Using MIDI drumkit (advice for dummy)

[Crackhatch]

Hi, first post here goes...

I can't get on with bashing my keyboard any more for percussion, so I'd like to start learning drums and want to invest in a cheap electric drumkit that does MIDI, I've got my eye on the Roland HD1 at the moment.

I have the Komplete 9 package (Abbey Road drums, Studio drummer etc) and Im using Cubase to compose. Now I'm a bit of a dummy, so, am I naive in thinking that I simply hook the MIDI drumkit up, load a VST and away I go? I've heard people talk about triggers and such and it makes me think it really isn't all that simple as it should be.

Any advice?

PS, would a tabletop drumkit like the Yamaha DD 55c be any good for this?

 

[CFox]

Yeah bro. The leading Drum Sampler Software apps ( Addictive Drums and Superior Drummer ) have midi mapping templates designed specifically for the leading E-kit manufactures. A quick glance at my NI Session Drummer reveals Roland V-drums template, so that could be a close match - for the basic layout anyway. Otherwise you can just select GM and do the same on your kit.

 

[DM60]

I have the dd-65 mounted on a snare stand. It is not a bad little drum kit, but not for serious drumming. Nice thing about Superior Drummer (and EZD), mapping is pretty easy. Right click on the instrument, click learn, hit the pad you want mapped, done. It is really nice. But with the DD-65, all are already mapped, I just usually remap the cowbell to the HH as I like to tap it rather than use a foot peddle.

 

[Crackhatch]

Thanks for the feedback guys, so its basically not that complicated. As I am really after authentic drums, maybe the tabletop drums isn't the way to go. Might fork out for the HD1 then or something similar.

 

[DM60]

I think it depends on "how" much time you want to involve. The Table top is better than hitting a keyboard, I use a the grooves and supplement with an additional track. I am not a drummer and I want to be the first to say, it is a lot harder than people give credit for. 4 limbs doing something different it not easy. So don't expect this to be simple. If you are going to really learn to play drums, then a full e-kit is the way to go, if you just want to add to existing grooves and give it some personality, I would go with a table top.

that should be worth at least 2 cents.

 

[Tadpui]

I did VSTi drums via a MIDI controller keyboard for years and I finally got fed up with it as well. I wanted to be able to use my foot for a kick drum instead of fumbling around on a keyboard. I'm not a drummer but I could at least get along with it well enough to surpass what I could achieve on a keyboard. Something about the accents that a human being naturally puts on the kit pieces with a pair of sticks just sounds much more convincing to me.

I ended up with the Yamaha DTX400, which is Yamaha's entry-level kit. The pads are great, but it lacks a couple of features like chokable cymbals, multi-zone pads and a truly variable hi-hat pedal position.

Recently Roland entered the same price range with their TD-1K kit. It has chokable cymbals and supposedly a better hi-hat controller.

I just saw that Behringer entered the market with a pretty darn attractive feature set for a low price. Multi-zone snare, actual 5-pin MIDI output instead of just USB...But I'm always wary of Behri gear. Same for Simmons. Alesis has some good looking kits for the price.