AVATAR PD705 Electronic Percussion Pad

The AVATAR PD705 Electronic Percussion Sampler Pad is a highly popular and well-regarded multi-pad, especially noted for providing advanced features, including sampling, at a very affordable price point, often compared favorably to the entry-level options from industry leaders like Roland and Alesis.¹ (Note: The product is manufactured by HXW and often rebranded as Avatar, LEKATO, or others.)

It is designed to be a versatile solution for gigging drummers, electronic kit expanders, and studio musicians.

🌟 Key Highlights

• 9 Velocity-Sensitive Silicone Pads: Offers more trigger space than standard 8-pad units, with dual-zone capability on some pads (though sources vary, many indicate 9 dual-zone pads).³ The silicone surface is designed to offer a good rebound feel.⁴

• Sample Import & Storage: This is its standout feature. Users can import their own WAV samples via a USB stick.⁵

  • Storage: 512 \text{ MB} total storage, including 128 \text{ MB} Flash-ROM specifically for user samples.

• Expansion Capability: Excellent connectivity for expansion, supporting up to 4 external trigger pads (2 dual-zone inputs) and 2 footswitch inputs (for kick pedal and/or hi-hat control).

• Value Proposition: It offers a multi-pad layout, sampling, advanced connectivity, and onboard effects at a fraction of the cost of professional flagship models.

Detailed Specifications

Primary Use Cases

1. Acoustic Drum Kit Expansion: Used alongside an acoustic kit to trigger electronic sounds, loops, or one-shot samples (like cowbells, hand claps, or vocal phrases).

2. Electronic Kit Module: Can function as the central brain of a small electronic kit by connecting external pads/pedals to its trigger inputs.¹⁰

3. MIDI Controller: Excellent for sending MIDI data to a computer to trigger external Drum VSTs (Virtual Studio Technology) like EZdrummer or Superior Drummer.¹¹

4. Live Backing Track Trigger: Used to trigger pre-recorded loops or sequences via the pad.