HPD-20 Digital Hand Percussion

Ever since Roland launched the HandSonic series, players have craved a hand percussion tool that bridges acoustic feel with electronic endlessness, and this latest iteration nails it with a 10-inch pad split into 13 responsive zones.

Powered by the SuperNATURAL sound engine, it packs 850 diverse tones from global percussion and melodic hits to electronica beats, across 200 editable kits. The silicone rubber pads deliver velocity-sensitive response with pressure control for damping, muting, and tuning—like real congas or tablas—while the circular layout feels natural in your hands. Twist the Realtime Modify knob for live pitch tweaks, sweep the D-BEAM for gesture-controlled effects, or hit the Roll button for seamless rolls; three multi-effects engines (25 types each), ambience, and EQ let you layer and warp sounds deeply. Import up to 500 WAV files (12 min mono total) via USB, record ideas with Quick Rec (exportable as WAV), and connect externally via MIDI I/O, audio in/out, headphones, and trigger input. At 311 x 404 x 102mm and 5 lbs 5 oz, it's stage-ready and portable, powered by AC adaptor.

Musicians love its intuitive playability for live gigs and studio jams, praising the authentic expression and sound quality, though some note the learning curve for advanced editing pays off big in custom kits.