The Avatar PD708 is a significant leap forward from the PD705 series, moving from a budget-friendly sample pad to a professional-grade workstation that competes directly with high-end units like the Roland SPD-SX Pro. The most defining upgrade is the massive jump in storage and the addition of wireless sampling. Technical Specifications & Features Wireless Bluetooth Sampling: This is a standout feature for studio work. You can stream audio directly from a phone or laptop via Bluetooth and sample it into the pad in real-time without needing any cables. Onboard Recording: Unlike the PD705 which mainly imports files, the PD708 allows you to record directly through the Mic/Line input. You can capture a specific percussion hit or a vocal snippet and assign it to a pad instantly. Advanced Layering: It supports A/B Double-Layer technology per pad. Furthermore, when using a pedal, you can control up to 5 layers of sounds, allowing for extremely realistic acoustic drum dynamics. Massive Storage (32GB): With 32GB of space, you no longer have to worry about “running out of room” for backing tracks. It can hold hours of high-quality 16-bit / 48kHz WAV files. Customizable LEDs: Each pad has an RGB LED indicator that can be customized to different colors, making it much easier to navigate your kits on a dark stage. Professional Considerations Build Quality: The pads are isolated to prevent “crosstalk” (where hitting one pad accidentally triggers another), which was a minor issue in older budget pads. UI Performance: While the hardware is powerful, some users have noted that the screen and menu navigation can feel slightly slow compared to top-tier Roland units. However, for the price-to-performance ratio, it is currently one of the best values on the market. MIDI Setup Tip: Be aware that some early batches of the PD708 had the 5-pin MIDI In/Out ports labeled incorrectly (reversed). If you connect it to your gear and get no signal, try swapping the cables. Why people buy it: Affordable alternative to high-end pads like Roland SPD series Expandable (can add kick, hi-hat, cymbals) Custom sampling = great for live shows (loops, vocals, FX) Compact and portable Real user feedback (Reddit): “Pretty solid for the price… responsive pads… expandability is where it shines. Main Competitors Alesis Strike Multipad → better sounds, much more expensive Roland SPD-SX → industry standard, premium price Avatar PD705 → cheaper but less powerful Considerations & Limitations Availability in Pakistan: Limited to select distributors; check warranty and after-sales support. Sound Library Size: While versatile, it has fewer built-in sounds compared to Alesis Strike Multipad. Brand Recognition: Roland and Alesis are more established globally, which may matter for professional touring musicians. Recommendation If you’re a drummer in Pakistan looking for a cost-effective yet professional sample pad, the Avatar PD708 is a solid choice. It balances performance features (sampling, FX, MIDI) with affordability, making it especially attractive for live gigs and studio setups. For broader sound libraries or global brand support, Roland SPD-SX or Alesis Strike Multipad may be worth considering, but at a higher cost. If you are looking to upgrade from the PD705, the 32GB storage and Bluetooth sampling make the PD708 a much more capable tool for live performance and complex music production. Category: Drums & Percussion
