Yamaha Corporation has introduced the FGDP-50 and FGDP-30 finger drum pad instruments – all-new products, featuring a built-in speaker, tone generator, and rechargeable lithium-ion battery, all in a compact, lightweight body.
The pads of the FGDP are arranged in an ergonomic layout, optimized for finger drumming. Pad hardness and sensitivity are also optimized for finger drumming, allowing the user to express subtle variations in dynamics and even use unique drumming techniques like flams and rolls.
The instruments feature acoustic drum sounds from Yamaha’s DTX electronic drums series, re-tuned for an optimal finger drumming experience, along with a wide range of newly created electronic sounds.
Key Features:
- Ergonomic pad layout optimized for finger drumming
- Pad hardness and sensitivity optimized for finger drumming
- Wide range of high-quality sounds suitable for a variety of genres
- All-in-one product with built-in speaker and rechargeable battery means no messy wires or confusing setup
- Connect external devices via USB
Features exclusive to the FGDP-50:
- Eight additional RGB pads not only allow you to use more sounds, but also add excitement to your performance with flashy RGB lights.
- Connect a USB flash drive (sold separately) to import tones or phrases from the drive onto the FGDP-50 or record your performance onto the flash drive.
- Use Session Creator to enjoy drumming along to backtracks featuring various music genres, with accompaniment by bass, guitar, synthesizer, and more, or use Note Repeat to repeat notes at set tempos and intervals—like an arpeggiator for drums—to support your performance and boost your creativity.
See the Yamaha site for details.
Kind of a waste of everyones time, right?
No, why would you say that? I love finger drumming, I don’t have room or the desire to get a full size drumset and move to sticks. This would be a significant plus for me. Of course there are other pad types available but most of them replicate the Akai MPC concept of a matrix of regular small pads – even on iPad apps where there was no economic need to stick with that layout (observable even in Synthtopia’s ‘related posts’ just above the comment section).
IS this essential? No. Is it capable and does it offer a unique user interface? Yes. And at ~$350 (black) and $250 (white),it’s not going to break the bank. Not bad for device to handle all your rhythm section needs if the performance controls feel right to you.
Is that ancient micro usb connection at the back?!
Wait til you hear that we still use 5 pin midi and control voltage connections to make music. Next, we might try scraping some cat gut over tightened strings tied to a hollow box.
yeah that is the one thing that seems dumb to me – microusb is just too fragile a connection to have long term, I would rather have usb b if you are going to go older connection type than micro since those connections are rock solid – but it seems odd that it wouldn’t be a usb c nowadays
Looks cool, hope it catches on
This has been one of the most anticipated music gear products in Japan for last couple of months with numerous delays its finally here! Very nice.
Its about time we moved off the grid into a shape that fits hands.
It seems like a smaller cousin to the Roland Handsonic HPD-20, re-imagined and more easily portable?
Yes, it is like the Handsonics, but the Handsonics have larger pads so you can slap it like a cajon, and they have rim sensitivity on the front pads. They are also more expensive.
“Drum Typewriter”
It is kind of an odd product for Yamaha, isn’t it?
That being said, if this series develops into something like a reborn take on the old RM1X/SU7000 products, I’m all for it! And if not, then it is still a well-intended throwback to early-to-mid 90’s budget RY-series drummachines …which isn’t necessarily a bad thing for all the retro-loving, lo-fi nostalgia afficionados!
I’m guessing there’s no velocity sensing on those pads. (?)
Velocity sensitive with aftertouch
It would be strange to be able to load velocity curves from a usb thumbstick and the unit not have velocity, no?
Or rather, store them in the machine it appears.
They look like fun devices and are reasonably priced. The USB-micro is a bit troubling in 2023 and hopefully does not represent an overall antiquated design. These days I get a bit worried when I see that in a new product.
The micro-USB connector is too delicate for something you’re going to be drumming seriously. Likewise, the speaker makes it feel a bit toy-like, but I can live with that as an extension of the portability goal. Otherwise, its a smart idea with a comfortable layout. A slightly tougher pro version would be very appealing.
The sounds seem to be of a high enough order that you can take it seriously. Simonstl’s mention of the Handsonic is a fair comparison, but that one appears in a lot of pro rigs. Its road-tough. The Yamaha isn’t aiming that high. Its an in-between creature. We’ll see how it rolls after more people take it up.
Looks like a fun device, though they didn’t do themselves any favors by featuring some of the worst music I have ever heard in an ad. They really didn’t make an argument for its potential for producing good music.
Yamaha music instruments policy is rather weird : they do not seem interested anymore by the EDM market. What they do is OK, but rather few new models which look and feel classic.
This demo video is so cringe, it’s kinda cool again.
A stand-alone version of the drum pads would be a nice release. As for these products, their effects engine needs overdrive, distortion and heavy compression. Reverb and chorus don’t really cut it unless we’re going to finger drum our way into 1980s corporate video soundtracks.
The micro USB port is weird, because it appears to violate the new EU law requiring USB-C connectors on devices which have rechargeable batteries.
USB-C charging is a bit trickier than including a USB2.0 DM/DP pair connected to the internal microcontroller. You need a PD (power delivery) controller chip to negotiate power above 5V @ 500mA. In this case, I suspect the charging circuit combined with regular operation requires more than 500mA and the Yamaha engineering team said, “Woah, we have no experience making battery powered USB-C doodads. Better include an old fashioned connector instead.”
So they could have use usb-b