why it is the adopted standard for Professional Digital Cameras). CONs: - Compact Flash is not as widely used as other types, therefore harder to find in stores. - The SPD-S does not accept Compact Flash II (newer technology). - The SPD-S is not compatible with all Compact Flash models, making them even harder to find in stores, - Only Compact Flash cards with 512 MB or less are compatible, making them almost impossible to find in stores. The last 2 points are really the problem of the SPD-S. I don’t understand how it’s even conceivable to restrict a wave device with only 512 MB of memory. Also, Roland is not quite consistent with its selection of memory card types. I have a Roland Fantom XR sound module that uses a PCMCIA card and the BOSS MicroBR that uses a SD memory card. Anyway, I was lucky to find 2 Compact Flash cards on the Internet although one of them might not even be compatible with the SPD-S (I’ll know for sure when I’ll receive it). If you want to purchase the SPD-S, make sure to buy a Compact Flash card as soon as possible because in less than 2 years, only used ones will be available. Still, nothing on the market compares to the SPD-S and if you are willing to spend a bit of time to find Compact Flash cards, this is a great buy. Hello,

I got the SPD-S a week ago. I already spent many hours learning and playing with it and I totally love it.

As said in the article, the built-in samples are of good quality although for me about 90% of them are useless. On the other hand, it’s so easy to incorporate new sounds that it’s not a problem. On top of what the article already mentioned, there are two other ways of adding new samples:

1) Perform all 4 steps already mentioned but replace step #1 with “Connect a microphone via 1/4″ jacks”.

2) You can also create/copy/edit your wave samples on your computer and save them to a Compact Flash memory card and transfer them to the SPD-S.

This brings me to the only but important downside of the SPD-S. The built memory capacity of the SPD-S is not really big. You can wipe out all existing sounds to free-up some memory but still only a few minutes of sampling time is available. By itself, it’s not a huge issue since the SPD-S allows adding external memory. Roland stopped their choice on using Compact Flash cards for that matter.

Here’s a list of PRO and CONs that comes along with this choice and the way it was implemented.

PRO:
- Compared to most other technology, Compact Flash is among the fastest and most durable card type (which is why it is the adopted standard for Professional Digital Cameras).

CONs:
- Compact Flash is not as widely used as other types, therefore harder to find in stores.
- The SPD-S does not accept Compact Flash II (newer technology).
- The SPD-S is not compatible with all Compact Flash models, making them even harder to find in stores,
- Only Compact Flash cards with 512 MB or less are compatible, making them almost impossible to find in stores.

The last 2 points are really the problem of the SPD-S. I don’t understand how it’s even conceivable to restrict a wave device with only 512 MB of memory. Also, Roland is not quite consistent with its selection of memory card types. I have a Roland Fantom XR sound module that uses a PCMCIA card and the BOSS MicroBR that uses a SD memory card.

Anyway, I was lucky to find 2 Compact Flash cards on the Internet although one of them might not even be compatible with the SPD-S (I’ll know for sure when I’ll receive it).

If you want to purchase the SPD-S, make sure to buy a Compact Flash card as soon as possible because in less than 2 years, only used ones will be available.

Still, nothing on the market compares to the SPD-S and if you are willing to spend a bit of time to find Compact Flash cards, this is a great buy.

]]> Comment on Marching Snare Drum Heads…Kevlar or Mylar? by Kris http://blog.steveweissmusic.net/05/marching-snare-drum-headskevlar-or-mylar/#comment-1761 Kris Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:14:15 +0000 http://blog.steveweissmusic.net/05/marching-snare-drum-headskevlar-or-mylar/#comment-1761 wow I remember the days when the only debate was if we were going to use Clear or Ebony pinstripes. wow I remember the days when the only debate was if we were going to use Clear or Ebony pinstripes.

]]> Comment on Website Update by Rich http://blog.steveweissmusic.net/03/website-update/#comment-1063 Rich Fri, 24 Aug 2007 01:24:44 +0000 http://blog.steveweissmusic.net/03/website-update/#comment-1063 You mean I have to use a drum key to change out the legs on the new Yamaha floor toms...what a terrible, incredibly stupid idea! Talk about a step backwards in innovation! Somebody get the engineering department on the horn! And for all you other drum companies, stop putting the wingnut of floor tom brackets on the outside of the bracket. it doesn't fit in standard size cases and it tears out the foam..put in on the side like someone who's using their brain. You mean I have to use a drum key to change out the legs on the new Yamaha floor toms…what a terrible, incredibly stupid idea! Talk about a step backwards in innovation! Somebody get the engineering department on the horn! And for all you other drum companies, stop putting the wingnut of floor tom brackets on the outside of the bracket. it doesn’t fit in standard size cases and it tears out the foam..put in on the side like someone who’s using their brain.

]]> Comment on Marching Snare Drum Heads…Kevlar or Mylar? by Robert http://blog.steveweissmusic.net/05/marching-snare-drum-headskevlar-or-mylar/#comment-655 Robert Wed, 18 Jul 2007 14:24:22 +0000 http://blog.steveweissmusic.net/05/marching-snare-drum-headskevlar-or-mylar/#comment-655 BTW, none of the heads on the market except for Remo's Falam II and CyberMax heads actually uses Kevlar... Most use Aramid and are woven differently than Kevlar along with some sort of mylar blended in to soften the feel of the head BTW, none of the heads on the market except for Remo’s Falam II and CyberMax heads actually uses Kevlar…

Most use Aramid and are woven differently than Kevlar along with some sort of mylar blended in to soften the feel of the head

]]> Comment on Marching Snare Drum Heads…Kevlar or Mylar? by Steve Weiss Music http://blog.steveweissmusic.net/05/marching-snare-drum-headskevlar-or-mylar/#comment-153 Steve Weiss Music Fri, 04 May 2007 22:08:26 +0000 http://blog.steveweissmusic.net/05/marching-snare-drum-headskevlar-or-mylar/#comment-153 Pearl put out an article on tuning marching snare drum heads, and they talk a little bit about Kevlar vs Mylar drum heads. You can download the PDF here: <a href="http://www.pearldrum.com/03_nuupdts/edu/articles/documents/MarchingPercussionTuningTechniques.pdf" rel="nofollow">Marching Percussion Tuning Techniques</a>. Pearl put out an article on tuning marching snare drum heads, and they talk a little bit about Kevlar vs Mylar drum heads. You can download the PDF here: Marching Percussion Tuning Techniques.

]]> Comment on Marching Snare Drum Heads…Kevlar or Mylar? by Pat http://blog.steveweissmusic.net/05/marching-snare-drum-headskevlar-or-mylar/#comment-151 Pat Fri, 04 May 2007 22:03:32 +0000 http://blog.steveweissmusic.net/05/marching-snare-drum-headskevlar-or-mylar/#comment-151 Hey, Great article. Check out this similar debate: <a href="http://www.marchingbandplanet.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=85&Itemid=34" rel="nofollow">The Great Debate...Mylar vs. Kevlar </a> Hey,
Great article. Check out this similar debate:

The Great Debate…Mylar vs. Kevlar

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