Exclusive Roland TD50KV-FC Electronic Drum Kit A Best Match for Churches

Among the best drum kits on the market, only some are of the level to be considered ideal for a professional drummer, while also being seen as a strong match for the house of worship market.

The TD-50 kit has made great strides over its predecessor, the TD-30.

While Roland recently released the TD-50 electronic drum kit, Full Compass then announced an exclusive version, the Roland TD-50KV-FC ideal for churches.

Full Compass' version includes a free PD-108-BC Tom Pad and a MDH-25 Pad Mount. One of the most obvious benefits is that with an extra tom, playability and expression improves.

Added Value'

To Nick Welsh, Full Compass' Senior Category Specialist, "This TD-50 kit (originally) came out with a different configuration for most traditional drummers. It only had one rack tom, and left out the guys that like the two rack tom, the traditional setup." With the additions included, he added, "All we've done is added value at the same price, having added another tom."

With the extra surface included with the exclusive kit, a drummer can configure it as a high hat or snare. They can also set up two different zones on the same pad, as well as various customizable configurations for the one pad or elsewhere on the kit.

Beyond the Full Compass kit, Welsh noted how the TD-50 kit has made great strides over its predecessor, the TD-30, which was originally released five years ago. Last year, Full Compass began offering an exclusive kit for the TD-30 as well. That exclusive kit added a mount, pad and BT-1 bar trigger.

With a 30-year-plus history of creating electronic drum kits, Roland's TD-50KV-FC is the latest kit offered by the company.

Elevated Playing Experience'

"The biggest upgrade (between the TD-30 and TD-50) is the digital pads, and the elevated playing experience that it offers. You don't have any hot zones, to where the playability is more true to an acoustic drum. That's the biggest selling point, the feel of the kit," Welsh said. "The decay sounds a lot more true to an acoustic cymbal; it sounds a lot less electronic. Typically, the biggest complaint with (electronic kits) is the cymbals; the TD-50 has brought it to a whole new level."

An Easy Transition'

Roland's new flagship model also is designed to make any acoustic drum aficionado, comfortable with making such a switch. That's in large part due to "the mesh heads that Roland has on these kits. It's very easy to approach, going from acoustic to electronic and makes for an easy transition," noted Welsh.

The improved clarity and dynamic range with the TD-50KV FC, he explained, also could be attributed to "the digital pads, your core pads that you're hitting. What they offer is far, far better than what has been available before."

The differences compared to prior electronic drum kits, regardless of manufacturer, are that the TD-50KV-FC "doesn't cut out. With many other kits before, when you start doing ghost notes, or lightly play, you would lose notes. This kit, though, plays well with such nuances with varying styles of music," he added.

14-Inch Snare, 18-Inch Cymbal

Also helping an acoustic drummer to make such a transition is the TD-50's 14-inch snare drum. The PD-140DS V-Pad Digital Snare offers an identical size to that of an acoustic set. In addition, the kit features an 18-inch cymbal, a CY-18DR-V Cymbal Digital Ride. That cymbal, he added, "is bigger than your typical ride cymbal on your typical electronic kit." At 18 inches, it is capable of creating natural, accurate sound with the help of a high-resolution multi-sensor system. The 14-inch snare also uses the system to respond in an accurate and natural manner to a drummer's technique. The TD-50 Sound Module also contributes to the kit achieving acoustic-like snare drum playability.

What makes such a drum kit ideal for houses of worship, explained Welsh, is that in front of house, "you are dealing with loud drums acoustically. This offers an overall solution the best of the best."

Flexibility Stands Out for Roland Drum Kit

The flexibility of the Roland kit allows one to "add effects, or add loops, whatever you want to do," said Welsh, with the help of sample import. Helping in this area is the TD-50 Sound Module, which incorporates deep editing features and flexible connectivity. The added functionality is ideal for those interested in using the TD-50 kit for professional use, live performances in worship spaces, or studio recording.

Another value that the TD-50KV-FC has, he noted, is in how the kit is "much more versatile." With this Roland electronic drum kit, it could work either in a smaller church setting where the worship band would have "your go-to guy," or inside larger churches, "where you have teams. Then you don't have the same drummer; you have many guys who are playing the same kit." Thanks to such versatility, it opens it up to a vast majority of drummers "to approach and play."

Multitrack Audio Recording Capability

Among the many features included in the kit that could suit many churches well is its 10-channel multitrack audio recording capability via USB or its master output using stereo XLR connections.

"If your church is more interested in doing backing tracks, for example, it's an easy step. Instead of miking the whole kit, you can use the USB out to your recording setup," explained Welsh. The flexibility of the kit, though, easily allows a church to also connect using the XLR outs to direct boxes. "That's the cool thing about the TD-50KV-FC, it is flexible to the church's needs."