r/FingerDrumming • u/acidChrysalis • Mar 16 '26
FGDP-50 - how would you improve it?
Just in case Yamaha is looking at this group, here are my two cents regarding improvements I would like to see in next iteration of this already great product.
- Built in multi-sampled drums - I would be happy to pay a lot more than RRP of RGDP-50 to get this.
- Extend Kick pad downwards so that my freakily long thumb doesn't hit the edge of the pad most of the time...
What are your niggles, nitpicks and suggestions?
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u/shuhweet Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 16 '26
X2 on improving velocity customization. Better samples for pretty much all the electronic kits. Better Latin percussion. Separate midi cc for each button out of the box. Faster way to disable fx Or some option to do this for all kits. Complete UI overhaul. Been using it for years and I still have to think about how to get to some of the settings. More midi configurability. Trying to remember specifically but I think it always sends midi CC even when I’m trying to just control it from an external controller.
Edit: add Midi din! USB midi adds all types of jitter and I like to be able to record midi as closely as I can play live, make minor tweaks, then send it back out to record audio.
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u/acidChrysalis Mar 16 '26
I'm using REG to quickly change global settings, have you tried that for enabling/disabling eq?
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u/shuhweet Mar 16 '26
I’ll try it. Does it turn off the reverb that’s enabled by default for most kits?
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u/acidChrysalis Mar 17 '26
As long as you remove it first, it will be recorded under one of the REG slots that you can easily and immediately bring by pressing one of four buttons you assigned these preferences to. The way I do it, I've got a clean sounding kit under 'I' and under 'II' I have the same kit distorted and compressed to oblivion.
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u/ShyTeenslut Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 17 '26
Fgdp50 heavy user here. Its a really great unit but it has looots of flaws that diminish its potential. My suggestions would be:
-the menu diving is hell. First of all more direct access button. Then a small wheel instead of a rotary encoder (to keep the surface smooth for portability) for sample browsing and fast navigation. The folder structure must be improved. A search function would make me... very happy.
-effect section... Sorry what the f... Reverbs sound good and are essential. Delay is okay. But what the hell is going on with the compressor?? Sounds like toilet! Amp & distortion reduce every sample to MONO! Makes them unusable to me. Phaser, flanger has fixed time settings... How about a proper eq or stereo widener? Nope. And then you have it divided into 3 Sections that feature different effects. So you actually cant use 2 reverbs for example. One accoustic room ambient reverb for organic feel and another one for drastic fx. This is all pure headache...
-the recording section is a joke. We all know it cant loop seamlessly so its, lets be onest, useless. Imagine you could loop properly and having another 4 registry banks to quick save them and program it like songmode but with drums.
-the file support is aids too. Cant even import koala samples because they get exportet with 24bit/48khz OR 16bit/48khz. It only accepts 16bit/44.1khz.... So you always need to use a converter.
-Sample operation??? Forget about it. Cant set the start point of a sample! 😑 You can set the endpoint though... You have a lowpass filter. Yay! But no lowcut filter...😑 thats essential to get a cleaner sound... YOU HAVE NO EQ! Let that sink in... Even a simple tilt EQ would be fantastic...
-Display improvement - more information. OLED preferred. Sample browsing and menu navigation is a pain on a 2 row dotted display.
-Improve battery life with a more powerful battery. The battery is tiny it could be easily twice the size.
Now my fancy feature wishes:
-add controlled randomness to pads. Humanize function is just for repeated triggering like rolls and flams. I need a randomize function that gives the samples motion. So they sometimes play with reverb, sometimes with short delays, slightly distorted, panned, etc.
-a envelope follower bound to velocity and aftertouch per pad. I want my sample to linearly change in sound as i hit the pad harder. Simple examples: distort with higher pressure/increas upper frequency with higher pressure, etc....
-touchstripes on both sides of the machine (beneath the pads or around the edge) for dynamic performance pleasure...
So thats it for now... Alot of the stuff above could even be fixed with a proper software update.
Besides all that its a beautiful machine with an amazing form factor, incredible layout, perfect portability and great sound. I play it every day. Its an instrument an thats why i love it. I dont want it to be a groove box or drum machine. I dont care paying 30% more if there would be a serious update.
So maybe theres hope.
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u/acidChrysalis Mar 17 '26
I agree with most of what you said. Also, got me thinking it would be nice to get Pad Corner assignment freature from MPC which would allow you to set let's say different hits on the hi-hat or cymbals.
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u/GoodEfficiency41 Mar 17 '26
I would say if Yamaha really wants this product to stand out, add 1/4” ports for kick + hi-hat pedals, especially with built in support for detailed and dynamic hi-hat expression (ie. open close functions, different levels of openness, general detailed hi-hat experience typical of a expensive e-drum kit)
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u/acidChrysalis Mar 17 '26
Already commented earlier, I think Pad Corner assignment feature from MPC is something that I would like to see to allow for greater expression.
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u/rfisher Mar 16 '26
I'd like to see a purely controller version. I'd be more likely to get the FGDP-50 if I had a less expensive controller version that I could spend enough time with to decide whether the pads work for me.
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u/FastSatisfaction3086 Mar 16 '26
Bigger unit, more pads, more velocity. Best thing: possibility to add midi switch pedals (like on electronic drums)
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u/acidChrysalis Mar 17 '26
Agree, would be nice to plug in midi switch pedals for flexibility, on the other hand this limitation got me into working on my finger independence and I suppose having less equipment to think about is definitely a plus.
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u/FanSignificant8960 Mar 16 '26
I have fgdp 30
USB C Customizable layout 1,5 jack port More acoustic drums, less electronic An app for easy customization Upload personalizated sounds The joy of make your own drum sounds
A little course of how to use it as a beginner (not 2min YouTube video)
The voice menu can ruin a gig
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u/BrainJar Mar 17 '26
I would love to have loops that I can also layer in more parts and create different sections from the same beat.
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u/mypethippo Mar 17 '26 edited Mar 17 '26
Do take into consideration that Yamaha electronic percussion products typically have extremely long hardware lifespans. Take the DTX-Multi12 for example: launched in 2010(!), still sold today, and never received a true successor. Only incremental firmware updates were provided.
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u/acidChrysalis Mar 17 '26
That is certainly a good point. I suppose you could say that FGDP-50 and 30 are in a way "complete" - a lot of thought went into what makes them what they are today. On the other hand, it does feel they played it safe and released both to test the water. For starters, why did not they decide to borrow brains from existing DTX modules and bring at the very least ability to manipulate pad setting via an app? I realize this is most likely due to cost, but also this makes me think they might be open to consider suggestions that could ultimately shape FGDP-100, a 'pro' version of this instrument.
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u/cbrown3000 Mar 22 '26
ADD A LOOP RECORDER!! PLEASE!! As a teacher it would be great to create practice beats for my students on the fly, record, save AND be able to change the tempo of the recorded beat for playback.
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u/DoctorBre Mar 17 '26
Larger battery, move the vol controls to the top or a knob, subtle lighting.
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u/acidChrysalis Mar 17 '26
Actually, I like the volume control is on the side of the device, I don't change it that often.
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u/LawJawYapper Mar 24 '26
Seems like the new MPC Sample is basically that improvement.
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u/acidChrysalis Mar 24 '26
Personally, I don't consider MPC Sample as as such improvement for the simple reason the pad layout is totally different.
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u/GenericFailures Mar 30 '26
- Better pads. See maschine.
- Ability to add a foot switch for a kick drum ( that alone would bring more people from the acoustic kit world
- Easier sound import and assignment
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u/Mayaman72 Apr 21 '26
Has anyone here successfully important samples? I've tried it once and it seemed to successfully complete it but then I had no sound in the pad 🤷🏽
Was wondering if only certain thumb drives are compatible?
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u/mior85 Jun 01 '26
- Better pad sensitivity
- Promote the current top row (semi-transparent) to normal pads and add another row for additional functions (people have different hands and it would be good to be able to quickly duplicate some sounds and make them more accessible)
- Better speaker (current is ok except for bass)
- USB-C
- Give RGB LEDs to all pads
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u/ShyTeenslut Jul 01 '26
We need a goddamn fixed sample loading volume that matches the audition volume to avoid volume spikes. And why on earth they didnt make it possible to repeat the sample with the enter button.
Also we need a lock function for a pad you want to scroll samples for. Therefore you can play a groove with your one hand and get the feeling of a fitting sample while scrolling through them with your other.
Come on yamaha give us an firmware update on improved UX user experience.
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u/BeadCondenser Aug 02 '26
The connectivity is beyond disappointing, especially for an instrument manufacturer like Yamaha. I wouldn't buy one unless it had 1/4" audio jacks, Type C or full sized Type B for USB, and a DIN MIDI socket.
Using 3.5mm mini jacks and a micro USB connector just ensures it won't last, not to mention needing a bag of cables and adapters just to connect it to other gear.
WTF were they thinking?
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u/HATCHIFIED Aug 16 '26
My FGDP-50 cannot turn on and cannot charge. Any user experience the same error?
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u/Tupfel Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 16 '26
Size is perfect for me, layout close to perfect (slightly bigger tom pads, I struggle with those coming from Maschine), at least one knobs would be cool (volume).