Occasional faulty units aside (which is the case for every type of controller), you can’t really go wrong with Maschine so I guess this is a great way to start!
@SamP: At the end I got the FGDP through a more local dealer, which wasn’t fully overbooked. Maybe you have more luck if you go looking besides the usual suspects where everyone is buying?
But I agree with Robert. The Maschine is really nice. It has even better pads. If you don’t need the standalone features or more pads, it might be a better fit anyway.
Dear ones, I’ve started playing finger drumming with the FGDP50. It caught my attention as it is a standalone instrument. I couldn’t be happier. I’ve been playing at least 1 or 2 hours a day, and it’s been a great experience.
One point that intrigued me was how to change pad sensitivity. I’ve found that it can be changed by pad in the following Menu:
To select as a Velocity curve: [MENU]→Trigger→Note→VelCurve
• To select as an Aftertouch curve: [MENU]→Trigger→AfterTouch→ATCurve
If you go to the Yamaha manual, you’ll see that there are 25 different curves with which you can experiment to find the best sensitivity and response according to your playing style. I’m trying loud 1, and I’ll consider spline 23 afterwards. The curve must be selected for each pad and it keeps the same in all the drum kits.
Hope it helps.
All the best.
PS.: Please take a careful look at the curves. I think it will make it clear how it is designed to function.
They can be found in the following link: FGDP-50 User Guide (yamaha.com)
Nice to hear! It’s really nice to have it as a standalone instrument, always ready to go
I’d like to add that in addition to the Velocity Curve, the ADGain setting can be helpful: FGDP-50 User Guide (yamaha.com)
Thanks for sharing! I would like to add that changing the curve will not do anything to fix the pad threshold, which is the minimum force applied to trigger a note. That in all honesty is where the FGDP units are not super great compared to something like a Maschine. All the other stuff can indeed be tweaked with pad curves and pad gain.
Hi, I don’t know how it’s a miracle that I just received a shipment from Thomann with the FGDP-50 so it looks like Yamaha is gradually starting to replenish its stock. Earlier they wrote that the earliest I would receive it was the end of March…
My first impression is: amazing!!! I immediately fell in love with the device
The device meets the learning requirements probably 100%, i.e. for doing QFG exercises, you don’t need to run anything on the computer, you can just start playing right away. Now I’m going through all the lessons again to master them on a new device with a new layout.
The layout is actually very similar to QFG, I was afraid that it would be a problem - I don’t see it that much. The “toms” line seems to be well-thought-out, and for me, an untrained person, it is not a significant obstacle.
The only problem I see is that the kick is quite quiet, maybe it’s good, but I would like to hear it louder Maybe someone knows how to do it?
Yes you can modify the gain of each pad individually (check manual, I have the 30)
Yes that was also the very first thing that I noticed negatively. But this is only due to their decision to have the Kick drum just as velocity sensitive as the snare drum by default. You can “fix” this by setting the Trigger > Note > VelCurve to some offset curve. I personally use “Offset3” for the Kick, “Offset5” for the Hats (debatable) and “Normal” for everything else.
Nice, great to hear you’re enjoying it . I’m still undecided if I’ll get a Maschine Mikro or the Yamaha. I like the idea of not needing a computer, but they said I’d be learning from one a lot of the time most likely.
Hello, I decided to learn finger drums, since I saw that Yamaha released FGDPs.
My first experience with finger drums was a long time ago, in 1986 I bought a Sony DRP-1 and it was crazy.
Being portable and just connecting to a device, it was very simple to use.
With so much use and many people using it, it died and there was no possibility of repair.
After that I still tried, but it was all very complicated to use and very expensive.
So I ordered the FGDP-50 and it arrived within 15 days.
Since that day I have been studying the device and using the QFG course and I have only good things to say about both.
As FGDPs have everything needed to use it, just turn it on and 2 seconds later I’m using it.
I’m having a lot of fun even though I’m still really bad at playing.
But as I am persistent and as I set a goal of 1 year, I hope to reach 2025 playing at least 50% of what Robert did (I hope).
Welcome aboard! You can achieve a lot in a year with consistent practice, so I’m looking forward to 2025 to see what you’ve learned
Welcome, I’m thinking of either the Yamaha or Maschine Mikro to get me started.
Hi everyone! I have had a little bit of a chance to play around with the FGDP-50, what a great kit! Can operate as a midi controller or be controlled by external controller.
Some things you will need to get the most out of it…
● A usb midi host box.
CAMOLA USB MIDI Host Box USB to MIDI Converter MIDI Interface found on Amazon
●A stand would be nice, made one…
AMADA HOMEFURNISHING Projector Stand, Laptop Stand with Adjustable Height 22 to 36 inch, Projector Mount found on Amazon.
Amazon.com: PATIKIL Wood Serving Tray 9 Inch, Square Decorative Platter for Home Decor Kitchen Table Candle Holder, Brown : Home & Kitchen
https://www.amazon.com/PATIKIL-Serving-Decorative-Platter-Kitchen/dp/B0C3B651MG/ref=sr_1_35?crid=DXB1AVV20DUP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9KsvvnvO0cQo1hMcPzpZuUf1epn7D_ULDbE2w1x2BoqsfV1To16w1sXgWy8vn2T8oQ1Gn8n2uVIEFHk5NuiQ-5EnUZGqiIEber9H7DOdiPdv_Qr3VLAM1rWrdn4nLJSYEa3PRgpITPh7Or0RgH1SKC7tmHvI0-OtdqnojWVtRiI42b64gpqE7gmxV7UCsaj22Zfb1twttG42oxaAL3m53dAV5U_ZU2uSqPf0d6EGO0e1is6rGa9fjP7J8hfKeo80_hgqHDeAcNGwCpOoOna2xVQU0WMOh-lLhjFJFoZoFNc.U2KHPcin5oafpKXStjvskLoVunE424M68AzpGyTTyQw&dib_tag=se&keywords=9x9%2Binch%2Bmetal%2Btray&qid=1711295815&sprefix=9x9%2Binch%2Bmetal%2Btray%2Caps%2C105&sr=8-35&th=1
Didn’t want to wait 3 weeks for black tray, so painted this one and attached to stand with 6/32 x 3/4" machine screws and nuts. Couldn’t find long enough metric 5? Screws. Fits like a glove. Also cut a 6 inch 1/2 inch PVC pipe (painted black) so it can also be mounted on drum rack.
Hope pics are accessible.
Thanks everyone.
Wow, this looks like a great setup man. Beautiful, compact and effective!
Welcome to the forum @Daveyv. That looks awesome, kind of like Yamaha made it as an official accessory.
Thank you, just got the multipad mounted and finishing up the connections.
Thanks for the compliments and the welcome, appreciate it.