question about percussion controllers

[old bailey]

Hi there, my first post here and off we go:
i've become increasingly interested in the roland hpd-handsonic series. in fact, the interest is on the brink of obsession. that roland hpd-10 seems just the right thing for me. tested it in the shop the other day and i'd love playing rhythms on it, triggering my drummachines or computer via MIDI. thing is, every time a pick up a drum, i can instantly come up with some nice and fluidly rolling rhythms, totally different from what i'm doing with my fingertips on drummachines. other thing is the money: 600 € IS a lot for me. now i wonder if the handsonic series has any predecessors; older models i could afford without freezing through the winter? or are there other models by other manufacturers? remember, i want to play it with my hands-not sticks.

thanks a lot and regards!
p.s.: and maybe you can clear me up on if this rather belongs to the drums section?

[Antimon]

We have a drums section!?

Anyway, I have a Handsonic 10. It's a nice piece of gear, I looked around a bit before I got it, and decided it was the best for my purpose. There are other controllers that you hit with hands or sticks, like a cheap Alesis thingy and Roland Octapad or something. I can't recall all the pros and cons right here and now though...

I haven't used it that much, but I tried it for controlling a melody (playing a melody on a limited set of notes, like and oil drum), and that worked great. It has a drum coach function that keeps telling me how much I suck at playing with timing, which is a bit of a downer...

/Stefan

[Mohoyoho]

Love my Handsonic 10. There are older models such as the Handsonic 15 which cost more, and there are loads of pad triggers out there that can be assigned to synth or softsynths. Didn't Korg just come out with a drum?

[Antimon]

Alas, the new Korg thingy can't be used as a controller, it only plays its own sounds.

/Stefan

[seraph]