Thanks again Chaser, but I'm not looking to get into laptop recording as I have an old Fostex DAW.
I had the Roland pad 80 and I set it up to trigger an old Yamaha RX 15 a long time ago, but sold that and I was just looking for a newer drum machine that I could easily trigger all the sounds from.
With my limited midi and programming knowledge, the SR16 doesn't seem to fit the bill. Looks like I will return it.
Thanks for all your help and suggestions!
The interface is not just for laptop recording.It helps you get the most out of the vintage gear by combining both worlds.
The old gear requires more knowledge with MIDI and more steps to use not to mention you can backup/load the patches etc , upgrade or reinstall firmware.The Octapad II (PAD 80) you have is a TMI and with an audio interface (with 5 PIN MIDI) you can trigger any drum software available using a computer or smart phone (like an iPhone/iPad with USB camera kit)
Todays gear,as far as MIDI has been dumbed down as giant rack filled MIDI rigs became unpopular but have been making a comeback over the past few years and MIDI 2.0 just beginning and it slowly being implemented into new gear.
If you want more current drum sounds without breaking the bank or using computers etc and not a drum machine..purchase a used drum module and use it as a sound module and run the 5 pin MIDI from the Octapad into it.You can create the patches on the Octapad and the module has main outputs and headphones...
One module I would recommend is the Discontinued original Crimson Module (Medeli DD650)..
Why?..
670+ sounds..and there is a full GM section that can be accessed also..
Dual Zone Hi Hat is supported
You can load your own wav samples..
One trick I haven't posted yet is the Medeli DD650 modules
will play MIDI Files..Type 0 format <480ppq and while playing you can actually scroll through the kits and listen to the kit pieces change while playing the audio version of the same MIDI file through the Aux input.You can closely match a kit piece and save a user kit.Repeat for each kit piece until you have all the kit pieces used in the audio..You can get very close to the kit in the audio/song.
The Crimson MIDI mapping is nearly identical to the GM MIDI Percussion Map so you can find GM MIDI files readily available as <480ppq was a standard for a long time including DAW output and you don't have to re-assign the MIDI in the module or the tedious re-mapping of a MIDI file.
If you are not concerned about having a dual zone Hi Hat or MIDI file playback , they are plenty of modules out there over the past 30 years.There's literally thousands available on
ebay and
Reverb including the Alesis
D4 and
DM5 rack type and the
original DM10 which are inexpensive these days.
Check youtube and you'll find demos of presets etc various drum modules from practically all manufacturers and all the modules released over the years,hear one you like and look for a used one.
The important feature to watch for is a 5 Pin MIDI in for use with the Octapad.
I remember using the ol' Fostex,I think I still have a broken X-15 laying in storage that never got fixed.
I had used all the portable.. cassette,CD,Fostex,Tascam,Yamaha MT series,..Roland Disc Lab (CD).
It was always an event to do a recording session then run out and do a "car test"
I also remember the portable "failures" like the Roland VS series (Zip Drive)..remember those? a tech that was supposed to be the next greatest thing for music,same with the CF Cards...instead the direction went to USB Flash drives and SD Card
Good luck with whatever you choose !!..there's plenty of options out there.
EDIT:Added links
