Product: Simmons SDS-1000
Price Paid: US $80 used
Submitted
01/21/2004
at
05:23am
by
Neal Gray
Email: nemelg at yahoo<dot>com
Ease of Use
:
9
This thing is fairly easy to use. Just a little tinkering and you'll have it figured out. The only problem I had was with the size of the knobs, as they are a bit small.
As far as using it, it's just a matter of plugging in your triggers and turning it on. The on/off switch is in the back, which makes it a little difficult to keep in a music rack. It also has midi in and out, which I have not even touched.
Features
:
3
Features? Well, what you see is what you get. This module should handle both midi in and out. (not tested) All of the sounds are accessible by tweeking the knobs and storing the setting into one of the "drum sets". It's only got room for 5 trigger inputs (3 toms, 1 snare and 1 bass), and each is individually and easily adjustable.
Compared to modern drum brains, this thing literally has no features to offer besides the knobs. But you gotta ask yourself, what more do you want?
Expressiveness/Sounds
:
8
The sounds remind me more of samples rather than analog, which is usually what you get with a simmons. The realism that you get out of the machine is totally dependant on how you tweeked the sounds.
As far as sensitivity, that's actually just as tweekable as anything else. Using roland pd-5 pads, you can get it so you can just tap the thing with your hand and still get a sound. It handles a bit of velocity, but at its most sensitive, it really kills the sensitivity.
Reliability
:
9
Reliable? This thing looks like it came out of the early 80's and has surface wear to prove it. On the other hand the thing produces the sounds like it was new out of the box (back in the day). Simmons brains are usually reliable, and this one is no exception. If you have programmed in your favorite settings into a drum set, it's just a matter of turning it on and away you go.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
At this point forget it. The company is long gone. There are no manuals anywhere. There are just user groups who might be slightly helpful. Either way, with as easy as it is to use, you shouldn't need help.
Overall Rating
:
7
Unfortunately, it's exactly what you'd expect. If you're looking for simmons sounds and "realism" then this unit is right up your alley. I would rather upgrade and get a unit that does a little more with the features and has more than 5 inputs.
Also I am not as much a drummer as I am an all around musician. This machine is for the drummer that needs a little addition to their accoustic set.
It is worth slightly more than what I paid, but not by much. You ARE limited to the 5 inputs. If it was part of my permanent setup, it would be something that would stay as a fixture.
It should be a nice addition to an existing setup, but I would not expect more from it than that. My recommendation is to use it to double what you already have. In that regard, it would be awesome.
If I was to say what is best about this unit, is without any processing added to it, it has excellent *whack* and *thoom* sounds in it, like you're just totally wailing on it. Without that, it would just be a "5" (average/ok).
