Yamaha FGDP - Something truly different
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- čas přidán 6. 06. 2024
- ►► FREE finger drumming lessons → questforgroove.com/
Yamaha recently came out with the FGDP-30 and FGDP-50. Two devices that are made specifically for finger drumming, with onboard sounds, an onboard speaker, running on battery power and rocking an innovative and at the same time intuitive pad layout. I ofcourse got my hands on both FGDP devices ASAP and present my findings in this video.
Gear recommendations page: questforgroove.com/gear-recom...
Timelinks:
0:00 - Intro jam
0:27 - The main takeaway
1:28 - Check for updates!
1:50 - Pad sensitivity & response
5:14 - Things get interesting
7:01 - Pad Layout + Standalone
10:44 - Recreating the QFG layout
11:07 - Tom placement
12:19 - Onboard sound demos!
12:24 - Percussion kit
12:34 - Beatbox kit
13:02 Dua Lipa Jam
13:26 - Acoustic Kit
14:26 - Comparison with drum VST
15:27 - Replacing all my gear?
16:57 - FGDP-30 or FGDP-50?
19:47 - FGDP as audio interface?
20:43 - This might not last…
22:26 - Funky outro jam - Hudba
►► Gear recommendations page → questforgroove.com/gear-recommendations/
Timelinks:
0:00 - Intro jam
0:27 - The main takeaway
1:28 - Check for updates!
1:50 - Pad sensitivity & response
5:14 - Things get interesting
7:01 - Pad Layout + Standalone
10:44 - Recreating the QFG layout
11:07 - Tom placement
12:19 - Onboard sound demos!
12:24 - Percussion kit
12:34 - Beatbox kit
13:02 Dua Lipa Jam
13:26 - Acoustic Kit
14:26 - Comparison with drum VST
15:27 - Replacing all my gear?
16:57 - FGDP-30 or FGDP-50?
19:47 - FGDP as audio interface?
20:43 - This might not last…
22:26 - Funky outro jam
First. Shalom.
Something quite important you missed out from your Gear Recommendations/ Shopping List: cables/ interconnects. The other thing I wanted to say was thank you, thank you, thank you. I've looked at some of your free lessons, which have helped me make a decision.
@@buxycat Ah yes cables... honestly never thought of that until now. I'll make a not of it. Thanks!
@@TheQuestforGroove I was a hi-fi enthusiast in my youth, so budgeting for decent speaker cable and interconnects is just second nature to me. I think it was more knowing which *type* of cables I would have needed for the Maschine Mikro set up.
I've just read this morning that the FGDP-50 uses a micro USB for MIDI, I assumed the MIDI port was the one I've seen USB thumb drives plugged into. An idea I had, when I thought the USB micro port was for battery charging: I've got USB cables that have magnetic tips, for swapping between micro/ USB C or Lightning tips: I was just going to leave a spare tip plugged into the charging port. If those cables are rated for data transfer, can I use those for MIDI?
@@buxycat yeah any usb cable can also be used for transferring midi data. In most cases with finger drumming you only need usb cables and the only audio cables would be the ones connecting the speakers and/or headphones to the audio interface!
Is anyone surprised that Yamaha built a near perfect device, then put a microUSB port on it?
😆
Just discovered your channel, and it’s so refreshing to see a presenter who is articulate, clear, and doesn’t waste my time by trying to figure out the product while he’s using it. Really a joy to watch! I subscribed!
I bought the 30 model for my son because he has been starting to learn finger drumming and we are very satisfied. Excellent piece of hardware!
FDGP-50 + looper pedal = layers and layers of fun, fun, fun. Looking forward to it.
WOW! This is just the demo video that I've been waiting for. You really took your time to explain many things about this product. Now I'm ready to go out and buy one. I would say that the sounds you demoed are just what I need. I don't need any thing diverse.
I was wondering when this would come out. Thank you very much for your hard work - and for taking the trouble to wear a wonderful jumper, the pattern of which has nearly the same curvature as the second row of pads on the FGDP’s!
One of the best channels on CZcams! I always look forward to the next upload, thanks for uploading! I learned a lot from you.
This is the first video I’ve seen of yours and it’s fantastic! Just ordered my FGDP-30 and am excited to try it out. Thank you for what you do!
Thank you! I'm not doing that many gear reviews anymore (I now mainly want my courses on questforgroove.com to be top notch), but if something special comes out I do need to talk about it :-) Have fun with your drum kit in a box!
I can’t believe I’ve never had this channel recommended before! I love fingerdrumming and have been looking for good resources on here to learn and improve at it. Super stoked to watch your other videos
Welcome! Make sure to also check out my free beginner courses on questforgroove.com If you're serious about learning. Over the years I moved more and more towards the step by step lessons over there instead of small snippet lessons on CZcams, so you might want to see if that approach works for you!
I waited for standalone solution for years, and now it's come! Thanks Yamaha!
Superb video, Rob! I've been following your Discord thread on the new Yamaha products, but you did an extremely comprehensive overview here, addressing basically every remaining question I had.
Ah yes great to hear! That was my goal, so happy it helped!
The Sweetwater demos are pretty convincing along with your last groove here, yet we can always trust your years of experience for final comparisons of such instruments. I also appreciate that they’re out of the box playable and think they might be at the very least a good tool to have on hand for practicing and or laying down a groove in your head.
Thank you for this review! I’ve been eyeing the Yamaha and had been on the fence about preordering, but with your co-sign then I’ll pull the trigger on the purchase. Thank you!
This is the video I've been waiting for. Thanks.
I'm in the UK and my FGDP50 turned up today! Thank you for this video i can't wait to start learning to finger drum to start getting the hang of it! Cheers
Have fun!!
This is dope!!
Gotta love Finger drumming!
Thanks for sharing this!
Thanks for making this, it helps a lot in trying to decide where to start my finger drumming journey!
Thanks for all the great info here on your channel.
He's back! Very happy to see more content man.
Haha, thanks. I was honestly not super keen on doing more gear reviews but these devices are something special so I had to get back in the game for them :-) I'm still actively making more stuff on my website by the way, I'm not gone!!!
I was thinking about you when i saw this product video. glad you did a review on it. I think your launchpad x layout is pretty special
Thanks for the review. It Saved me al lot of time and money. I will take a look to your classes
yay! i've been waiting for this one
Cool. Thank you so much for making this video.
Came across your review and wanted to comment that i enjoy your presentation style. I'm looking at this as a gift for my daughter who is not a drummer, but has an interest and while searching I learned of finger drumming. I think this might be a good place to start. Portable and Self Contained are two great positives in my book.
Thank you! And yes, 1 month later I can still say I'm enjoying the ease of use a lot. I have played more than over the rest of 2023
Yes was waiting for this video
got myself one. so far very refreshing! Looking forward for all the shenanigans one can do with it. Thanks for the in depth vid!
Where did you get it from ?
@@apsyd good question! I was in luck checking thomanns webpage at the right moment when they had a small batch in stock. The FGDPs are hard to find currently!
I was waiting for your QFG review since September, when I first saw this thing. As always, your review answered all my top questions that were not covered in the Yamaha overview videos. If sensitivity is similar to Maschine Mini, that can be my show-stopper. My gears stay put but FGDP50's portability/instant play is a nice addition and perfect for sing-along parties, prayer meetings and casual busking.
Yes very much recommended. There is enough to play and to practice on this thing!
I love my Korg pad control for finger drumming. Been using it for the last ten years. Best pads you can find. Better than any Mpc I’ve ever used. It’s not a stand alone drum kit but not hard to hook up a laptop for simple functionality.
wow! Thanks!
Love and blessings!
Companies that makes products like these should reach out to you and hire you as a consultant. Great content 👏
thumbs up before start watching!
ps I was waiting for this video from the announcement
Addictive Drums 2 is still my favorite drum plugin. It just sounds great and will always sound great.
Agreed! I have also become very familiar with the interface so I can basically make any. sound I want.
Wow, I'm so glad I found this video, I came for the yamaha finger drummer review but now I'm sub'd to quest for groove!
Nice! Welcome aboard Mike!
Great review, thanks
I purchased the FGDP-50 3 days ago and 11/10 impressed with it. Stock sounds are great and being able to alter each patch, amazing. This layout? So alien yet so natural and well, human. I love this thing and I'm going to have to watch those tutorial videos on finger drumming!
Nice, welcome aboard! I don't have actual FGDP tutorials (yet) but since the core layout is basically the same my courses should work for you. They're mostly about how to play things well and make them groove, which is universal and not dependent on the type of controller you use 😀
@@TheQuestforGroove Regardless they're on my list! I see what you mean on the fact of it not being subjective to the controller rather the player. My finger drumming sounds like me playing actual drums haha which isn't pro or anything enjoyable, yet 🤣
How do you alter your pads?
@@DrivenCrane1 I can't explain that in a comment here, but Yamaha has this inline guide for the whole process. You do need to read it because it's not super intuitive. manual.yamaha.com/mi/de/fgdp50/en/index.html
Adding to the chorus of folks saying they've been waiting for your review. I don't need this thing myself but since I saw the first announcements I've been looking forward to your opinion.
Goed gedaan! Je hebt gelijk.
This is ALMOST my dream practice device and I pre-ordered it (but still haven't received it yet...). I wish it had regular 4x4 pads, or extra pads like 5x6 layout. Maybe I should build one.
OOOOhh you play REALY well!!!
Hi, I'm a new student who's just ordered a FGDP-50.
I was close to Maschine Mikro 3, because I hear what you're saying about pad quality, but having to buy an audio interface, dealing with cables, or even have to find a place to put the stuff and sit and play it. I also agreed with your point about I'm more likely to spend time time drumming if I can just pick something up and be playing in seconds.
I'm in my mid 50s, I can't be doing with all that, I just want to sit in my nice comfy armchair and try to tap buttons at the right time to music I love. I also think the FGDP-50 will be far more ergonomically friendly for my hands than a 4x4 pad.
That's not to say that I might not get a MIDI set up one day.; it's just I want to focus on learning how to finger drum, not learning how a DAW works.
Makes a lot of sense!
@@TheQuestforGroove I had an epiphany last night:
Around 20 years ago, I bought a copy of Rock Band Beatles and the Rock Band Portable Drum Kit, for my Xbox 360. I had so much fun. I bought Rock Band 3, and also paid for downloadable songs.
Microsoft switched off the 360 servers a while ago, I think I can still access my paid for songs (including some Fleetwood Mac).My point is, I've got access to a library of a few hundred songs, by the original artists, where I can turn the drum track off and have some kind of visual guide of what to hit and when. This is going to make learning so much fun.
Back then, I had an opportunity to play a real drum kit. Over the course of a few hours, I went from never having played drums before, to being trusted with a snare drum that costs more than the FGPD-50 does, then being able to hold a basic beat together for a few minutes, whilst three other semi-pro musicians jammed with me.
I was so into it, that I was seriously looking into an electric kit, but the reality of my physical problems stopped me, as well as where the heck do I put a drum kit? It was ending up looking at electric drum kits on Amazon that lead me down the path the the FGPD-50. I'm so excited.
@@TheQuestforGroove So..... the FGPD-50 arrived today. Took a few hours to establish the battery is faulty. I'm going to return it for refund.
It's not all bad news though: I was interested in using GarageBand is the first part of it, I have the silly Rock Band Keytar thing, which can be used as a MIDI controller, thought I could get a wireless dongle and connect to my iPad or MacBook and use my bluetooth earbuds.
I don't think I mentioned that I played sax for a few years. I had to give it up, jaw issues. But this is how I have a Yamaha WX-5 MIDI wind controller (the limited edition blue one, with a tone generator that specialises in wind, strings and synths). It's eight octave, amongst other tricks.
I didn't touch The Stick (as I called my WX-5) after I had to stop playing acoustic sax, too heart breaking. I think I can play it in a way that doesn't make jaw issues, certainly could with an expression pedal. I may need ot send it back to Yamaha though, as the sax style mouthpiece is absolutely stuck on their, there's delicate stuff going on under there; I really need to swap to the recorder style mouthpiece so I don't end up using jaw for expression.
I have the option of a MIDI keyboard with pads at a later date, and I'll have the wireless dongle.
I have one thought to leave with you, that might be of benefit to new students.My first 30-40 minutes were naturally just going through kit sounds. My second session, I'm working through your beginner lessons and I'm working on the Basic 8th Note Pattern.
I get to a point where I'm getting frustrated with myself a bit because I was having trouble hitting the kick with my thumb hard enough and I could play this beat on a real drum kit, nearly 20 years ago. I make a cup of tea and I really want to pick the finger drum up again, but I know my hands are tired, my brain is tired, which is a bad time to practise.
So, I just started tapping my fingers on my leg or side table, and saying or thinking the beats. If it needs saying, I'm using using my fingers as I would on the pads, just not having to be so mindful of wrist technique. I did that for a few minutes here and there, as I'm relaxing with my cup of tea. I soon had the correct fingers doing the correct things, at the correct time, without having to think about it.
I finish my tea, reach for the finger drum and within seconds I'm doing the Basic 8th Note Pattern, without thinking about it, for a few bars at a time, before it would fall apart. Good enough to have a sense of satisfaction and progress to have crack at the the Basic 16th Note Pattern, which was back to tricky and frustrating, so time to give it a break.
Put finger drum on charge, go make tea, come back and discover the battery is faulty, which I had suspected earlier on in the day.
But my point is that a student can be practising their patterns and beats (to get it under their fingers), any time, any place. I took a photo on my phone of the practise patterns, so I could always have it to hand, if away from home.
I had completely forgotten that when I played sax, I'd sometimes just lean back in my armchair, left hand on my sternum, right hand belly button and I'd practise fingering scales, modes, runs in thirds.
Anyway, I have the option of buying a MIDI keyboard with pads in the future, a 4x2 might be better for my hands anyway there's a reason I was having an issue with activating the kick pad, I'd just fingers on a 4x2.
I've always got an iPad and GB, if I get the itch. Learning some drum patterns would be useful, so I'll carry on with your lessons.
All the best to you Rob, thank you for your part in my musical journey.
@@buxycat I'm a huge proponent of taking breaks. In future courses I actually promote practicing some things for only 5 minutes and then just calling it a day and come back the next day. That seems to work very well for a lot of difficult things.
I hope the new pad controller arrives soon, with a working battery!
@@TheQuestforGroove thanks Rob.
Great review! Yamaha should hire you to demo these.
Finally, the review!
I had to take some time to test it out, then record a bunch of demos and then also make sure I tell the story right, since this is such a special new device that quickly discussing the pad sensitivity just wasn't enough. I'm glad it's finally done!
@@TheQuestforGroove Thank you for your hard work, it was well worth it for such an extensive review! Approaching this not as a finger drummer but just a beginner drummer, I can say for me as long as the pads are "good enough", these devices look really interesting as they offer an opportunity to jam and practice (to some degree) while away from the instrument. It would have been interesting to see a footswitch input for the bass drum, but maybe that would be considered cheating in the finger drumming world! Anyway, thanks again for your review, I think I'm going to go with the FGDP-50!
I just got mine (FGSP50) yesterday. Your demo video is great. Thank you. I'd like to see some instrutional videos shows HOW TO... ...thanks for you work on this
Thanks for the great review. I've gotten pretty good at playing rock/metal drums on the MPD218. I use your layout. I don't practice enough these days, because I have so many songs to practice, it takes up so much time. I need to follow your 10 min plan more often. I haven't been able to play out because I'm tied to my computer for the sounds I like using Superior Drums 3 and Logic. I have trouble doing fast rock rolls with the toms at the top, with single tom pads. I may give the FDGP-30 a shot. Anything that makes it more available would up my practice time, and maybe even gigging. I only need one good set of rock drum set sounds. Thanks for your awesome instruction. I'm able to do this thanks to you.
Thanks! Yeah for sure give this a shot and let me know if it worked for you!
I love this thing. I got the 30 about a week ago and I've barely put it down. Using it to practice chops and as a controller in loopy pro for FAC DrumKit and Koala. Absolutely loving it. Absolutely getting a 50 as well once they're in stock. The voice assistance requires...some patience and does not inspire me to make my own kits for my 2 memory slots LMAO.
I was going to ask on reddit if you now feel like converting your finger drumming book to FGDP format now, before i even saw this video :"D This is my first foray into finger drumming btw!!
Hey, I never wrote a book. That might be someone else. My video courses come with sheet music and certain diagrams that are instantly usable on the FGDP anyways so no need to change those. The layouts are also a lot alike so using the videos to get a general idea of what to do is also perfectly possible.
Hi, great review!! 👏
I purchased one FGDP50 last year but I only received it here in Brazil last month, and was really disappointed with the pad sensitivity as you mentioned, but today I had an ideia to improve it and it really worked a lot for my unit!!! I turned OFF AFTERTOUCH for all pads except cymbals that I want to choke and it improved the sensitivity a lot!!! I then DECREASED the gain for snare and hihat pads to around 36 and assigned curve splice 23 to them and heavy 2 to the rest of the pads to have more range of volume. I am so happy now with the FGDP50 that regret that I purchased one Maschine Mikro because of that. Let me know if it works for your unit too…
I noticed you can change a lot of settings, and some of them will give an improvement if they make the pads respond better to your playing style. However, I have not found a way to make the "soft touches" trigger better. That just does not seem to be possible.
Great funky fingers. Subd. Thanks
Thank you!
Thank you for the kind words. I'm a beginner in finger drumming, and I plan to continue practicing to enhance my skills for future projects. I'm currently contemplating between the AKAI MPC Studio 2, NI Maschine Micro MK3, and FGDP-30 models.
Among these models, which one do you recommend?
I prioritize enjoying the drumming experience and maximizing efficiency in my work rather than having a flashy display.
It's a personal decision. I would pick either the FGDP or the Maschine mikro. If you want the best, most sensitive pads get the Mikro. If you want portability and quickly being able to play, get the FGDP.
@@TheQuestforGroove Thank you👍
Buying a Maschine standalone! Ghost notes are important. Thanks for keeping it real.
I'm glad I found your channel. I purchased FGDP 50, but it was very difficult to get used to it, and the video helped a lot. I very much agree with the content. What puzzled me at first was the pad sensitivity, which did not respond sensitively to soft touches.
I play drum tones on the keyboard rather than on the launchpad. I think it can be used appropriately by changing the pad arrangement and modifying the velocity curve and AD gain. However, I think it will take a lot of time to get used to this pad arrangement. In particular, if I had purchased the FGPD30, I would have regretted it greatly. I hope you continue to make many useful videos in the future. Thank you.
Where did you purchase FGDP 50? Currently in US, all the major online/offline shop had backorder on FGPD50, so I had no choice but only 30.
Netherlands :-) It looks like these things are very successful and Yamaha's gotta ramp up production.
@@JaeH0202 In South Korea, funding was provided in limited quantities last month (November). All prepared quantities were sold out in one day.
@@pastor_dannykim9153 세계적으로 재고가 없나보네요.. 일본 직구도 $600으로 팔고 있어서 미국에선 그냥 30으로 구입했습니다.. 감사합니다 목사님
I have ordered the FGDP 30. I have a lot of Drum machines, and an Octopad. But this is handy to sit in the living room.
Such a CATCHY name!! FGDP.
The sensitivity demo was very helpfull. It's really hard to guess what people mean by 'very sensitive ' etc. 😊
Wow, the pad guru is back! I bought the Synido TempoPad two month ago, no need for this one. I have to have the 4x4 layout, otherwise I'm confused on my DAW 🙃. CoffeBeats made a nice FGDP-30 demo. He even answered to the menu voice. 😄
Synido tempo pad, does it have nice pads? I can't buy it here in the Netherlands somehow.
@@TheQuestforGroove I did your standard test on the TempoPad: finger falls onto a pad - no active force. That doesn't trigger it. The needed trigger force is comparable with a keyboard without hammer action. This is good enough for my skills. The knobs are endless, but have mechanical steps - not perfect, but also OK for me. One can use both MIDI outputs at the same time (USB and DIN-over-TRS). So with a two-channel MIDI setup, two devices can be connected. I bought from Amazon Germany (import from Amazon US). I had a bad MPD218 before. After the firmware update (see Akai page), it was dead (no USB connection). Maybe it works for you.
Not sure it's for me, but nice to see Yamaha putting out something new in this realm.
I need them to do a DM3-Rack next as an update to the TF-Rack. 32 inputs + Dante in 2U with built-in wifi control and a useable small touchscreen + some key knobs on the front for under $2k please.
Great video
Awesome review, would love to see a follow up, I've been on the fence with this device but it seems like the most logical choice for finger drumming 🤔
I can tell you I still play it every day. Simply because it's laying on the couch and it's easy to quickly play for 5 minutes without any hassle or turning on my computer or stuff like that.
Such a great video from the master! Have you checked out the Roland Handsonic HPD-20? It is by far the best unit I have ever used (next to the Ableton Push)! Incredibly sensitive, can hook up to hi hat and kick pedals, great in-built sounds
Hey it's still on my list but it keeps falling through the cracks because it costs a pretty penny and if I like it I cannot really use it in my courses since it's so very different. But I am curious. There's gonna be a time with money and extra spare time and then I'm gonna try it out. Even if it's just for myself.
I've been thinking about getting the -50 to try and this video did it. The pad layout and varied size are so very interesting to me but the endorsement did it. Thank you. Oh and a solution I found to the micro usb issue is that I just stopped throwing out any usb cables at all . There is a scary medusa box in the closet that I turn to lol
Great! I hope you'll get a lot of mileage out of this unit. I'm still playing it almost every day.
You should upload more of FGDP 50@@TheQuestforGroove , great video btw greetings from İstanbul I have one too
You are an awesome person! :D
The main advantage of the 50 over the 30 I would say is the ability to use your own samples on the pads. You can even create layered samples if you have the patience. Both in the UK are very reasonably priced, the 50 is still sold out so I think that says it all!
This is the thing I'm most interested in. I want to recreate a portable hang drum or similar digital tuned percussion device. I've got the patience since I just want to get this one thing done... maybe the 50 is for me! Would love to see a more detailed video on how to do the layered samples.
Nice video. Just ordered the 50. Arrives tomorrow. Any plans for some tutorials on techniques using the Yamaha FGDP?!
Yeah I might do that. In all honesty most of the stuff you need in order to play this thing well I already have course about. On a 4x4 controller, that's true, but as I say in the video the difference between that and an FGSP is not that big so learning the basics can already be done on questforgroove.com
I started with mpc 500 , than I bought mpd 218, learned basics from your videos and Melodics. Now I'm thinking to change my drumpad to Maschine MK3 mikro. For me Maschine drumpads are still unbeatable. I also tried others like mpc series, mpd series, novation, push etc. I think it's about finger position and playing technique. Btw I also say thanks to 'Brandon Murphy' and 'you' for the best finger position :) Am I possible customer of Yamaha? - No (thank you for objectively video)
Happy to see new videos out here. Maybe you can record some cover videos ?
Hey, the problem with cover videos is that they often get blocked because of music rights. So while they're a lot of fun, they can be a waste of time when they get blocked. Even if they don't get blocked now, they can get blocked a year from now for example so I decided to stay away from them. I do. put out playalong tracks on my website by the way. If you ever want to try that, send me an email I'll give you a free trial!
A critical feature I need for these is to provide the ability to MIDI record and playback a performance without a DAW. I see the FGDP-50 seems to have transport controls, but since no reviewer has mentioned stand-alone recording capability I have to assume it doesn't have it and those are just for DAW control or USB stick audio file playback.
It does send out midi and receive it via usb. I've played some midi from my computer into the fgdp and it produced a drum part. Other way around obviously also worked. The question is what type of other devices can you hook up... so far I only managed to get it to work on my computer. I don't have any real hardware synths though so no idea...
Thanks for the review Rob! I'm curious to try the the FGDP-50 as you can still have the toms on top. Do the pads on the top row feel and behave the same as the regular pads, I wonder? As far as Yamaha improving/iterating on this, I hope so but I'm somewhat skeptical considering the MULTI12 was launched in 2009 and still sold today as the exact same model/version as when it was launched (besides software updates). Let's see!
Yeah all pads feel the same. The tom placement up top is still not ideal with the smaller pads though... So I can recommend also trying the Yamaha tom layout.
Can you make a video introducing the functions in the setup menu of fgdp 30 and fgdp 50?
I was waiting so much for a standalone device! Thx for the video, great as usual.
Is the speaker loud enough to play with other instruments? Is it possible to connect it to an amp?
The built-in speaker is really impressive given its size. Definitely punchy and loud enough, not tinny and good enough for practice. Both can be connected to an external amp via a stereo 3.5mm stereo jack socket. You can also choose to mute the internal speaker or not when the external audio jack is inserted. I have the FGDP-50 and it's amazing fun. Yamaha just released a firmware update for the 50 which fixes an issue where some user samples did not load correctly.
Thank you!!
The review i was waiting for! Brb after the video and a cup of tea^^ Edit: aha i have smiled at the evil marketing.
When I work with different sample packs in Maschine all samples are in different tune, how can I tune all of them and find the scale, can you make a video about that?
Very useful video. Best on the subject, by far. I’ve received my fgdp50 a week ago. I’m having some trouble going to bed, as I can’t stop playing this thing. Is there anyway I can download sound from addictive drums or any other software inside fgdp50? Thanks for your time.
Hey that's not possible. You need to use the onboard sounds and otherwise it's simply using it as a midi controller and hooking it up to your computer.
Of course they release this after I spent a grand on a drum machine. And this fits my needs in just an eight of the price.
Time to fire up that eBay account :-) :-)
My true happiness is induced by a rack full of obsolete romplers. Kids these days! Soundwise it does not disappoint, but the UI design is not from my timeline.
Hello, can u give your opinion should i buy this FGDP-50 or just buy Machine Micro Mk3 ?
Thanks
Thanks Paul!!
I use an xjam to play together with my 3yo kid, but the laptop is a bit distracting. this could be a good use case for a standalone device
Totally agree with everything you said, Rob. I've had the FGDP-50 for about a month now, hoping it could replace my Machine Mini MKIII. After a few days of fiddling around, it became clear that the responsiveness of the pads is what it is: decent, but not great. Then again, I would say the same about the Machine Mini, because as well as it responds to light touches, I found it way too easy to max out at 127 (=full velocity). Maybe that's because I've played the piano for too long, but I really had to force myself to hold back when playing energetic rock drum parts - which feels exactly as stupid as the sentence reads. The FGDP-50 performs a lot better on that end of the spectrum, but unfortunately it has the opposite problem for light touches.
Another thing that I found mildly disappointing is the lackluster MIDI/USB integration of the FGDP-50. While it's good that it is class compliant, so that you don't need any drivers or extra software, it's annoying that there _is_ no software that would allow you to set up custom pad layouts, midi maps, or kits made out of your own samples. Everything has to be done on the device, using the very 90s looking screen. I really hope that Yamaha will eventually put out something like the Native Instruments Controller Editor. I also hope that a firm ware update will provide the option to disable the internal sound engine when connected to USB. At the moment, this has to be done manually - either properly in the menu or by turning down the volume to zero.
Hey 100% agree with this as well. I was surprised there was no editor software! It might come later when enough people bought these things.
Question: when you record something on the 50 to a USB stick, is it possible to record MIDI files instead of WAV files? Thanks!
It seems that that is not possible. Only audio.
I think they would be fun.
Excellent video. If only using to trigger Addictive Drums do you think that the 30 is sufficient for that purpose?
Yes!
Thank you very much for the review. I have a question.
Does the FGDP 50 has the voice assistance for the menus as well?
I understand it has the screen but I am looking to see if it also has the voice assistance.
Thank you
Hey at first I thought it did because there is an "operation volume" setting, but when I enabled it just now it seems like that's just a little beep when you press a button. No voice saying where you are in the menu. I looked in the manual and cannot find that option on the FGDP-50. So yeah, for voice assistance the FGDP-30 seems to be the smarter choice! I wish I had figured that out sooner so I could have mentioned it in the video.
@TheQuestforGroove, thank you very much. I truly appreciate you taking the extra steps to verify it for me. As a visually impaired drummer it is very helpful to have voice guided menus. Don't have to memorize how to get to different settings and have cheat sheets.
Yeah I can imagine. In your case the FGDP-30 is probably a great device for a lot less money.
Hi thanks for the video. I'm want to begin finger drumming. Should I buy FGDP or the "normal" pad controller? My purpose I just want to use it as a drum kit
It's hard to say because it seems like a very personal choice. If you want to have a device that just turns on and drum sounds come out, the FGDP is the obvious choice. If you want bigger, more sensitive pads and/or if you want to do my finger drumming lessons online and you want to copy them 1:1, and you do not mind setting everything up and using your computer every time you want to play then a traditional pad controller like Maschine mikro will be better for you.
Is there a loop function? I’d love to be able to record a loop and then pick up the guitar??
It doesn't seem to have a real looper function for your drum performance. It does loop the "session" on the FGDP-50, but that's the track to drum along to. Your drums itself are not looped since you're playing along to it live. I'm not 100% sure but it seems you'd need a separate looping pedal or something to fully capture and loop your performance.
Would you recommend this for someone gonna take your course and get started with finger drumming
As a beginner I would probably just get a good old 16 pad 4x4 controller like the Maschine Mikro mk3. That way you can just copy what I do in the lessons. Otherwise you might need to translate that a bit in your head. On top of that the pad sensitivity on the mikro is better so you will probably have a better experience over all.
The only thing to consider is if you're going to practice a lot more if you have a standalone unit. In that case, more and frequent practice sessions is almost always the better choice.
I have a Roland HPD 20 mainly for percussion...I wonder how this compares in terms of authenticity and velocity sensitivity for latin percussion sounds?
Hey I haven't tested the Roland so a comparison is hard to make. My guess is the Roland has better response. I've heard some other students mention it and they were all very happy with it.
On the '-30' limitations... If you think of the cost of manufacture, perhaps these make sense. The screen and the extra memory for more samples aren't free. On the other hand there's a USB socket, so there should be an app for configuring the device....
There's definitely a lot of configurability on the 50, though checking out the manual for the 30 shows there's a lot you can tweak as well. The UX is very intuitive although an app definitely would save time on the 50 adding your own user samples and configuring your own pad setups (there's a lot of settings you can adjust).
Great video! I am still on the fence though. I'm looking for something to take with me on a 3 year bicycle tour that I will start in March.
I already plan to take the Synthstrom Deluge with me and was thinking about adding an XJam to play drums more intuitively.
When the FGDPs came out I got pretty excited that my wife could play drums along with my guitar while we travel without any setup issues.
She, like most people can't imagine getting out a sampler, pad and speaker just to jam around the campfire...
The Deluge is a super powerful sampler/sequencer/drum machine and offers many variable parameters (LFO controlled Filter, Velocity, pitch etc...) to allow for a very life like drum sound, but there would be cables... 3 batteries and set up time to consider.
Would you say the FGDP is a better choice because of the stand alone qualities?
I will also be using whatever drum pad/sampler/synth for recording on the go for the next 3 years, so sound quality limitations are also a factor for me.
Primarily, I focus on Indian Classical Music as well as some psych rock, folk and prog.
What do you think? Is the FGDP good enough that it will keep up with my long term music needs as well as being a super immediate "campfire instrument" for my wife and friends, or should I stick with getting the Xjam and deal with the cables, batteries and set up time that combination will require?
Thanks!
Oh man that's a hard decision to make for me. I would personally bring the FGDP along if I went for a long bike trip, but that's my personal preference. I don't think anyone but you can decide which option is best.
@@TheQuestforGroove Thanks for the reply! I really want to include my wife and other people we meet along the way in jamming and general music playing. How would you compare the pad sensitivity of the FGDP to the Xjam? I watched your video on the Xjam as well and it was really insightful.
I would say that the majority of the the time I will be the one doing the finger drumming, mainly building short loops for playing indian music, but I really like the idea of the FGDP being an immediate instrument for others to play along. Thanks for you advice!
Thanks! The Xjam pad sensivity is a little better. How much? Hard to say... If the Xjam is a 10-10, the FGDP is an 8-10... Something like that?
@@TheQuestforGroove Thanks for your feedback, I really appreciate it. Still on the fence but maybe leaning towards the Xjam a little... The FDGP looks really interesting but I think it will bug me if the pads aren't as good as possible. It is a little hard for me to try one in person because they are out of stock and I live pretty far from any music stores, but maybe I should be patient and see of I can get one to try. Cheers man! Thanks for the great videos and amazing playing.
Thanks for the great review! I have a Push 2. Could I use the Push to control the Yamaha directly (no laptop)? Hoping I can use the much better Push pads
I don't think so. The midi port in the back is only for a USB stick to either record on or to play an audio file. It doesn't not seem to be a MIDI port or anythng like that.
Thanks for the reply! Keep up the great work@@TheQuestforGroove
Hey@@PatrickNathan I did manage to send midi messages from my DAW into the device over USB. So maybe it can work actually! I don't know how the output of the launchpad works and if it supports midi over usb though. But maybe there are converter plugs available or something?
@@TheQuestforGroove Hey! Thanks for following up! That's very interesting. From some online research I've done it looks like Push 2 needs a laptop and probably wouldn't work for this setup. That said, if you somehow manage to connect the FGDP with a controller with superior pads, it would be an interesting option for us who already have good pads and want to play laptop-free. If you have any breakthrough, please let me know. Many thanks
@TheQuestforGroove I love drumming with my fingers on my desk, so I'm just a complete amateur! Would you recommend this over another product as I want to easily practice and dive into this world? The 50 seems more effortless tbh.
Thank you for your video and help! ❤
There's nothing like this out there at the moment. So I have no other recommendations.
@@TheQuestforGrooveDo you think it's good as an introductory then? Would it make sense to take the 50 instead? As it seems to give some extra space for utilities.
Thanks anyway!
Yeah it's a good one to get started with. I talk about the differences between 30 and 50 in the video. Which of the two to buy is a personal decision!
@@TheQuestforGroove yeah I aw that, as you said, great marketing! I was asking more for my case as I'm a total newbie. But I think I'll go with the 50 if I find it, as I probably won't get another one for years to come.
Thanks a ton! I will follow your teachings when I get it 🙏🏼
Thanks for share experience, be interesting see on review Roland mc-707 in new series roland have new pad(MV-1,MC-707)
Is there a way to completely bypass/disable the touch sensitivity on the Yamaha fgdp50?
Yeah you can mess around with the pad gain. The does not mean the pads will trigger with soft touches, because that's the pad threshold which cannot be changed to be more sensitive. But fixed velocity can be achieved I believe.
I was so excited when I first saw these, but the sounds in the machine gun triggering on the internal roles. Maybe the next version will be better
I received the -30 as a Christmas present from myself to myself. As a purely amateur musician, I couldn't justify spending over £300 for the -50.
When I first tried the device, I found the kick drum pad less sensitive than the others, and using my thumb was a somewhat hit and miss (pun intended) affair. I found setting the trigger (option 36) to Loud 2 helped a lot but did nothing about minimum level of sensitivity. I was a bit disappointed and wondered about returning it for a refund.
But now it's a week later and it seems much less of a problem so I guess I'm getting used to it and I'm subconsciously compensating. There's always the possibility of Yamaha making a software update to the add more trigger options to make the pads more sensitive for those who need it. IIRC, trigger options can be applied either across the entire keyboard (?) or to individual pads.
BTW, I've never done any type of drumming before, so the grooves you're playing seem pretty amazing to me.
Thanks! I hope you have a lot of fun with this device despite its shortcomings. Pad sensitivity is a bitch for all finger drummers. A rabbit hole that never ends 😀Just know that if you feel like it's "decent" that already means you're doing pretty well and there's much worse units out there!
Thank you. Very enlightening. I am interested in your comparison of pad sensitivity particularly as your playing, particularly in the final funk piece is very dynamic and shows the kind of natural subtlety that really brings drumming to life. So I guess your description of the sensitivity of the pads refers as much to the pressure/velocity sensitivity as well as and related to the initial trigger level. The fact that the pads can represent/demonstrate this level of subtlety is enough for me.
Well, I also practiced on the device and adjusted my playing style to get the most out of the FGDP. A bit like a good guitar player can play pretty well on a not great guitar. But that does not mean that the "great" perfectly tweaked guitar with perfect response and sustain would not have my preference if you understand what I mean.
10:30 modest selfknowledge
:-)
Does this have a randomizer for beats and tempo control?
I have not seen a randomiser. It only has an option to create small sonical variations on repeated notes which it calls humanising.
Здравствуйте, не видел в Вашем видео устровства "Virtual Drum Kit". Есть ли у Вас свое мнение об этом инструменте?
Most of the sounds demos in this video are played on the onboard drum kits. Is that what you mean with virtual drum kit? Check out 12:19 - Onboard sound demos!
I meant two calibrated sticks and sensors on the legs. The game is played in the air, and the sound comes from the module to the amplifier.
czcams.com/video/I9g4JZ6DScA/video.html. Your opinion is important to me. @@TheQuestforGroove
Ah right yes. I have not tried these! I do remember reading that there was a little latency still so that made me less interested. Maybe it improved over the years!
Can the white one record onboard? Maybe with quantization?
No to both answers. No onboard recording, no quantization.
I couldn't get one here in Canada so got mine through Sweetwater Music in the USA. I can't seem to turn off the external speaker while recording and I can't make it playback in time and I'm an ex Pro drummer ROFL! Subbed mate!
If you record through the usb port you can simply turn down the volume. If you record through the headphone jack, I think there is an option to turn the speaker off when a headphone jack is plugged in!
@@TheQuestforGroove I wondered about that I've only used it twice going up in a few to have an early morning tweak. Was curious if I could hear it in my DAW. New toys rofl, Thanks for your answer I subbed too ,you're a great musician all round! 👍