I humbly request a drum module shootout

  • Thread starter Thread starter Whoopysnorp
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Whoopysnorp

Whoopysnorp

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All this talk about DIY e-drums has gotten my interest piqued. I may decide to give it a try this summer, and I'd like to know what the different modules sound like. It's not really easy for me to get to a music store, and any store around here is not going to have much to choose from anyway. So, anybody who's got an e-drum setup, record a quick sample of your personal favorite sounds and post it. Just so I can get an idea.
 
Whoopysnorp,

This would be pretty tough to do. Many modules, especially the higher end ones, have so many parameters that can be tweaked that we'd be copmparing apples and oranges. I will say this though of the Roland modules. The TD-5 has pretty hokey sounds, but might be just the ticket if all you want is to record midi and then use sound fonts (or if you want some unusual sounds - I'm not sure, but Licese to Ill sounds like it used the TD-5. The drums are mostly not natural sounding, but extremely cool). The TD-8 is often considered the best bang for the buck of Roland modules since it has many of the features of the more expensive TD-10, and some prefer the drum sounds. Most would agree that the TD-10 has better cymbals however. Another thing to consider is outputs. The TD-8 has 4 outs, and I forget the exact specs, but I believe the TD-10 has 8 or 10. Four outs can be pretty limiting if you want lots of separate tracks, but again, it depends on how you use it.

I've never played Ddrums, but you check out mp3s on there website. To my ears, the Ddrum samples sound more acoustic than anything I have heard from the Roland's, but again with so many tweakable parameters it is hard to say.

The best site for this kind of discussion in Vdrums.com. I haven't been there in a while since I returned to my acoustic kit, but they have lots of very resourceful and helpful folks. Like this place :D
 
neirbo gives good info.

I have the TD10, but there are many parameters that I rarely use. The TD8 has many of the same sounds and the more useful parameters for less cost. I also still use my D4 for many sounds

I have a fair amount of hands on with most of the Roland, Yamaha and Alesis modules. They all have good features and some bad features. I'm partial to Alesis (for better basic sounds out of the box) and Roland (for better parameter controls).

As neirbo said, if you need the module primarily as a converter and will be useing the MIDI out to trigger samples, then a TD5, or even an Alesis D4 may do the job. But, if you want the module as your primary sound source, the better (ie: more expensive) modules will give you more sound shaping capabilities.

The other key thing (as neibo pointed out) is the number of audio outputs. The TD5 only has 2, the TD8 has 4 and the TD10 has 8.
The Alesis D4 or DM5 have 4 wheras the DMPro has 6. Most of the Yamaha's have only 2 out (although the DTXtreme - has 6 outs - I think???). If you want to have more control over what effects to use on which drums, etc. the more outs the better, even 4 outs is too restrictive.

In any case, you need to determine what you want/need the machine to do for you and then find the right machine.
 
I understand your points, guys--here's the deal. I have an acoustic kit now, and it does about everything I need it to do. However, I was lucky to find a place to live here in town where I could play them without the noise being a problem, and when I graduate in a little over a year, I may move on to a bigger city, where this could become an issue. I was thinking it might be wise to put together a little homemade electronic kit now so I don't have to give up the drums when that time comes. This would also enable quiet practices with bands, which would be a plus. I would probably be triggering samples on my computer frequently, but I figure I ought to have a module with at least a few usable sounds in it.

So, with that in mind, I imagined a lot of you e-drum users probably have a set of sounds you use to cover all bases. Something you use more often than the others. I know this isn't a good way to compare modules, but it will at least give me an idea. I don't ask much; just play a couple of licks (using at least the majority of the kit, of course), and throw 'em up. Plleeeeease?
 
No problem.

My old band recorded an album where I used the TD-8 and real cymbals. I'll try to remember to bring in the CD and post some MP3 clips. I have since downgraded from the TD-8 to the TD-5, so I'll record some TD-5 kits too. I don't know when I can get to this, it might not be until the weekend.

It sounds like what you really are looking for is something adequate for band practice and generating MIDI files for triggering samples, but not for playing out or recording the module's sounds directly. If so, I'd go for the TD-5 or Alesis D4. I wouldn't recommend either module for live playing if you want to really get an "acoustic" sound, but both are plenty good for practice.
 
Yeah, that's basically it, nierbo. I'm primarily a guitar player anyway, so I don't anticipate having to do a lot of live playing.

Thanks for obliging my request, BTW.
 
Mix 'em up... I use bass drum and snare drum samples (sequenced...) but then add in my own live Hats and cymbals...

Sounds tight, and is pretty convincing of real drums...
 
Whoopysnorp,

I have MP3's for you, but they are too big to post here, and I am a Luddite who does not have access to a web page I can post them to. I tried sending you an email through the BBS, but I don't see a way to include attachements. So, why don't you send me an email so I'll have your address, then I'll use my work email to send you some attached clips.
 
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