Edrum Kit

[Multiman]

Hello all, and thank you for any help in advance.

Real quick, this is the deal: I have extensive experience with recording and performing, play nine instruments, sing, blah, blah, blah. In the last few years I've put most of my energies in recording and production but the one area that still plagues me is the drums. Since the drums were my first main instrument I've been able to program various drum machines and such in a way that it "sounds" like what a drummer will do. But the process is slow and tedious and still never quite feels right.

I've usually gone to a studio to do real drums after all the tracks are done (to a drum machine) but it's time to get an electronic kit to use at home. I'm not looking to do get a million bells and whistles (literally), just use something that is as close to a real kit that a real drummer would like. A good sound and a good feel and a good tracking quality. Period.

A couple of issues; One, I'd still rather use real cymbals. (Shouldn't be a problem in my apartment). And two; I play left handed. (Not sure if that's an issue). I know NOTHING about electronic drums and don't want to spend hours learning a bunch of stuff I'll never use. I just want to lay down a good drum track!

Any and all opinions would be most welcome. Thanks again.

[thesilentdrummer]

If you've got them money, this is what you want. Great feeling kit, just MIDI them out to DFH Superior II (coming soon) and you have a great setup for recording drums electronically. There are lesser kits, or if you really want, you can crunch the numbers and see if it is more cost effective to purchase mesh pads and a Roland drum Brain. whatever way you get, I highly recommend getting mesh heads.


Your issues:
1) what had you planned on doing for recording cymbals??
2) The kit I sugessted (and basically all the electronic kits out there) is completely customizable. Just switch the pads around and plugthem into the desired output... it makes more sense when you see the actual thing.

[Multiman]

I was considering just pads with a Roland brain. (Wouldn't even need two mounted toms -- one hang/one floor). As for cymbals, I'd just mic them.

I'll check it out. Thanks.

[elmagoo]

I'm not a drummer so I can't personally comment on these, but because I've been curious about getting an ekit myself I looked into what Nir Z was playing in the Superior 2.0 video. He's using a high end Hart Dynamics kit (Professional Series I believe):

Hart Dynamics Home

They're pricey, but they've got a lot of good reviews. Also they have actual metal cymbals that are triggers, which might be a better route than mic'ing and still give you the same feel.

Again this is just a small bit of research I've done, hopefully someone here has actual experience with them that can give you some more information .

[Irish614]

If you looked through our threads before you opened a new thread about this topic you would have seen this looking to buy an electronic drum kit, which one?

same question you are asking now lol. So I ask, as I did in the other thread about this how much $ are you willing to dish out for the most realistic electronic drum sound? If your using real cymbals why not just buy real acoustic drums?

Originally Posted by Multiman

Hello all, and thank you for any help in advance.

Real quick, this is the deal: I have extensive experience with recording and performing, play nine instruments, sing, blah, blah, blah. In the last few years I've put most of my energies in recording and production but the one area that still plagues me is the drums. Since the drums were my first main instrument I've been able to program various drum machines and such in a way that it "sounds" like what a drummer will do. But the process is slow and tedious and still never quite feels right.

I've usually gone to a studio to do real drums after all the tracks are done (to a drum machine) but it's time to get an electronic kit to use at home. I'm not looking to do get a million bells and whistles (literally), just use something that is as close to a real kit that a real drummer would like. A good sound and a good feel and a good tracking quality. Period.

A couple of issues; One, I'd still rather use real cymbals. (Shouldn't be a problem in my apartment). And two; I play left handed. (Not sure if that's an issue). I know NOTHING about electronic drums and don't want to spend hours learning a bunch of stuff I'll never use. I just want to lay down a good drum track!

Any and all opinions would be most welcome. Thanks again.

[brandondrury]

I've been able to program various drum machines and such in a way that it "sounds" like what a drummer will do. But the process is slow and tedious and still never quite feels right.

Yup, I know the feeling. Before doing another producing gig that requires programmed drums, I'll DEFINITELY by snagging an edrum kit and buying one of the idiot drummers I know a case of beer.

I'd HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend you look at options that allow you to trigger samples from DHF Superior (I'm PUMPED about the new DFH Superior 2.0) but there are other killer drum sounds. Realistic Drum Samples

[brandondrury]

I'd still rather use real cymbals.

The people who say this are usually the drummers that are relying on synth drums and not samples. Sampled cymbals sound GREAT! Make sure to check out drum sample packages like DFH Superior, DFH Superior 2.0, EZ Drummer, and BFD.