Good drum pads for creating realistic drum track?

[keithpurtell]

I'm home recording to record a demo CD of original music. The only instrument I can't play is drums. I found a virtual drum machine (Hydrogen) that has a simple user interface and will use samples (I never use synthesized sounds).

The problem is the two ways of creating the pattern. I can click in the Hydrogen pattern editor to create dots where different parts of the drum kit are to be played, then monkey with the results so it doesn't sound robotic. Or, I can get midi drum pads and tap out the drum patterns. Yes there are pads that use real drumsticks but if I'm going down that road I might as well just become a drummer.

Who can advise me as to some good drum pads for playing my drum patterns (and routing them into my software) with fingertips?

[guitarplayr82]

Korg and Akai are good. Percussion Controllers | Sweetwater.com

[keithpurtell]

I notice Alesis has a similar product called a "control pad." No bad reviews I can find.

How do you think Alesis compares to Akai and Korg drum products?

sweetwater.com/store/detail/ControlPad/

[the-music-man]

I think korg or akai is the way you want to go, and it depends how many pads you want, The Akai LPD8 is a great pad controller with 8 pads, and 4 banks of pads, it also has 8 rotary knobs, if you want more pads the akai mpd 18 has 16 pads and i think it has 3 banks and one fader, they are both good controllers, hope this helps

[guitarplayr82]

I notice Alesis has a similar product called a "control pad." No bad reviews I can find.

How do you think Alesis compares to Akai and Korg drum products?

sweetwater.com/store/detail/ControlPad/

The Alesis looks nice but I'm pretty sure that's a full size drum pad for use with drum sticks, not fingers.

[ssscientist]

My advice would be to start with the Akai LPD8 which you can get for $49.99 @ Musicians Friend. I agree w/the-muisic-man that it's a great pad controller and at the price it's an incredible value. It will also let you get your feet wet in playing drums w/ your fingers to see if you like it or not ---- and you may well find that it's the first and last percussion controller you'll need to buy.

[Ben Linus]

go with maschine from native..great stuff

[jokerone]

look into jamstix..

[jimmys69]

My advice would be to start with the Akai LPD8 which you can get for $49.99 @ Musicians Friend. I agree w/the-muisic-man that it's a great pad controller and at the price it's an incredible value. It will also let you get your feet wet in playing drums w/ your fingers to see if you like it or not ---- and you may well find that it's the first and last percussion controller you'll need to buy.

Ditto. That is what I use.

[VladBeatz]

I think akai pads are the best