• Which electronic drum kit is the best?
• Why put triggers on "top of the line pro kits"?
• Why are electronic drums becoming so popular?
• Rubber or acoustic headed pads?
• RE: Rubber or acoustic headed pads?
• What is tracking?
• What is a .......... ?

Q: Which electronic drum kit is the best?

I play an acoustic drum kit and I am wanting very much to get in to electronic drumming. I want to use the electronic kit for practice and also use it live sometimes. What is the best electronic drum kit on the market?

A: I am most commonly asked "which electronic drum kit is the best?" The real question is not which is the best, but rather which components are the best for you. If you like the pads by one company, and the module sounds and options by another company, mix and match and you will be glad you did. Check with your music dealer about compatibility of these various instruments. You will find that most modern electronic drum components by various manufacturers are compatible with each other. It is not uncommon to see an electronic drummer use a mix of various makes and models of pedals, drum pads, cymbal pads, modules, etc. in his or her set up. This is all relative and a matter of taste, feel, durability, and sometimes affordability.

Q: Why put triggers on "top of the line pro kits"?

If an acoustic drum kit already sounds great, why do so many drummers, even professionals with custom top of the line acoustic kits, put triggers on them?

A: Most drummers who trigger from acoustic (hybrid) drum kits are blending both the acoustic and perfectly processed electronic drum sounds. This will commonly "color" the sounds and "fatten" your overall sound up. Electronic drum sounds can't "go out of tune" like an acoustic drum. Drummers also commonly use a mix of acoustic and electronic drums to add sound effects or the exact sounds they had previously recorded in the studio.

Q: Why are electronic drums becoming so popular?

I thought that electronic drums just make strange and weird sounds and were only used in rap music. I have noticed that many country, jazz, rock, etc. drummers and percussionists are using them more and more.

A: You got it right! Electronic drums can make "strange and weird noises" along with ANY sound imaginable! These sounds include perfectly processed acoustic drum and percussion sounds. These sounds can also be any other instrument sounds including keyboard, guitar, bass, horns, vocals, burps, belches, etc. That is one of the various reasons for their popularity. Other reasons are for practice and studio use. You can’t "turn the volume down" on acoustic instruments for practice. It takes a long time to process acoustic drums in the studio -- everyone knows that time is BIG money in the studio. Electronic drums are already processed so they can drastically cut down on time and headaches in the recording studio which inevitably saves money! Electronic drums are also compact. An entire kit including hardware can fit in my Corvette!

Q: Rubber or acoustic headed pads?

Which electronic drum pads are better: rubber or acoustic headed electronic drum pads?

A: Try both styles of pads before you make a purchase. See which one tracks well with your module and which one feels best to you. Most drummers like both types for different applications. The main elements to evaluate are compatibility with your module, tracking capabilities, feel, durability and cosmetic appeal of the pads. You also want to make sure the pads will mount on your existing drum hardware. Many drummers will use a combination of pads such as rubber pads for cymbals, acoustic headed for toms or any other combination there of.

Q: RE: Rubber or acoustic headed pads?

I just want to know why so many drummers are concerned with wanting electronic drums to feel like acoustic drums? If I tighten up my acoustic drum heads they feel different than they did loose. My high hats feel different than my ride. My cow bell feels different than my conga etc.! Electronic drums are electronic drums and they feel great just how they are. I honestly like the feel of my electronic drum pads and kick pad BETTER than my acoustic drums because they all have a collective unity. I NEVER go wrong with the sound either. I am an electronic drummer and an acoustic drummer. Not an acoustic drummer with electronic drums.

A: I make it a practice NOT to be very opinionated on this web site due to the many great electronic drum manufacturers listed. My acoustic snare drum doesn't feel anything like my big trombone! And my piano feels nothing like my little kazoo. I hope you get the picture. You do seem to have the right idea and I am glad you are enjoying your electronic drums.

Q: What is tracking?

What does tracking mean? I hear alot of talk about how well this or that drum pad or brain tracks.

A: Tracking refers to how well the drum brain senses each pad hit. For example, a module that tracks well would detect each pad hit and play a sound at the right volume every time. A module that tracks poorly might miss quiet pad hits, or play extra notes (crosstalk) when you hit another pad. Tracking depends on a modules settings, the pads/triggers used, the quality of the cables, room noise, and other factors.

Q: What is a ________ ?

A: See the following sites:

Drum Triggering Terminology
(Trigger Perfect)

Glossary of Electronic Music Terms
(E-mu)

MIDI Glossary
(MIDI Music Web)