Roland TD-4 and Ezdrummer/Addictive Drums, not loud enough????

I have the following problem which I can't figure out and really need some help with. I have a roland TD-4 kit and a midi to usb interface all plugged into my laptop and enabled in the midi preferences. I can hear and see the midi info coming though, but the levels are SOOOOO soft in comparison to anything else I record. (come to think of it my midi piano stuff is soft also...). I have tried adjusting the velocity of the drum pads on the TD-4 all the way up the max which does help a little bit, but then I lose all dynamics when playing. I don't know why the midi data is so soft (I also tried just hooking up two 1/4" cables to my interface and recording two mono tracks using just the TD-4 brain and no vst, but have the same issue). The output volume is set all the way up on the TD-4, the mixer in the TD-4 module is set to all 100 ( a little overkill I know) and if I want to get any sort of decent mix while playing I have to turn down every other track and bump up the Ezdrummer or Addictive drummer track into peaking territory (same is true if running direct with 1/4" cables into my interface. Wierd thing is, if I load a track with EZdrummer or ADD and I put a groove into the track and play the track, it triggers all fine and at a good volume.. Help me please, I am sooo frusterated with this. Thanks all! My Setup: Interface-Zoom R24 ((doesn't have midi in or out so I have to use a midi to usb cable that I got cheap on amazon) Kit- Roland td-4 Monitors - M-Audio AV40's Microsoft Surface Pro, windows 8.1 with a 7 port usb hub for everything.

I have a TD8 and had similar problems. In the TD8 you can simply reset the sensitivity of the pads higher. Roland tend to set them pretty conservatively. Also, look at which velocity curve you are using. I know the manual is bloody huge but it is still about a 1/4 the size of the reaper one! A little light reading will really pay off. P.S. if you have a dual trigger snare (which I think TD4 does) try some of the Vsnare sounds with positional play enabled. Amazing

(grin) read the manual till you really "get" all the settings. There are far too many to go into here in a public forum. Have you been on the VDrums forum or the Roland specific one(s)? Tons of good advice out there. If I can learn it from scratch, I am confident you can. Sincerely, The Old Duffer

Tod - this d0es seem to be a perennial problem with the Roland drum kits, FWIW. When I get a clear space in the studio (remodelling) I will have a look at my current settings on the TD8 and in Reaper..

I seem to recall that MY problems were resolved by doing something or other to the velocity settings within the TD8. Like I said, when I have unearthed the module I will have a look at my settings and pass them on.

Hi, I just took a look at the td4 manual, and assuming u are using the pads that come with the kit, a factory reset of the TD 4, should get u in the ballpark. But when the op says...come to think of it ,the midi piano stuff is soft also.....may be a clue here. What midi USB interface are u using hoorehenrey? I would suggest making sure the midi keyboards velocities com in into reaper are correct . less variables than the drums. As far as setting the brain for playing sensitivity, usually there is a meter of some sort that lights up showing how hard u are hitting a pad. When setting a pads sensitivity then, turn the volume all the way down and make or adjustments while just looking at the meter. In other words, at this point just use or eyes and not ur ears. Nice little drum brain that td4^^ one more thing...make sure u adjust the snare pads head tension as described in the manual. Not directly related to the issue at hand tho. The td4 has an easy pad setup, and an advanced mode.In the manual its described in the section called.."expanding your kit" But as I said, a factory reset, if using the pads that come with the kit, should result in "normal" velocities being put out. Gl and let us know when u fix it. Really cool that Roland used a d sub connection for all the pad wires.neat Guido Edit tod...the prerecorded midi has correct velocities...I believe its strcly a midi input deal going on.

Hi guys, thanks for all of the advice. I think I need to be more specific in the problems that I am having. I think I need to be more clear in my explanation, so I will try to clarify everything for you guys this weekend when I have some time to write it all down. Let me know if you have any other ideas in the mean time -Henry

Seriously, this has the potential to be a good informative thread. Lots of e-drummers out there....

So guys, I figured out that what I was doing that was causing the problem is recording my guitars and instruments wa aaaayyyy too hot, so I had to completely turn them down in the mix to hear the midi drums.... Solution: I am going to start recording audio at levels that peak in at around -12 to -6 db max. This should give me enough headroom to adjust things as I need in the mix and not clip at all. Any other advice on input leveling?? I think this is a pretty good standard, no? -Hcorehenry

Wade through the manual on *gain staging* and also wade through the why your recordings sound like ass thread on here. Lot of work but it really is part of your basic education if you ever want to get any good at recording. I hate to sound like an asshole but there really is a ton of education material on the net on the subject of gain staging and it is ALL worth checking out if you have the time