DDrum System SE Electronic Drum System with Mesh Heads

No longer available at zZounds
Flash memory system. 1000 steps of dynamics. 10 trigger input channels.

The ddrum4 SE system offers new levels in terms of playback features, sample dumps, and audio performance. With a large memory capacity, compact design, incomparable triggering response, and superb sound reproduction, the ddrum4 qualifies as one of the most ideal and useful digital percussion systems in the world. Feel is very important. The Cast Precision Mesh Head pads are equipped with a new type of "silent" mesh drum heads - designed for natural response and great playing feel. The ddrum4 SE offers fast and accurate acoustic triggering without the need to muffle your drumheads! Their specially designed and patented acoustic triggers are the perfect solution for drummers that want to combine acoustic drum sounds with top-quality studio sounds. The intelligent design, coupled with "down to earth" playing features, sets ddrum4 apart from all others. Nothing else comes close!

Features:
Flash memory system ensures sound flexibility - download free ddrum4 samples

1000 steps of dynamics

10 trigger input channels with adjustable sensitivity

Channel 1, 2, 8, and 9 with pressure detection

Channel 10 also for hi-hat controller

6 line level audio output channels with separate 18-bit DACs (A1, A2, B3, B4, B5, B6)

1 stereo output for headphones (from output A1 and A2)

4 palettes with 5 user presets each

26 user kits in Flash memory

73 factory kits in ROM

Special sound compression format (4 to 6 times)

8 MByte Flash ROM for sound storage (equivalent to 32 to 48 MB uncompressed) read more

ddrum4 sounds can be downloaded as MIDI System Exclusive data

Supports reception of MIDI Sample Dump Standard samples

About ddrum
Since 1983 Clavia has brought top quality electronic drums to the market. Great sound quality, fast and accurate triggering and a superior dynamic range have made the name of ddrum to be the strongest name in electronic percussion.

The basic idea behind ddrum products is to combine superior studio sound quality and flexibility with playability and sound control. Ever since Clavia's first drum product, the Clavia Digital Percussion Plate, fast and accurate triggering, high dynamic range, and outstanding sound quality have been important and appreciated features. Still today, ddrum offers the market's fastest trig response times, the best dynamic resolution, and the best sound quality.

As a ddrum4 owner you will have access to ddrum's large and constantly growing Sound Library for an unlimited number of sounds. Connect your ddrum4 to an internet connected computer and download new samples from Clavia's web site into your ddrum4 brain - free of charge! The ddrum4 Mega Drumkits Signature Series sounds, recorded by some of the world's greatest drummers, will take the sound and feel of your ddrum4 to an even higher level. And it won't cost you anything extra!

ddrum4 SE with ddrum Triggers offers the same fast trig response and dynamics range as with the cast precision pads. Unlimited amount of sounds! This is the fact if you use ddrum4 SE. The ddrum4 SE soundlibrary holds plenty of multi-samples offering very realistic sound reproduction. And if that isn't enough for you, the ddrum4 holds the feature to download samples via MIDI sample dump from any sampler that offers that possibility. Imagine the possibility to use your own recorded sounds. This makes the ddrum concept as flexible as you want. At a touch of a button, you can switch from a 60's Bebop kit to a gated hard rock kit in a split second. That's what we call flexibility!

ddrum4 SE is a 10-channel digital drum system holding a flash memory. Besides the traditional features that comes with a ddrum set, Clavia have developed a realistic hi-hat controller, mountable on a traditional Hi-hat stand, and cymbals offering both bell/ride and a choke function. An impressive sound library comes with the system. Besides the high quality Signature Edition sounds that resides inside the unit, the user have access to another 1100+ samples on a special ddrum4 sound library CD that comes with the unit.
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Global Parameters
Button trigger level (1 to 127)
MIDI channel (OFF, 1 to 16)
MIDI Volume (1-127)
MIDI program change (on, off, thru)
MIDI local mode (on, off)
MIDI aftertouch (on, off)
MIDI system exclusive kit dump
MIDI factory initialization
Parameters global for each channel
Trigger type selection (kick, pad, rim, acoustic pad, hand, acoustic 1 to 3, mesh head 1-3, cymbal, hi-hat)
Trigger threshold (1 to 100)
Trigger dynamics curve (-15 to 15)
Output A assignment (A1 to A2)
Output B assignment (B3 to B6)
MIDI note number (0 to 127)
MIDI note position (1, 2, 4, 8)

Parameters for Each Channel Per Kit
Sound selection (10 sound groups with max 999 sounds each)
Variation (1 to 10)
Pitch (-4 to +1 octaves in 10 cent increments)
Decay (0 to 100)
Level A (0 to 100)
Level B (0 to 100)

Sound Manager Functions
Select sound/sound group
Show sound size
Show memory available
Listen
Mark/Unmark
Delete sound/sound group
Dump sounds via MIDI

Dimensions (W x D x H): 15.6 x 6.3 x 3.0 in.

Weight: 6.6 lbs.

Rack ears are optional

Specifications subject to change without notice

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 813-600-3920

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars. (42 ratings)
Submitted August 26, 2007 by a customer from hotmail.com

"A realistic standpoint."

Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Sound
By far the most natural sounding of electronic kits. Other's play better I will admit, but this kit transfers to tape and through a pa system like no other. That is providing you chose good sounds with which to play! I have heard these sound bad purely because the drummer in question had no sense of good and bad when it comes to drum samples to play.

Features
It's a kit you play, nothing more. No sequencers, effects, "modeling" nada! Though there are enough outputs to use external effects, they tend to be better than what's on modules anyway. Sound editing it restricted to pitch and decay, but that can REALLY change a sound dramatically. I found the best way, preview a sample, if it's good, use it! End of story.

Ease of Use
Sample changes, ie if you want to load new sounds and dump off old sounds. The memory is small so this you'll no doubt have to do. The process is easy, just a little time consuming. The brain is easy to program and to use. Once you have set up the pads optimum gain, threshold levels, it plays well. You might find the sensitivity on toms will be a bit on the heavy side if you don't want false triggering from surrounding pads.

Quality
The pads and brain are made very well. Had mine 9 years and it's never failed on me. I have had to change a piezo once in the kick drum, but like I say, 9 years heavy playing! The problem now about read more owning one and the piece of mind about getting replacement parts etc is that the manufacturing of it changed hands in 2005 and the new owners do not make it anymore.

Value
I would say so, I have owned one and tried all the others and I always go back to this for the sound. It doesn't play quite as well as the others, but the sound makes up for that in my opinion.

Manufacturer Support
Clavia the company that designed and made it were excellent. Armadillio the new ones, I have heard nothing but bad reports of the lack of service. I

The Wow Factor
It was better looking when it was Red on Grey, but the Black on Black with the SE mesh version didn't float my boat at all.

Musical Background:
Professional

Musical Style:
All rounder
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No longer available at zZounds

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