Buying Good Electronic Drums.

[DanielP]

Hey, I am really tempted to buy a electronic drumset to get in my little homestudio. I have been looking at a few brands, mainly Roland, Hart and RET. I wouldn't need a drum brain since I'll be using either Superior Drummer 2.0 or BFD2. So I've got a few questions for you out there with electronic sets:

1) What brand should I go for ? I want the touch to be as close to a acoustic drum set as possible. A hihat that moves physically when the pedal is pushed is also preferred(e.g. http://www.music123.com/Roland-VH-12-V-Hi-Hat-449924-i1141811.Music123) If anybody here is familiar with either Superior Drummer 2.0 or BFD2, then could you recommend a set that does not deny me from using these programs to the fullest, rims shots etc.

2) Superior Drummer 2.0 or BFD2? Wich one do you prefer and why ? I have been looking at some samples videos/sounds and so far my money is on Superior Drummer 2.0. I won't be using this program for hip hop or any electronic music, I just want as good acoustic sound as possible.

3)Since I won't be using a drum brain (e.g. http://www.music123.com/Roland-TD-12-COSM-modeling-drum-module-472315-i1412768.Music123) What kind of module do you recommend to use to connect the drums and computer?

My budget is 1500-2000$, not including the software. I can go a little higher so feel free to recommend a little more expensive sets. I'm also new to electronic drums so please educate me if you want to : )

 

[Simman]

I wouldn't need a drum brain since I'll be using either Superior Drummer 2.0 or BFD2.

If you are not getting a drum brain, what do you plan on plugging the drum pads/triggers into and how do you plan on getting MIDI out? The drum software you reference all map to MIDI. I know Alesis makes a product called Trigger IO but I don't know any thing about it.

So I've got a few questions for you out there with electronic sets:

1) What brand should I go for ? I want the touch to be as close to a acoustic drum set as possible. A hihat that moves physically when the pedal is pushed is also preferred(e.g. http://www.music123.com/Roland-VH-12-V-Hi-Hat-449924-i1141811.Music123) If anybody here is familiar with either Superior Drummer 2.0 or BFD2, then could you recommend a set that does not deny me from using these programs to the fullest, rims shots etc.

I have a set of Hart Dynamics with a Roland TD-20 & TD-8, VH-12 hi-hats triggering EZ Drummer, DKFH Superior, Superior Custom & Vintage, BFD, and Addictive Drums. This set up works very well but as good as it is, it does not feel the same as playing real acoustic drums.

2) Superior Drummer 2.0 or BFD2? Wich one do you prefer and why ? I have been looking at some samples videos/sounds and so far my money is on Superior Drummer 2.0. I won't be using this program for hip hop or any electronic music, I just want as good acoustic sound as possible.


3)Since I won't be using a drum brain (e.g. http://www.music123.com/Roland-TD-12-COSM-modeling-drum-module-472315-i1412768.Music123) What kind of module do you recommend to use to connect the drums and computer?

My budget is 1500-2000$, not including the software. I can go a little higher so feel free to recommend a little more expensive sets. I'm also new to electronic drums so please educate me if you want to : )

I'm not sure about Superior 2 but the previous version of Superior, the samples are completely non-processed. I perfer this over processed samples since it allows more control during mixing.

The only problem I see with what you are looking to do is your budget is a bit low;. A TD-20 drum brain (which uses real hi-hat stand & VH-12 - I don't know if any other brains can use these hi-hats) runs $1200 and VH-12 is $450. Harts (Studio Master) vary but are also around $1800. There maybe other options but the only brain (I know of) that uses VH-12s is the TD-20. If you get away from this hi-hat feature you could get a TD-3 pretty cheap and it has ample inputs and will give you the MIDI out you need as well.


All that being said, is there a reason you don't want to record acoustic drums? You'd be suprised how good you can get drums to sound with just 3 mics.

 

[DanielP]

Thanks for your input. What I ment with needing no drum brain is that I won't need a trigger module that has sounds and stuff like that included. The Alesis I/O might be a good idea, costs very little and only triggers and that is all I need. But reason I won't record a acoustic set (I have one) is that my little studio is just in my house and I can't drive my neighbours crazy : )

 

[Drummerbones]

I've tried many and I'll never use any other brain than Roland, ever. Depending on how many outputs you're looking for, go for either the TD-12 or TD-20. As for the drums themselves, I've used both Roland and Hart and with the right mesh head they're very comparable. You can't go wrong with Roland.

Check out www.vdrums.com/forum

 

[RawDepth]

Either the Alesis I/O or the Roland TMC-6 Trigger-MIDI Converter will work. With both you can plug triggers right into them and you get MIDI notes out of them. I'm not sure about the Hi-Hat system in them. I have only read about them.

I have used Hart edrums and they were pure junk. Nuts and bolts stripped easily and they were very fragile and wobbly. I cannot recommend them.

You could always try putting mesh heads on your acoustic drums. It makes them very quiet so the neighbors won't really hear that much. That is what I did to mine. Read about mesh heads and triggers here.