Pads rubber A.K.A. The Annoying Customer's Corner

h4ndcrafted · 2014-11-01T23:06:34.000Z

I agree with most people here,for Elektron to release a machine this expensive with pads that only register low or full velocity when drumming, is a very poor show , I find it a little bit antagonising tbh.

I’m not so bothered about finger drumming I like using accent and locks.

Performance mode not so much of a problem, but imagine trying to do a snare roll, that’s if you could record them in the first place.

I’m loving this machine , but as somebody else has said, the pads are a waste of space, which is a big issue as they have clearly focused on realtime performance modes.

I find it very cynical that they must of tried to get away with it.

I’d love it to be a fixable software thing, but I sense the contact sheet is to blame. I can’t see them doing a recall, so I guess it is up to a third party.

So much attention to quality and detail on this machine and then one of the most fundermental permanent feature is spoilt. Maybe they employed a Roland tech by mistake.

h4ndcrafted · 2014-11-02T00:44:46.000Z

Well hopefully I can eat my hat, bc I just found a thread where Dataline suggests they are working on velocity curve implementation!

Madchiller · 2014-11-02T03:08:16.000Z

[quote=“” h4ndcrafted""]
Well hopefully I can eat my hat, bc I just found a thread where Dataline suggests they are working on velocity curve implementation!
[/quote]

Can you link to this? I was looking for this.

andyhsong · 2014-12-02T07:30:39.000Z

""h4ndcrafted"":

Well hopefully I can eat my hat, bc I just found a thread where Dataline suggests they are working on velocity curve implementation!

any updates on this?

avantronica · 2014-12-02T15:12:58.000Z

I’m on 1.02F, i’ll have a good look round later, but i wouldn’t know what was new from before as it’s my first OS ! They are firm to the point of non-triggering, but i only had a few minutes with it to check it worked

Geneoart · 2014-12-02T17:04:37.000Z

[quote=“” Baddcr""]
I haven’t yet touched an AR so don’t know about this, but wondered if the pads were the same style as the pads found on the Keith McMillan QuNeo?

If so, broken pad issues aside, then they definitely get better with time, when I first got the QuNeo I was like wtf? but as I learned how to play them or they settled in, I’m not sure which - they are now my favourite pads ever, so expressive!
[/quote]

Whats the the texture of the of the QuNeo pads? Spongy or hard plastic like the AR? I’m interested in getting a QuNeo. Thanks

Geneoart · 2014-12-02T18:05:30.000Z

Thanks for the reply. I’m looking for something more like the tempest texture and responsiveness.

josker · 2015-01-26T20:36:09.000Z

So, have opinions changed over time?

Do the pads break in, or is it still difficult to get velocity variation after a while?

Thanks for any input.

xidnpnlss · 2015-01-26T21:25:08.000Z

I personally have given up. And I put in most of my trigs via the pads in Live record, so I have beaten the hell out of them.

For Performance mode, they are fine.

I’m getting a Korg PadKontrol soon (Rytm + Korg PadKontrol).

avantronica · 2015-01-26T22:27:28.000Z

""josker"":

So, have opinions changed over time?

Do the pads break in, or is it still difficult to get velocity variation after a while?

Thanks for any input.

it’s tricky to know if it’s familiarity or evolution, but they feel far less stiff than they originally did, i personally don’t have a huge issue with the velocity variation, it’s there, but probably not as refined as some would like (i think there is better impressions to be had by designing velocity timbral variation in), my biggest annoyance is that it’s impossible to drum faster with two fingers, it’s certainly easier on bigger pads, i get by by tapping the trig(fixed vol) and pad alternately ymmv, but i’ve moved on from it being a distraction

secretmusic · 2015-01-27T15:53:54.000Z

It’s still virtually impossible for me to enter a desired velocity pattern. Velocity seems almost random when hitting below a certain velocity threshold. I’ve developed a new intense love with the Tempest pads after owning the AR !

josker · 2015-01-27T18:31:14.000Z

Thanks for chiming in, people. I have one coming my way, and this is slightly discouraging.

On the other hand, I think I’ll just use my Qunexus to tap beats in. That’s the way I did it with the Nord Drum 2, and I think it works really well. Sometimes the solution is way close.

Really excited for the machine otherwise – seems like a good balance of sound sculpting and immediateness for me. I’m not the kind of guy who obsesses over a snare filter envelope for hours on end.

Avantronica seems to be okay with his – maybe there’s some variation from machine to machine. Oh well, external pads seem easy enough to add, if the Rytm pads really are a hassle.

jamrod · 2015-01-28T01:51:19.000Z

For those interested in the PadKontrol: I have one for sale in NYC. PM me if interested. I found it really helped with velocity sensitive playing before I sold my Rytm.

Nivekevil · 2015-01-28T11:06:19.000Z

Although the pads aren’t ideal, I’m actually pretty ok with the response in general I"m absolutely NOT a serious finger drummer, but I’ve made progress in getting desired results in the week I’ve owned the device. And yes, the QuNexus will do a fantastic job if you can’t deal with the pads.

Even though they aren’t perfect, having the integrated control has made making music far more enjoyable on the go. The lack of simple, dynamic input with the OT always frustrated me when on the road.

xidnpnlss · 2015-01-28T15:59:52.000Z

""jamrod"":

For those interested in the PadKontrol: I have one for sale in NYC. PM me if interested. I found it really helped with velocity sensitive playing before I sold my Rytm.

PMed.

Mivo · 2015-02-03T07:51:18.000Z

Mine seem to get a little softer, but I don’t think the issue is really the pads themselves, but the OS-sided velocity sensitivity. In Mute mode, they’ll register even the slightest touch, but playing requires much more pressure, and it’s impossible for me to get anything other than either medium or maximum velocity.

xidnpnlss · 2015-02-03T08:08:41.000Z

""Mivo"":

Mine seem to get a little softer, but I don’t think the issue is really the pads themselves, but the OS-sided velocity sensitivity. In Mute mode, they’ll register even the slightest touch, but playing requires much more pressure, and it’s impossible for me to get anything other than either medium or maximum velocity.

I am of the same mind as even Performance mode responds really well. it’s just difficult for me to accept velocity as anything other than the pads’ fault, but if people think it could be resolved with an os update, i won’t lose hope.

sovietpop · 2015-04-13T14:26:22.000Z

The pads on my unit are okish but what really bothers me is that there is one pad (OH) that i have to hit quite hard to get good velocity.
So the sensitivity is not the same across all the pads, this is bad.
I’ve been playing with the pad hoping they would be better after some time but no joy.

Am i the only one with this problem ? I mean some of the pads respond well others not so well ?

thanks.

Tornfrayed · 2015-04-13T14:57:50.000Z

I’ve had mine less than 2 weeks and my right hand, specifically the knuckles and joints on the middle and index fingers will swell up after a days use on the pads. I find them to be very stiff not sure what to compare them against since this is my first device with pads. FWIW I do have arthritis in my hands already so I am guessing the impact is making it worse. FML!

poonti · 2015-04-13T15:16:02.000Z