Roland PD-85BK 8 inch Electronic Drum Pad Owner’s Manual

Roland PD-85BK 8 inch Electronic Drum Pad

Thank you, and congratulations on your choice of the Roland PD-85 V-Pad. 201a Before using this unit, carefully read the sections entitled: “USING THE UNIT SAFELY” and “IMPORTANT NOTES”(p. 6; p. 7). These sections provide important information concerning the proper operation of the unit. Additionally,in order to feel assured that you have gained a good grasp of every feature provided by your new unit, Owner’s manual should be read in its entirety. The manual should be saved and kept on hand as a convenient reference.

Cautions When Using the V-Pad
Be sure to adjust the head tension before use. Striking the head when the head tension is loose may damage the sensor and head. In general, a tension that produces a strike response approximately the same as an acoustic drum will be appropriate.

Contents of the Package

• PD-85 (pad unit)
• Connection Cable
• Tuning Key
• Owner’s Manual (this manual)

Names of Components

Features

• Snare/tom pad with embedded-mesh head for superior playing feel, and quiet response.
• Compact, eight-inch pad allows for greater versatility when setting up.
• You can use cross-stick (closed rim shot), and rim shot playing techniques.
• Brushes (nylon) can be used for brush playing.
• Tonal changes can be expressed by varying the location  at which the pad is struck.

Adjusting the Head Tension

When adjusting, use the included tuning key. Be sure to adjust the head tension before use. In general, a tension that produces a strike response approximately the same as an acoustic drum will be appropriate. Striking the head when the head tension is loose may damage the sensor and head. Should you neglect to make the appropriate settings, youcould likely experience the following problems:

• Sometimes it does not sound (uneven volume).
• The volume is too low (reduced sensitivity).
• On the PD-85, adjusting the head tension affects only the head response, and does not change the pitch of the sound as it would on an acoustic drum.
• The head tension will change as the instrument is used, so you should readjust when necessary.

Use the included tuning key to tighten the tuning bolts. Tighten the bolts to keep the space even all around between the frame and the hoop.

Tighten each tuning bolt one by one, observing the numerical order shown in the diagram. Do not firmlytighten a single tuning bolt by itself. Doing so will make it impossible to tension the head evenly, and will cause malfunctions.

Tension the head evenly while checking the feel of striking the pad. Normally, it would be appropriate if the tension is the same as an acoustic drum.

Attaching the Pad to a Stand

Attach the PD-85 to a stand (MDS series).

When attaching the PD-85 to a tom stand, check the dimensions of the rod. Depending on the dimensions of the rod, it may not be possible to attach the pad to the stand.

Connecting To A Percussion Sound Module

Connecting to a percussion sound module. When you have finished connecting to your percussion sound module, refer to the owner’s manual supplied with the sound module, and make the settings for it.

• To prevent malfunction and/or damage to speakers or other devices, always turn down the volume, and turn off the power on all devices before making any connections.
• Use the included stereo cable to make connections. Otherwise (if you use a monaural cable), you won’t be able to employ rim shot and cross stick playingtechniques.
• Connect the L-shaped plug of the included cable to the PD-85. This will prevent strain from being applied to the PD-85.

Percussion

Sound Module

| Rim Shot Capable

Trigger Inputs

---|---
TD-30, TD-20X, TD-20| 2 (SNARE)

3–6 (TOM 1–4)

12–15 (AUX 1–4)

TD- 12

| 2 (SNARE)

3–5 (TOM 1–3)

11–12 (AUX 1–2)

TD- 10| 2 (SNARE)

TD-15, TD-11, TD-9

| SNARE TOM1–3 AUX
TD- 8| 3 (SNARE)
TD-6V, TD-6| 2 (SNARE)
TD- 3| SNARE

Playing Methods

Head Shots
Hit only the head of the pad. With certain snare sounds, playing position will change the nuance of the sound.

Rim Shots
Strike the head and the rim of the pad simultaneously.

Cross Stick
Only strike the rim of the pad. Depending on the instrument assigned to the rim, you can play rim shots and/or cross stick sounds.

Sound Module Compatibility Chart

| TD-30, TD-20X,

TD-20, TD-12, TD-10, TD-8

| TD-15, TD-11,

TD-9, TD-6V,

TD-6, TD-4, TD-3

---|---|---
Head shot| ✓| ✓
Rim shot| ✓| ✓
Cross stick| ✓| ✓
Positional sensing| ✓| –

Using with some sound module that has correspondence to the nuance of the rim shot, the sound will be changed  according to the way you play rim shots. See the owner’s manual of each sound module. If hitting the head produces a rim sound instead, reduce the Rim Sens (or RimShot Adjust) value. On the other hand, if you find it difficult to get rim shot sounds to play, raise the Rim Sens (or RimShot Adjust) value.

Head Replacement

The performance of the head and/or hoop rubber will diminish with use over time. If the head is torn or becomes too fatigued, or impossible to tension correctly, then it should be replaced. If the hoop rubber is worn out, it too can be replaced. For replacement heads or to have the hoop rubber replaced, please contact your dealer or a Roland service center.

Replacing the Head
Remove all tuning bolts and washers from the PD-85. Press the lock bushing (in figure below) in place with your finger as you remove each tuning bolt, to prevent the bushings from being pulled off the frame.

1. Remove the hoop.
2. Remove the old head.
3. Place the new head on the frame.
4. Place the hoop onto the head.
5. Pass the tuning bolts through the washers,  then attach them to the hoop and frame.
6. Next, adjust the tension of the head. Refer to “Adjusting the Head Tension” (p. 2).

If a lock bushing happens to become separated from the frame while the head is being replaced, position the bushing so its four slots are aligned with the corresponding ridges in the frame, then press down firmly on the bushing.

Specifications

• Pad size: 8 inches
• Triggers: 2 (Head, Rim)
• Dimensions: 245 (W) x 310 (D) x 95 (H) mm 9-11/16 (W) x 12-1/4 (D) x 3-3/4 (H) inches
• Weight: 1.7 kg 3 lbs 12 oz
• Accessories: Owner’s manual, Connection cable,
• Tuning key Options (sold separately):  Pad mount (MDH-10U) Drum stand (MDS series)

IMPORTANT NOTES

Placement

• Do not expose the unit to direct sunlight, place it near devices that radiate heat, leave it inside an enclosed vehicle, or otherwise subject it to temperature extremes. Excessive heat can deform or discolor the unit. 355b
• When moved from one location to another where the temperature and/or humidity is very different, water droplets (condensation) may form inside the unit. Damage or malfunction may result if you attempt to use the unit in this condition. Therefore, before using the unit, you must  allow it to stand for several hours, until the condensation has completely evaporated. 356
• Do not allow rubber, vinyl, or similar materials to remain on the unit for long periods of time. Such objects can discolor or otherwise harmfully affect the finish.

Maintenance

• For everyday cleaning wipe the unit with a soft, dry cloth or one that has been slightly dampened with water. To remove stubborn dirt, use a cloth impregnated with a mild, non-abrasive detergent. Afterwards, be sure to wipe the unit thoroughly with a soft, dry cloth.
• Never use benzine, thinners, alcohol or solvents of any kind, to avoid the possibility of discoloration and/or deformation

Additional Precautions

• Use a reasonable amount of care when using the unit’s buttons, sliders, or other controls; and when using its jacks and connectors. Rough handling can lead to malfunctions. 556
• When connecting/disconnecting all cables, grasp the connector itself—never pull on the cable. This way you will avoid causing shorts, or damage to the cable’s internal elements.558a
• To avoid disturbing your neighbors, try to keep the unit’s volume at reasonable levels. You may prefer to use headphones, so you do not need to be concerned about those around you (especially when it is late at night). 558d
• This instrument is designed to minimize the extraneous sounds produced when it’s played. However, since sound vibrations can be transmitted through floors and walls to a greater degree than expected, take care not to allow these sounds to become a nuisance to neighbors, especially when performing at night and when using headphones.559a
• When you need to transport the unit, package it in the box(including padding) that it came in, if possible. Otherwise, you will need to use equivalent packaging materials.
• The rubber portion of the striking surface is treated with a preservative to maintain its performance. With the passage of time, this preservative may appear on the surface as a white stain or reveal how the pads were struck during product testing. This does not affect the performance or functionality of the product, and you may continue using it with confidence

Read User Manual Online (PDF format)

Download This Manual (PDF format)

Download this manual  >>