- What is the Mandala™ 2.0?

The Mandala 2.0 is a plug-and-play high-definition electronic drum and synthesizer for your PC or Mac. The Mandala detects both WHERE and HOW HARD you hit it and triggers and controls a proprietary set of instrument and drum samples included with its Virtual Brain software. There are also two built in racks of software audio effects for endless sonic possibilities. You can even load in your own sounds and play any 3rd-party musical software you might already have!

- How is it different from other drums?

By detecting both the position and velocity of each strike the Mandala can produce exponentially more sound variations than any other electronic drum available.  Of course that complexity is up to the user as one can set a single Mandala to be anything from a snare to a piano or guitar to a full drum kit by way of its zone configuration options.

- What are the major differences between the 1.0 and 2.0 versions of the Mandala?

- Mandala 1.0 has a brain box with onboard sounds, effects and presets.  - Mandala 2.0 has no brain. It connects via USB to a computer, laptop or desktop (PC or MAC) and comes with Synesthesia's proprietary software complete with a sound library of more than 150 professionally sampled instruments and more than 100 original presets.

Both Units take advantage of the patented Mandala sensor technology that allows your Mandala pad to know where it is being struck as well as how hard it is being struck. It is the patented position sensitivity that allows the Mandala to be compatible with music production software unlike any electronic drum on the market.

- What do I get when I buy the Mandala 2.0?

You will receive one HD Mandala Drum pad with USB port, the Mandala Virtual Brain software (PC and Mac) including sound library, a 6ft. USB cable, and a bonus DVD containing more than 3000 accurately sampled hits of an authentic Black Beauty® snare drum…and a special application to play it!

- What kind of timing can I expect for delivery?

Generally Synesthesia is able to ship the Mandala within 'one business day' of your order. From time to time we run into increased demand that may push shipping to '4-7 business days'.

For shipping in the U.S. we use UPS which offers a wide range of delivery options.
For international shipping we use the U.S. Postal Service's Global Express Mail. Global Express has a delivery schedule of '3-5 business days'. That means that our international customers can expect to receive their Mandala within two weeks, and usually within one week.

- Do you ship internationally?

Yes, we do ship internationally. Synesthesia Corporation ships internationally via the US Postal Service, Global Express (3-5 business days). We charge a flat rate of:

$60.00US for Canada
$80.00US for all other international shipping

International shipments may be subject to Customs examination in the destination country. For information on Customs regulations in your country please contact your local postal service or customs agent commonly found in your local phone book.

- How will the Black Beauty sound library work?

Your Mandala 2.0 will come with a special feature that allows you to turn it into a very special drum. Sound engineers at Synesthesia have painstakingly digitally sampled more than 3000 strikes on a Black Beauty(TM) snare drum. When you load the Hi-Def application and start playing your Mandala it will become before the eyes of your audience, a Ludwig Black Beauty snare drum.

- What do I need to play the Mandala?

You need a PC or Mac with 1GB of RAM and a DVD drive. The Mandala proprietary software runs on Mac OS X, Windows XP and Vista.  Set your Mandala pad on a stable surface or mount it on a 10.5mm L rod drum mount or a snare stand and play away.  Skill not required. The amazing range of the Mandala will adapt to any ability or style.

- What are the inputs and outputs of the system?

Mandala 2.0 has one USB port that connects its patented sensor technology to your PC or Mac -to take advantage of most major music software packages, as well as the included Virtual Brain and HD Snare playing software.  An optional audio interface connected to your computer will lower any latency you may detect and also open up more sonic capabilities of the software while playing the Mandala.

- Can I load my own sounds into the included Virtual Brain software program?

Yes!

- Does it have Tablas?

Yes! …along with more than 150 other drums and instruments in its proprietary sample library.

- How many Mandala Drums can I play together…a whole kit?

Yes.  If you have multiple USB ports or a powered USB hub you can configure any number of Mandala pads using the Synesthesia Mandala Virtual Brain software package. to create the drum kit of your dreams.  Save your configuration as you explore your options.

- Is this drum just for professionals or can a beginner use it?

Mandala drums have been tested and used by top professionals both in the studio and on world tours but that does not mean that an absolute first time drummer cannot sit down and be entertained for hours by the musical and sonic features of the Mandala. A long list of out-of-the-box factory presets allows endless exploration.

- What does the Mandala pad detect?

The pad detects both the impact position and velocity of your strike on the pad surface. The position sensitivity is the unique feature that allows the Mandala its amazing range of sounds from synthesized effects to acoustic emulation.

- How many zones can I configure on a Mandala pad?

The Mandala drum can detect more than 1000 different strike positions on a single pad.  For your convenience this data is used to define UP TO SEVEN concentric strike zones and 128 CONCENTRIC DATA RINGS for effects control from the center to the edge of the pad. The choice of configuration is all yours.

- Does the Mandala have factory presets?  Can I save my custom setups?

Yes the Mandala Virtual Brain software comes with more than 100 preset configurations for you to play while you familiarize yourself with the possibilities of the instrument.  Personally created preset files can also be shared from user to user.  For the veteran musician familiar with music software such as Logic, Native Instrument’s Battery and many others, the possibilities will seem infinite.

- Where can I purchase a Mandala?

The Mandala is available at our store

- Will the Mandala be available in a store near me?

At this time the Mandala 2.0 USB is only available through our website. Selling direct from our website allows us to offer the lowest possible price. With shipping costs and customs regulations this may not be the best policy for our international customers. To mitigate these issues we are in talks to supply major distributors in Australia, the United Kingdom and the European Union. However, no timetable has been set.

- Is there a return policy?

Yes your Mandala can be returned for a full refund within 15 days of receiving the product. Synesthesia also provides a one year limited warranty on parts and labor guaranteeing against factory defect.

- Is there an exchange policy for owners of Mandala 1.0?

On our original website we stated that "Your Mandala Brain v1.0 can be exchanged for a trade-up credit when any future Synesthesia Corporation Mandala Brain Component becomes available." Mandala 2.0 does not have a brain, it has what we call a virtual brain in the form of software. For original 1.0 owners we have extended a credit of $50.00 for every Mandala 2.0 they buy when they email us a picture of their Mandala in their setup.