From the club to the studio, Roland’s VAD (V-Drums Acoustic Design) hybrid drum kits are designed with one goal in mind: to blend the look and response of a traditional acoustic kit with the groundbreaking electronics of the V-Drums family. Real wood shells with Roland’s legendary tuneable mesh heads supply a quiet and custom response, from the crack of a cranked snare to the wooly give of a classic kick drum. And Roland’s rubberized multi-zone V-Cymbals serve up the expression you need to craft dynamic and compelling musical ideas night after night. Roland’s next-level TD-27 sound module and latest digital pads provide an unprecedented level of acoustic realism. It’s all powered by Roland’s Prismatic Sound Modeling engine and PureAcoustic Ambience Technology, which allow you to tune, muffle, size, process, and re-mike any piece in your kit. Kitted up with a full set of traditional hardware (not included), the Roland VAD503 sports a formidable look that’ll make your performance stand out in fresh new ways.
Browsing kits, tweaking sounds, and saving custom presets in the VAD503 are walks in the park, thanks to the TD-27 module’s dedicated knobs and hands-on interface. Tuning and muffling have their own controls. And buttons around the jog wheel ensure you never get lost in sub-menus. The knurled knobs and rubberized selectors all feel great in the hands — which is important on a tool you might use for hours on end.
Every onboard kit within the VAD503 is crafted to sound great without tweaks. But for times when you need a custom kit for a particular performance, Prismatic Sound Modeling — derived from the flagship TD-50 — has you covered. You have control over each drum shell’s tone and tuning. Each cymbal’s size and liveliness. You can even control virtual mic placement to dial in the perfect amount of natural ambience and life. Once you’ve found your sound, sweeten kick, snare, or toms with onboard FX, including rich reverb and smooth tape-like compression.
The VAD503’s PureAcoustic Ambience Technology creates an immersive soundstage that really makes you feel like you’re there. PureAcoustic tech lets you dive deep into sound tweaking, too, allowing you to adjust virtual microphone positions like a real recording studio, then balance each part of the kit with outboard-style FX processors.
Nothing looks and plays like a wood drum. The VAD503’s full-sized wood shells and tuneable mesh heads supply the feel of your favorite acoustic kit, all with an easy-to-control acoustic output that’s easy to control onstage or in a residential setting. Shells come decked out in a premium Roland Midnight Sparkle wrap and feature chrome hardware for an unmistakable look from the platform or in the studio.
When you need the glamour and presence of a full acoustic drum set on stage—but with the convenience and control of electronic drums—the VAD503 is the perfect solution. This premium ‘one-up, one-down’ kit features wooden shells with full depth and diameter, exquisitely finished and mounted on double-braced chrome stands for a look that will have the audience convinced you’re playing acoustic drums. Roland’s advanced digital sensor technology and dynamic TD-27 drum module provide the sound and response to match, making sure every stroke, ghost note, roll, and swell is fully expressed in incredible detail.
With the impressive looks, familiar layout, and inspiring playability of a high-end acoustic kit, the VAD503 makes any drummer feel instantly at home. There’s a 14" stainless steel snare, plus 10" rack tom, a 14" floor tom, and a 20" kick constructed with full-depth wood shells, adding to the authenticity and providing genuine acoustic feel under the stick and beater. A full complement of cymbals includes a 12" V-Hi-Hat, 14" crash (with thin profile and textured finish), and an 18" ride for superior playability and natural appearance on stage.
Roland’s cutting-edge digital pad technology brings even deeper realism to the V-Drums experience. The digital snare and ride pads connect to the TD-27 module via USB cables, working together with the sound engine to deliver the most natural expression, allowing your drumming skills to be heard in incredible detail. Multiple sensors and lightning-fast processing provide amazing response, enabling you to play genuine techniques in the most natural way. Ghost notes, rim shots, and cross stick playing on the snare are precisely detected and translated, while the ride offers wide tonal range and the ability to subtly mute with just a touch of the bow or bell.
Roland’s legendary multi-ply, tension-adjustable mesh heads contribute significantly to the authentic playing feel, giving you stick rebound that’s customizable for your individual playing style. And when you bury the beater into the specially designed kick drum, you physically move air inside the shell, creating air pressure and resistance that feels remarkably like playing an acoustic kick.
Derived from the flagship TD-50, the TD-27 sound module is filled with drums that live and breathe like acoustic instruments. We start by sampling the finest drums, percussion, and cymbals—both vintage and modern—in world-class recording studios. Roland’s unique Prismatic sound modeling is then applied to the samples, bringing them alive with proprietary behavior modeling refined over two decades. Every time you strike a drum or cymbal, you’re not simply triggering a canned sound—you’re playing a full-bodied instrument that responds like its acoustic counterpart in every way, with an unprecedented sonic range at your command.
With acoustic drums, you make the sound your own by swapping head types, adjusting the tuning, applying damping, tweaking the snare wire tension, changing out the kick beater, and more. This is all possible with the TD-27 module, allowing you to craft customized kits for any situation. Just strike a pad to select it, and then use the hands-on controls and intuitive editing tools to get the sound just how you like it. Your edits are saved automatically too, so you always stay focused on playing. It’s even possible to load your own samples and layer them with the internal sounds to personalize kits even more.
The way acoustic drums and cymbals are mounted not only projects a classic image—it also influences the playing feel. The tom pads mount on the same stands used for acoustic toms—so they feel just right when they’re hit. Newly developed thin V-Cymbals also attach to the stands with a special pivot mount, for a natural acoustic-style ‘swing’ when played. And every stand is double-braced for rock-solid stability, and easily adjusted to suit your preferred layout.
New PureAcoustic Ambience Technology optimises each kit, creating an incredibly natural and immersive sound field when playing. But you can go deeper too, and adjust the mic position on each drum kit, and dial in the overall sound with the newly developed overhead mic simulator. Finally, advanced onboard multi-effects and mixing capabilities give you the power of a full-scale studio console, with transient, parametric EQs, compressors, reverbs, delays, and more at your command.
The VAD503 delivers fantastic sound for live performance or recording, thanks to a wealth of connectivity options. The TD-27 module features stereo outputs for the overall drum sound, plus two direct outputs for sending kick, snare, and other sounds to an audio console for independent mixing. In the studio, the built-in USB audio interface makes computer music production easy, with up to 28 audio channels available over a single cable. MIDI is also supported via USB and dedicated I/O, allowing you to sync with other MIDI devices and trigger sounds in computer software.
With the VAD503, you’re not stuck with a static setup. Using the TD-27 module’s three auxiliary trigger inputs, it’s easy to add tom and cymbal pads to bolster your arsenal. Or you may go for maximum impact with an imposing double-kick setup. Whatever you’re thinking, the auxiliary trigger inputs are the gateway to your ideal drum setup.
Built-in Bluetooth lets you wirelessly stream audio from a phone or laptop to the module, ideal for jamming with headphones. Play along with favorite music tracks or mix the sound from a YouTube lesson video with the kit. Onboard coach functions develop skills and track your progress, while the advanced metronome helps improve your inner clock. And at any time, you can record your playing and listen back to highlight what you need to work on.
| Total Number of Pads | 4 x drum pads, 3 x cymbal pads |
|---|---|
| Included Snare/Tom Pads | 14" PD-140DS Snare, 10" PDA100-MS Tom, 14" PDA140F-MS Tom |
| Included Kick Pads | 20" KD-200-MS Kick |
| Included Cymbal Pads | 14" VH-10 Hi-hat, 14" CY-14C Crash, 18" CY-18DR Ride |
| Hybrid Acoustic/Electric | Yes |
| Shells Included | 1 x Rack Tom, 1 x Snare, 1 x Floor Tom, 1 x Bass Drum |
| Included Drum Module | TD27 Module (1st Generation) |
| Number of Drum Kits | 50 presets, 50 user |
| Number of Instruments | 728 |
| Effects | Ambience, 3-band EQ, Tuning, Muffling, Snare Buzz, Strainer, 30 x Multi-effect |
| Module Trigger Inputs | 1 x DB-25, 2 x 1/4" (crash 2, aux) |
| Module Analog Inputs | 1 x 1/8" (mix in) |
| Module Analog Outputs |
2 x 1/4" (master out) |
| Headphones |
1 x 1/4" |
| Module MIDI I/O | In, Out/Thru, USB |
| Other I/O | Bluetooth 4.2 (audio streaming/MIDI |
| USB |
1 x Type B |
| Storage | SD/SDHC Card Slot (WAV files) |
| Included Hardware | DTS311 Hardware Kit |
| Manufacturer Part Number | VAD503 |
