The Legendary Percussion Pad, Updated for Modern Performances
Over 25 years ago, the introduction of the SPD-20 took the world—and especially India—by storm. Legions of Indian musicians embraced the “OCTAPAD” as their primary instrument, and SPD-20 sounds have become the highlight of Bollywood, folk, devotional, and many other live music genres across the country. Designed with the latest Roland percussion technologies and filled with user-requested features, the OCTAPAD SPD-20 PRO takes performance to the next level while fully retaining the core appeal of the classic SPD-20.
The OCTAPAD SPD-20 PRO offers the famous eight-pad layout, legendary sounds, and rugged durability of the original SPD-20, newly enhanced with more responsive playability and an updated user interface. There are also new many sounds and kits for the music of India, with instruments like dholak, mridangam, kanjira, halgi, tasha, and more offering natural tones with authentic feel and dynamic response. Easy to carry and compact enough to fit in the tightest spaces, the OCTAPAD SPD-20 PRO delivers everything you need to cover percussion in all music genres and settings, from small indoor functions to large-scale outdoor performances.
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OCTAPAD SPD-20 PRO — Performance
Next-generation percussion pad with the original SPD-20 sound set, new sounds and features, enhanced playability, and an updated user interface.
Classic SPD-20 Sounds—and More
The next-generation OCTAPAD SPD-20 PRO provides an enhanced experience for the thousands of players across India who’ve adopted the SPD-20 as their main instrument. Every sound from the original percussion pad is available, plus an impressive selection of new ones to choose from. To make things even better, EQ, compression, and three onboard effects engines—each with 38 multi-effects types—can be applied to a single instrument, further broadening the sonic possibilities.
Authentic Sounds from Around the World
The OCTAPAD SPD-20 PRO’s new sounds give players what they need to meet today’s diverse and ever-changing live performance and studio production demands. Sampled in the highest quality, these premium sounds allow percussionists to authentically cover Asian, African, Latin, and many other world music styles. Western drum kit sounds are also available, including high-end acoustic drums and cymbals originally developed for the TD-27 V-Drums sound module. With more than 900 instruments available for musical exploration, the possibilities are only limited by your imagination!
Customize Kits for Your Music
The OCTAPAD SPD-20 PRO comes with 200 kit locations, including 100 filled with great-sounding presets that are ready to play. But you can also customize them to perfectly fit your personal style and the music you’re playing. For example, you could easily combine the dhol-tasha and Western drum kits to create a powerful hybrid kit for performing amazing Indian fusion tracks.
Real-Time Sound Editing for Expressive Performances
The backlit LCD and direct-access buttons support real-time editing of instrument sounds as you perform, and multiple sounds can be layered on any one pad using the Pad Link function to create exciting new tones and textures. It’s also possible to chain different kits to match your set list and instantly switch between them with a button press, such as a tabla kit for a devotional song and a Western drum kit for a Bollywood song.
Expand Beyond the Built-In Pads
To complement its eight sensitive rubber pads, the OCTAPAD SPD-20 PRO features four dual-trigger inputs and a dedicated hi-hat control input. This allows you to build an expanded percussion setup with a variety of optional Roland trigger pads, including mesh-head V-Pads, V-Cymbals, and the BT-1 Bar Trigger Pad. And by connecting a Roland kick pad and hi-hat control pedal, you can transform the OCTAPAD SPD-20 PRO into a powerhouse mini drum kit with rock-solid feel and continuous open/closed hi-hat sounds.
Enhanced Performance Features
With the Version 1.10 update, the OCTAPAD SPD-20 PRO continues to evolve with newly added features. The Pad Link function has been made more powerful, with layering possibilities increased from four sounds to 32. You can also set independent transmit and receive settings for Pad Link to extend your creative range. In addition, external footswitches can now be assigned to increase/decrease parameter values, with the current value shown on the display for instant feedback. This keeps your hands free to focus on delivering expressive performances for your audience.
Legendary Roland Quality
Roland instruments are renowned for their durability and longevity, and this percussion pad is no exception. Designed in Japan, the briefcase-size OCTAPAD SPD-20 PRO gives you all the sounds you need in one dependable, ready-to-perform instrument.
New OCTAPAD SPD-20 PRO Drum Kits
- CHENDA
- The Chenda is a majestic percussion instrument with a loud, rigid sound. It’s used in Hindu temple festivals and has an important role in the religious art forms of Kerala. It’s played while suspended over the shoulder with a strap, and hands or sticks are used to strike drumheads on either end.
- DHOLAK
- One of the most commonly played instruments in northern India, the dholak is a two-headed hand drum that’s used in folk music, devotional functions, and family gatherings. The drumheads are attached with ropes, which are laced through metal tuning rings to adjust the pitch.
- DUGGI
- The duggi, also known as a dugi or dukkar, is an Indian kettle drum that’s played with the fingers and palm. It’s used in Baul music of the Bengal/Bangladesh region and also played in the folk music of Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
- GHATAM
- One of India’s most ancient percussion instruments, the ghaṭam is prominently used in music across the country. A variant known as a gharha is a part of Punjabi folk traditions, while other variants in Rajasthan are known as madga and pani mataqa. The performer uses the fingers, thumbs, palms, and heels of their hands to produce different sounds.
- KANJIRA
- The kanjira, also known as a khanjira, khanjiri, or ganjira, is an Indian frame drum that’s part of the tambourine family. It’s been used for centuries as a folk and bhajan instrument. The right hand strikes the drumhead, while the left hand supports the drum and bends the pitch by applying pressure to the outer rim.
- KHOL
- The khol is a two-sided terracotta drum used in northern and eastern India for devotional music. It’s also used in Visnu temples in Odisha during aarti rituals and to accompany Odia and Bengali kirtans. The khol is played with the palms and fingers of both hands.
- MADAL
- The madal is a popular hand drum for rhythm-keeping in Nepalese folk music. It consists of a cylindrical body often carved from a wooden log. It has heads at both ends, with one head larger than the other, and is usually played horizontally in a seated position.
- MORSING
- The morsing is a plucked percussion instrument mainly used in south India, Rajasthan, and some parts of Assam. Similar to “jaw harps” found in many other cultures, it’s played while pressing the metal frame against the front teeth, using the mouth cavity as a resonator.
- MRIDANGAM
- The mridangam is a two-headed drum used in Carnatic music performances all over southern India. The mridangam performer often provides the principal rhythmic accompaniment, guiding the timing of the entire ensemble.
- SHANKHA
- The shankha is a conch shell that’s used in Hindu and Buddhist religious music. It’s played by blowing through a hole drilled in the shell.
- UDUKAI
- Used in folk music and prayers in Tamil Nadu, the udukai or uduku is a membranophone with an hourglass shell made of wood or brass. A small snare stretched over one side contributes to it characteristic sound. The pitch is adjusted by squeezing the lacing that surrounds the drum.
