At the 2011 NAMM Show, Alesis announces PercPad, its first four-pad electronic percussion instrument.
The PercPad features four velocity-sensitive pads, kick input, internal sounds and compact size, designed for anyone wanting to incorporate electronic percussion into their setups.
“There’s never been an ultra-compact multi-pad instrument like the PercPad before,” Dan Radin, Product Manager, Alesis.
Drummers can mount the PercPad on a standard snare drum stand or mount it to stands and racks using the Module Mount, sold separately.
Users can easily tune and edit sounds, assigning them to any of the four pads or to the kick input. They can also expand their sound pallete using the PercPad’s MIDI output, enabling them to perform with the sounds from any MIDI sound module or software on Mac or PC. Drummers can also use the PercPad with virtually any switch or velocity-sensitive kick trigger or pad including Alesis’ DMPad and RealHead Kick Pads.
I'm quite drawn to this one as a well-thought-out tool for those of us who drum up to a point, but who are not full-bore drummers. My concern is that Alesis's build quality has sometimes been (reportedly) sliding downhill for a while. I trust the designers, but is it Roland-tough, or have corners been cut to keep it at its price-point? If I can't get at least 4 or 5 years out of a device, its not a bargain. I've bought a few things over time that disintegrated with normal, non-touring use WAY too soon. BIG example: synths whose spindles have no plastic retaining collar to keep them centered, leading to circuit board stress and premature breakdown. Alesis always SOUNDS great, so I'll be giving its toughness aspect the ol' eagle eye..
Alesis drum pads are real crappy build quality and also report massive cross talk when triggering at high levels.
What is the SIZE of this unit. I can't find it anywhere?
Never had any problems with my DM5 kit.
I would HOPE they've addressed this issue with the new models. Wait 'til you can PLAY one.
I would also like to know the sounds available — Timpani would make this a very valuable and small substitute to the real deal….