Roland VAD516 V-Drums Kit  If you‘ve followed Roland’s Acoustic Design lineup of V-Drums over the past few years, you already know the story: full size shells, premium hardware, and an e-kit that looks like it belongs in front of a large audience rather than in the corner of the spare bedroom. With their latest release of the VAD516, Roland Is leaning into a bigger idea: giving players a drum kit that behaves less like a piece of gear and more like a creative hub. From deeper editing tools and performance-focused controls to WI-FI connectivity, the VAD516 with its V51 drum module pushes beyond familiar territory, to address workflow – streamlining how drummers practice, record and perform. For this month’s Product Close-Up, we will take a closer look at VAD516 and its V51 drum module to see how the updated features translate to practical, real-world use. Kit Configuration  The kit ships in Roland’s Midnight Sparkle finish and includes a 20” KD-20-MS kick drum, a 10” PDA100-MS rack tom, a 12” PDA120-MS rack tom, and a 14” PDA140F-MS floor tom. Front and center is the […]

March 2026 Issue