Thanks for the reply, Shawn! I will have to give those a look. Upgrading to the pearl module, eh? I was looking at that (planning to do a module upgrade as well). What made you decide to go with this one over others? Not sure how I feel about the touch screen interface.
No problem at all!
I did some research on module upgrades, and was looking at one of the Roland modules to begin with. The TD-50 runs just above the price of the Pearl module, and the TD-30 was the same price as the Mimic on Sweetwater (those prices were about 3 weeks ago). After listening to some reviews, and a reminder of its existence from members of this forum, I ultimately chose the Pearl.
I like the idea of the individual outputs for each trigger, something the Roland modules have but seems a little more limited. The band I'm in records from time to time, so the option of multiple outputs is one that I really want to have.
I also liked the fact that each input has its own connection, rather than all of the trigger cables going into a single plug that connects to the module. I know it makes for easier connection, but I have a drummer friend that has a Roland TD-9, which uses the same interface with the single input connector. He had a bad cable and had to replace the entire cable set. I'd just prefer to be able to work with single cables. The TD-30 and the TD-50 both have separate input connectors, but I had also considered the TD-25, which has the single connector.
The touch screen did kinda concern me a bit, but I will probably get a case to transport it in and custom-cut some foam to keep it secure and protected. Pearl does seem to have a decent warranty in case of failure, but I'm still researching that part. It will be an important factor for me, especially considering the touch screen.
Then, there is the sound of the Pearl module. I listened to some comparisons between the TD-50 and the Mimic Pro. They both sound fantastic, but to me there is a noticeable difference in the sampled kits on the Pearl and the generated sounds of the Roland. I'm wanting as clean a sound as possible, and I just felt that the Pearl had what I was looking for. Plus, there is a large internal drive on the Pearl that allows for expansion sets, which they have promised to keep coming.
None of this is to knock the modules that Roland has released, as I would be perfectly happy with any of those. My previous kit was a Roland TD-6 kit, and I got many years' use out of it. For me, though, with as much money as I will have to invest in this upgrade, the Pearl seems to be the best deal. I want something that can grow with my kit, and it just fits my hopes a little better than the rest.
--Shawn