If your Roland V-Drums electronic kit is occasionally triggering open hi-hat sounds when you intended to play closed hi-hat notes, you’re experiencing a common issue that can be easily fixed with a simple adjustment.
I had this exact issue with my VAD-507 kit (which uses the TD-27 module). Playing on the kit through my headphones was fine, but when I looked at the recorded MIDI notes after playing, about 50% of my closed hi-hat notes were appearing as open. It was extremely frustrating to have to manually move the erroneous mistriggers over to the right hi-hat note.
Solution #1: Check Your Hi-Hat Note Border Setting
Personally, I’ve found the main cause of this problem is the default Hi-Hat Note Border value in Roland modules. By default, this setting is at maximum (127), which can be too sensitive for many playing styles. Or we just have terrible technique. Whatever the case, here’s how to fix it:
- Access your module’s settings menu and locate the Hi-Hat Note Border parameter
- Reduce this value from the default 127 in small increments
- Test your hi-hat response after each adjustment
- Continue adjusting until unwanted open hi-hat triggers are eliminated
Recommended Starting Point
Based on my personal experience, setting the Hi-Hat Note Border around 85-95 often resolves the issue. However, your ideal setting may differ depending on your specific foot technique and playing style. In any case, you’ll want to reduce this to a threshold that feels natural and prevents the open hi-hat misfiring.
Solution #2: Check Your Hi-Hat Open/Close Balance
If adjusting the Note Border doesn’t fully resolve the issue, you should also explore the Hi-Hat Open/Close Balance setting.
This was one I didn’t end up touching, however you may want to experiment with it to see if it eliminates your Roland hi-hat issues.
- Enter the individual kit settings by pressing F5 (the fifth black square button on your Roland module.
- Locate the Hi-Hat Open/Close Balance parameter
- Adjust this setting to create a better balance between open and closed sounds
- Test after each adjustment until you find the optimal setting
Lowering the Note Border value makes the module less sensitive to slight variations in pedal position, ensuring your hi-hat notes stay consistently closed when intended.
Remember that finding the right setting is personal – take time to find the value that best matches your playing style.
