Electronic Drums... are they worth it?

[BORNintoMUSIC]

My band and I are looking into getting an electronic drum set.... a high end roland that costs about 1,500. We have a decent PA system with a sub.

We play light rock, ambient, and covers.

Can you guys give me your experience with electronic sets. Pros Cons, etc.


Thanks!

Brandon

[Irish614]

what kind of sub, how big? How big is the PA?? Do you have external amps to power the sub? I ask this because electronic kits can put out some sub effects if you have the right settings, and it can really put a strain on the PA especially if the amp is not large enough. A lot of people use external amps to power the Sub woofer only as to not put strain on the PA as I stated. What else are you running through the PA, vocals, guitar? I prefer Acoustic drums myself but electronics do have the advantages, (you can turn them down)

[BORNintoMUSIC]

Unfortunately I do not know the specs of the PA system. However, total we spent 1,500 on the pa system and the sub. We do have an amp powering the sub itself, and an amp for our PA system.

Thoughts?

[Irish614]

well if you can afford to get the electronic kit by all means do it, or you could buy a really nice sounding acoustic kit for 1500 easily. All depends on the sound your looking for. If your just looking for effects then don't bother with the electronic kit, buy a pad instead, alot of drummers nowa days have one and its usually to the left of their snare, so when they hit it it is programed to make a certain sound when they do so. A lot of them use that low sub frequency to get that booom sound.

[BORNintoMUSIC]

We've always used an acoustic set.... a cheap one. Basically my issue is that our drummer generally plays too loud and overpowers everyone else in the band. Hence why I'm looking into an electronic set.


I've heard electronic sets live at a fairly large bar and they sound pretty good. I definitely notice a difference, but they sound realistic for the most part.

As far as the "sound" were going for... well, since our drummer can't seem to control himself... a "balanced" sound.

[Irish614]

well you cant blame the drummer for playing too loud, maybe you guys are just playing too soft haha. I joke but this could be the problem. You would have to post a live sound clip or something so we could get a feel for how it sounds, if the drums are the problem.

[harris_paul4]

Hi fellow drummer here. I have had several acoustic kits (slingerland, tama, yamaha, and now a Pacific) and a couple of elec. kits (both Roalnd). The Roland drum sounds are the best for electronics, but from a drummers perspective, they just don't compare musically to the real thing. I suggest augmenting an acoustic kit with some electronics if you want some different sounds from time to time and that way you will not suffer musically. As far as a good solid kit for 1500 clams I suggest a Yamaha for about a grand (Great hardware) with good old fashioned "Zildjian A" series Cymbals (about $500). You won't be dissapointed.

[darthhair]

drummer here too

i love my big yamaha customs and giant Z's but irish614 is right, you can turn down an elecric kit. you can also have any sound you want. you dont have to tune in between songs. every hit is the same every time

but if your drummer is playing on a crappy set with old heads and bent sabian B8 cymbals, he may think he needs to beat the crap out of the drums to get any kind of tone. you would be shocked how good drums, heads and cymbles can change a drummer

or you may need louder amps

[thesilentdrummer]

Originally Posted by ap1325

One thing I would like to see implemented on drum software instruments is drum tunning.
I thing the tunning of the drums for each particular song is very important for getting that drum track to really complement the song.
Drums are also tonal instruments and I think if they match the scale you are using they may sound a lot better.

I think some of the high end roland and Yamaha kits do allow you to "tune" your electric drums. I do agree with you about the tuning the drums with sense. I have never tried tuning to the key of the song I play in, but my 3 toms are tuned C G C from High to low. This ensures that I will have harmonic sounding drums regardless of which drums I hit (I either get a 4th, a 5th, or an octave). Let me tell you, when I hammer my high and middle toms, they SING.

[Riggo]

Originally Posted by BORNintoMUSIC

My band and I are looking into getting an electronic drum set.... a high end roland that costs about 1,500. We have a decent PA system with a sub.

We play light rock, ambient, and covers.

Can you guys give me your experience with electronic sets. Pros Cons, etc.


Thanks!

Brandon

Electronic drumkits are great although it really depends on how much cash ya want to part with.
You can go for the Roland top of the line TD-20 VDRUMS.... The ups compared to an acoustic kit

1. Can practise at pretty much any hour without annoying the neighbours.
2. Awesome for studio work.
3. Many kits . snares , kicks . toms , cymbals , skins , beaters ,mics , rooms,effects in one. To much to list but far more moneys worth compared to acoustic kits.
4 Fully tunable drums from the module with adjustable user eq's
5. Mix in jack for jamming to songs from a player.
6 midi in and out for recording tracks in midi and triggering of plugins to your computer tracking software, master out, 8 direct line outs for multitracking in audio and a digital out.
7 Backing tunes to play to , sequence your own tunes from the module with the various sounds the module carries.

So much in these babies it really is worth the money ...Also some time this year Roland will release there expansion pack to flash the module to Rolands new TD-20 updated sounds through the expansion bay on the module with a compact flash card.

There also is the Roland TD-12 ,and TD-10 that are the earlier models that may more affordable.

For live performance these things would not look the best compared to and acoustic kit but they would get those front house speeakers pump'n.
Be carefull you might turn the speakers inside out ....hahaha.

There nice and fat