Roland HPD-15

You might remember that I picked up a Yamaha DD55 for Christmas this year. I originally bought it to just drum out percussive rhythms. Well, I've been using the MIDI out to control my synths, and I must say it's surprisingly refreshing. I never really thought of it as an alternative MIDI controller. I've also found that I want to play it more with my hands rather than the included drum sticks. There is a "hand mode" that makes the pads more sensitive, however I haven't gotten accustomed to it yet and my fingers begin to get sore fairly quickly. Enter the Roland HPD-15. I haven't tried one yet, but it does look it would fit the bill perfectly. I'm hearing good things about it over on the Waldorf list. Title link takes you to the Roland product page for the HPD-15. I pulled the image from one of them up for auction. I'm bookmarking this one for later.

Update: Be sure to check out the comments of this post and actually all posts for more. Huppo sent the following to the the Waldorf list where there is some discussion on the HPD-15:

" I also have a Yamaha DD-50
(predecessor to the DD-55 and quite similar) and a Roland Handsonic
HPD-10, The HPD-10 is the little brother to the HPD-15. I only had to
try the Handsonic once at a music store and immediately went home and
ordered one...it's that cool. Like many people, I am a compulsive
tabletop/steering wheel/thigh/knee drummer and the handsonic is made for
people like me. The pads, unlike the DD-50, are very sensitive to even
very light finger tapping. I haven't MIDIed it into my setup yet because
I am having too much fun with it as a standalone instrument. I got it to
add assorted percussive tidbits to my music and it works fantastic for that.

Until you play one it's hard to understand how expressive it can be. If
you play congas, for example, you can mute it with one hand and it will
respond approriately. If you slap onto the 'rim' you will get the rim
shot sound. It has aftertouch, which can be set to do all kinds of
things such as bend the sound or initiate a roll. It has a D-beam at the
top which can be set to trigger a sound or bend the notes or introduce
effects, etc. It has 64 built in 'kits' ranging from regular drum sets
(jazz, brushes, etc) to ethnic percussion like tabla and assorted
African, Asian and drums (the HPD-10 specialty) to electronic sets to
special effects groupings. You can also assemble your own sets, with all
the PCM drum sounds tunable and reassignable to any of the 10 pads, etc.
You can add two floor pedal triggers to the HPD-10 to make itmore like a
drum set, but can NOT play it with sticks.

I got it for a little over $500, new. Cheaper than the HPD-15 but not as
cheap as the DD-55 at about $150. The inportant distinction muct be made
that the Handsonic is to be played with the hands (hence the name..) and
the DD-55 is designed to be played with sticks. The pads aren't
sensitive enough to play very expressively with your hands and are much
too hard! It is fun, though, and in a pinch can be used to imitate a
drum kit since two foot triggers are included. For the money it's a
great toy and tool to have around, but I wouldn't put it in the same
class as the Handsonic offerings.

~huppo"