Electric Drums?

[ADAM!]

I know there are a few threads on drums, but I haven't noticed any specifically for electric kits.

I'd like to start drums and I can't decide to go Acoustic or Electric,
as both have their drawbacks and pluses.

Whats your oppionion?
Are they really worth it?
Does anyone on farkin have one?

Appreciated.

Oh and I'd just like to mention the new kickass band which has convinced me to drum XD
http://www.myspace.com/divineheresyband

[ajay]

Electronic kits feel like shit, but your neighbours, friends and family will thank you for it!

[mtb1611]

Electronic kits feel like shit, but your neighbours, friends and family will thank you for it!

True on both counts. Elecrics are great if you live in a built-up area and have to practice at home, but in a live setting they're rubbish. If the noise concerns you due to your habitat, at least try and hit out on an acoustic kit once a month.

[Rik]

Good for practising on, plenty of fun to play around with different features, but unless you spend many thousands the feel is terrible.
I'd buy a digital kit if you want to practise and keep your family/neighbours sane, but make sure when you get in a rehearsal space and play on a real kit every couple of weeks.

[Ham]

personally i cant stand the feel i have been drumming for ten years and i just cant play them the same as acoustic, they do however have some really good features and are fun to play with but i wouldn't waste the money.

i have my drum kit at my friends studio so noise isn't an issue it all also depends on how serious you are about drumming i record and play live so an electric just doesn't cut it although the abilility to change sounds in seconds is very handy on the electric it just doesn't have the right sound.

[ADAM!]

Yeah, I'd probably go with an acoustic..
But I may have to wait around a year, as right now we are renting in a built up area, but soon we are moving to a semi rural area with a few acres.
I guess I should just get lessons until that time, only problem I'm facing is I won't be able to practise.

[bitterbro]

Electronic kits feel like shit, but your neighbours, friends and family will thank you for it!

The symbols, tom tom and bass are all electric in recording studios like pearl jam, pink floyd and RHCP use. So they must be alright to som extent. They don't use an electric snair or high hat because you can't get that authentic sound and control

[bmxer]

yehh the only good feeling electric drums are the roland v drums that have mesh heads and rummer rims.They feel soo good i could prefer them to acoustic drums for some reason they just have a lil bit sofer and abit more bounce but it dosent feel artificial like the rubber practice pad style electric drums
this is them
http://www.rolandcorp.com.au/default.aspx?prd=571

[Rik]

Two of my friends have Roland TD's, they feel so good they're almost cheating - very light and bouncy. If you wanted a decent set of digital drums get a high end Roland.
For now why not keep your eye out for a cheap shitty kit like a 2nd hand Legend. Use it to bash in the apartment then once you get an acoustic kit you could use parts of it to supplement your sound with sample triggering and the like.

[Ham]

Two of my friends have Roland TD's, they feel so good they're almost cheating - very light and bouncy. If you wanted a decent set of digital drums get a high end Roland.
For now why not keep your eye out for a cheap shitty kit like a 2nd hand Legend. Use it to bash in the apartment then once you get an acoustic kit you could use parts of it to supplement your sound with sample triggering and the like.

yep i have used them and they feel very nice they are the pick of electric drums.

[ajay]

The symbols, tom tom and bass are all electric in recording studios like pearl jam, pink floyd and RHCP use. So they must be alright to som extent. They don't use an electric snair or high hat because you can't get that authentic sound and control

Care to share where you got that info from?

I have never heard of anyone opting for an electronic cymbol/toms or bass over the real thing...espcially in a studio environment where acoustics are prime and volume is of no concern. Thats sacralige in pretty much every engineers/musicians ears:eek:

What the fuck!

[Matt H]

Yeah, I was quite surprised when I heard him say that, but I know dick all about drums so I kept my mouth shut :p

[Joy]

Care to share where you got that info from?

I have never heard of anyone opting for an electronic cymbol/toms or bass over the real thing...espcially in a studio environment where acoustics are prime and volume is of no concern. Thats sacralige in pretty much every engineers/musicians ears:eek:

What the fuck!

Definately not cymbals, but triggered/electric bass and toms are quite popular in metal recordings. Meshuggah (sp?) use 100% programmed drums in their recordings. I've been using the same samples they use a lot lately (Drumkit from Hell), and the results are awesome in the right hands.

I personally think electric kits are brilliant. I'm not a drummer myself, but I've worked with a few that own AWESOME electric kits. They are so easy to work with in a practice, and live situation. Levels aren't as difficult to deal with, you don't have to mic them up, they're generally easier to set up, and they take up less space.

[bitterbro]

Care to share where you got that info from?

I have never heard of anyone opting for an electronic cymbol/toms or bass over the real thing...espcially in a studio environment where acoustics are prime and volume is of no concern. Thats sacralige in pretty much every engineers/musicians ears:eek:

What the fuck!

I've recorded in one. I was really skeptical of using a half electronic kit when the manager/studio recorder dude reassured me saying that all those bands use them. I said why he said it's easy to tangle with the sound, mix it up, make it clearer and all that jazz. Rather than using mikes, the sound is directly transfered to the sound board

[LIAM?!]

Grab yourself an acoustic for your first kit, it really is a need to learn on an acoustic to get the real feel, for your problem, buy some pads, chuck them on and play away, at the first 2 years of learning all you are trying to do is build up rudiments, arm strengths and stuff like that so hearing yourself playback isnt exactly 100% important, I am not talking bullshit, you learn a thing or two when you have played for 7 years...

But all the luck to you, drums is a great instrument to play!

[mtb1611]

I've recorded in one. I was really skeptical of using a half electronic kit when the manager/studio recorder dude reassured me saying that all those bands use them. I said why he said it's easy to tangle with the sound, mix it up, make it clearer and all that jazz. Rather than using mikes, the sound is directly transfered to the sound board

Utter bollocks, no way do those bands use electric cymbals, what a ridiculous assertion on the studio manager's part.

[Antho188]

being a drummer, nothing beats a true sound of a acoustic drumkit

but if you have money to spend


Roland V-Drums Here (http://www.roland.com/V-Drums/)


are the best electronic drumkits in the world to buy.


the skins arent rubber, like lower quality kits, the sound is amazing,

you can buy extra software what enables to create your own sounds, and 1000's more sounding kits. can connect to a 5.1 Doulby Surround Sound Home Kit.


Prices Range From $4000- $12000

[bitterbro]

Utter bollocks, no way do those bands use electric cymbals, what a ridiculous assertion on the studio manager's part.

Ok buddy elaborate. It makes perfect sense, being able to moniter and alter the sound of the drums on electric ones. The drums other than the snair and symbols other than the high hat ARE electric in more than ONE studio. Have you ever, ever in your whole life had an experince in a recording studio? Doubt it. Do some research, go and look for yourself

[cameron_15]

Acoustic Definetely. the electric ones feel odd to play and don't sound right.

[roasted]

Utter bollocks, no way do those bands use electric cymbals, what a ridiculous assertion on the studio manager's part.You'll find that most studio recordings are driggered and protooled to fuck these days - if you record a good cymbal sound, triggers simply enable you to replicate the sound consistently. Good samples for this, such as Drumkit From Hell, are quite easy to find.

Im not really a fan of that though, I rather people that just hit untriggered acoustics hard. Feels like there is a more human side to the record, which is what is missing from most modern metal - it is homogenous, soulless bullshit.

Also, to whoever said that Messhugah drums are 100% programmed, this is only true of the most recent record.

[jamsta]

Accoustic all the way - you'll regret owning digi as your only kit. Buy a nice mapel kit if you can afford it, then save for a Sampler pad/combo to add to your kit.

If you want digi drums, just use a sampler or drum machine program - Try FruityLoops for digi/midi/drum patterns and songs... use WOOD for the real deal...

Oh, and fuck what the neighbours think...

Welcome to the world of TomToms!!! 1 e + a 2 e + a.........

[jamsta]

Ok buddy elaborate. It makes perfect sense, being able to moniter and alter the sound of the drums on electric ones. The drums other than the snair and symbols other than the high hat ARE electric in more than ONE studio. Have you ever, ever in your whole life had an experince in a recording studio? Doubt it. Do some research, go and look for yourself

Dude, you're wrong! I've played/recorded for over 28 years and NO good engineer would EVER suggest recording with digi... crap ones might as they're lazy and dont have the chops to get a good drum sound...

There's a reason why we record "real" drums - because they're REAL! sure you can trigger a real cymbol sounds, but its starts to become fake through out a song, because its the exact same dynamic all the time, which translates as a really crappy drum pattern.

Unless you wanna be Pseudo Echo, then digi crap it is... anyone who is serious about drumming goes maple! If your engineer suggests digi, pack up your kit and find another studio.