Mike Slinn Music

Roland HandSonic HPD-15


Time to read: about 3 minutes.

Roland HDP-15: HandSonic 15PC-SMFTech supportOwner's manualProduct descriptionTurboStartFAQHandsonic Users HomeHandsonic ControllerCakewalk/Sonar/MidiOX HPD-15 Instrument definition fileList of HPD-15 preset patchesList of instruments assigned to each pad in each HDP-15 preset patch

Chain mode

A patch is a set of instruments (such as drums) that are assigned to pads. When you press a pad, it transmits a MIDI note message. Patches have a variety of settings associated with them. The Preset Patches from the factory have instruments pre-assigned to the pads, and are called P01-01 through P10-08.

Patterns and loops can be assigned to some pads, so when you hit the pad, the loop plays. This also means that a single MIDI note can trigger a pattern or loop. This is true for the pads around the edges: B1-B5 and C1-C5. Patterns include Preset Patterns (P01 thru P99) and User Patterns (U01 thru U99).

In the Loops group of Preset Patches (P10) the pads have patterns or loops assigned to them, instead of instruments. A pattern is treated like an instrument played by a robot in this case; when you hit the pad, the pattern/loop is played. When you select Preset Patch P10-04, ten of the patterns listed on page 91 are assigned to ten pads.

A maximum of 19 notes can be assigned to a channel.

Pad Pattern

B1

P43 Indian Folk

B2

P38 Tabla-Med

B3

P39 Tabla-Slow

B4

P40 Bhairavi

B5

P41 Kashimir

C1

P44 DholakBeat

C2

P45 BengalRthm

C3

P46 BanglaBeat

C4

P47 Madal Seq.

C5

P49 7Bt-Indian

Assigning sounds between pads

The following process works for pads, ribbons and Ibeam.

  1. Click on USER
  2. Pick any user instrument like congo or bongo for example
  3. Click on edit twice - all the pad lights will turn orange
  4. Tap on the pad you want to change ths sound the name of; that pad's sound will appear
  5. Use the dial to change that sound to anything else you like
  6. Click on write

Expression / Hi-hat pedal

System menu: can PEDAL value between HI-HAT and EXP-PEDAL

Metronome

  1. Press [SEQUENCER] to make it light.
  2. Press [PARAMETER >] until you see "CLICK" in the upper right of the display and "Mode" in the lower left of the display.
  3. Turn [PATCH/VALUE] counter-clockwise until "OFF" appears in the bottom right of the display.
  4. Press [SEQUENCER] to make its light go on or off.

External Sequencer

External sequencers can play patches on the five HPD channels. Others have set the HPD sequencer to accept channels 12 through 16, so these channels might be the most appropriate to use. A separarate drum kits assigned to each of the 3 percussion channels.

  1. Use the "Quantize" feature (page 62) to improve the timing of the recorded notes.
  2. Any MIDI sequencer can control the Handsonic as a "Sound Module" (pages 78 & 79 of the manual).
  3. The HPD sequencer is set up to begin recording at first note hit. (HitPadStart pg.62.)
  4. You might have to set up Seqeuncer sync Seq Sync as Remote or External (pg. 68)
  5. Multiple parts can be recorded from the external sequencer with RecStby set to Import (pg. 62.)
  6. Play the HPD from the sequencer first to establish the notes you want set up to play from the HPD patches you have choosen