I'm planning on picking up an electric kit so that I can have a three piece band rehearsal in my 9' x 10' shed studio.
I could probably get away with an acoustic drum kit, but there are a few reasons I'm looking for electric.
1. we're all old dudes in a tiny room. It just nice to be able to play at a civilized volume and without earplugs.
2. I believe that in small spaces, where drummers can be worried about making too much noise and bothering people, drummers will change their style into an unnaturally quiet or soft mode. I think it will change the feel of the songs and maybe even change the songwriting process.
3. I just don't want to be "that guy" who has a full drum kit going at all hours.
I know that when my band has shows, we'll probably have to get an hourly rehearsal room and have a few full volume practices. that's fine.
I know that electric kits feel different, but, like above, I'd rather have a drummer going full bore on an awkward kit than half bore on an acoustic kit. Hopefully we're mature enough as musician to realize the differences.
And yeah, if you're looking to practice to get better at playing the acoustic drums, and electric kit might not be the best idea. I could see a muffles and silenced acoustic kit being much better for that . But if you want to practice with other humans in a quiet, band like environment, I'm fine with the idea of electro kit.
Re: Anybody use an electric drum kit for practice?
12My wife loves her Roland TD11k. Usually she'll get some kind of synth bassline and melody sequenced up, pick the 808 or 909 kit and jam along.
I'd say it gets equal, but completely difference use compared to the acoustic kits in our home.
Pros and cons for sure.
Fun sounds and a great way to print a midi performance, rather than playing drums with your spacebar/MIDI keyboard.
They are (as previously mentioned) awfully uncomfortable and unnatural feeling with the rack system they come with.
For many it's going to be the only way to practice drums 4 hours a day and not be killed.
Personal preference, but I would rather hear somebody practice actual drums as opposed to the clack and thud.
I'd say it gets equal, but completely difference use compared to the acoustic kits in our home.
Pros and cons for sure.
Fun sounds and a great way to print a midi performance, rather than playing drums with your spacebar/MIDI keyboard.
They are (as previously mentioned) awfully uncomfortable and unnatural feeling with the rack system they come with.
For many it's going to be the only way to practice drums 4 hours a day and not be killed.
Personal preference, but I would rather hear somebody practice actual drums as opposed to the clack and thud.
DIY and die anyway.
Re: Anybody use an electric drum kit for practice?
13I picked up a Roland TD1k for $150 off of marketplace a few days ago. Worth every penny. These low-end models are doing what the high end ones did a decade ago. I’m blown away by the cymbals and the dynamics of the rubber pads. Great space saver, great sound, fun kit for practicing and demo recording. Highly recommended for anyone looking to buy an electric kit.
Re: Anybody use an electric drum kit for practice?
14I had a chat the other week with my regional drum shop about e drum technology and the best triggers out there aren't just a couple piezo triggers driving a few zones; they have some special sauce happening that's way more positionally aware. The big example is that there's some intelligence happening that can detect a cross-stick on the snare and trigger that appropriately and I think ride cymbals are more realistic and I think hi hats are more sophisticated. But that's gonna be 3k for a 4 piece roland kit, although all that tech will eventually trickle downmarket.Dave N. wrote: Wed Sep 08, 2021 12:50 pm I picked up a Roland TD1k for $150 off of marketplace a few days ago. Worth every penny. These low-end models are doing what the high end ones did a decade ago. I’m blown away by the cymbals and the dynamics of the rubber pads. Great space saver, great sound, fun kit for practicing and demo recording. Highly recommended for anyone looking to buy an electric kit.
Anyway, I have to figure something out soon because a neighbor just had a newborn baby
Re: Anybody use an electric drum kit for practice?
15twelvepoint wrote: Wed Sep 08, 2021 2:08 pmI had a chat the other week with my regional drum shop about e drum technology and the best triggers out there aren't just a couple piezo triggers driving a few zones; they have some special sauce happening that's way more positionally aware. The big example is that there's some intelligence happening that can detect a cross-stick on the snare and trigger that appropriately and I think ride cymbals are more realistic and I think hi hats are more sophisticated. But that's gonna be 3k for a 4 piece roland kit, although all that tech will eventually trickle downmarket.Dave N. wrote: Wed Sep 08, 2021 12:50 pm I picked up a Roland TD1k for $150 off of marketplace a few days ago. Worth every penny. These low-end models are doing what the high end ones did a decade ago. I’m blown away by the cymbals and the dynamics of the rubber pads. Great space saver, great sound, fun kit for practicing and demo recording. Highly recommended for anyone looking to buy an electric kit.
That said, I'm sure even the lower end Rolands are really nice these days, and I'm not sure what level of "realism", or lack thereof, would be a deal breaker for me?
Anyway, I have to figure something out soon because a neighbor just had a newborn baby
Re: Anybody use an electric drum kit for practice?
16I wonder why no one has just made a quiet drum kit. Maybe it would fill no new role that a traditional kit or e-kit would. I don't know how it would even be possible. Maybe really shallow, stuffed shells?
Re: Anybody use an electric drum kit for practice?
17VaticanShotglass wrote: Thu Sep 09, 2021 1:19 am I wonder why no one has just made a quiet drum kit. Maybe it would fill no new role that a traditional kit or e-kit would. I don't know how it would even be possible. Maybe really shallow, stuffed shells?
Bout as shallow as it gets. I'd bet you could cut some pieces of foam for each drum and keep em pretty quiet. Plus when you feel the need to be a total badass you can remove the foam and have an all-roto kit.
Re: Anybody use an electric drum kit for practice?
18You can put silent stroke drum heads on any kit, and Zildjian makes low volume cymbals. Together, they are excellent for saving your ears and for saving your relationships with family and neighbors. They are also fantastic for playing along to records. I've been using them for a couple years now and they're great!VaticanShotglass wrote: Thu Sep 09, 2021 1:19 am I wonder why no one has just made a quiet drum kit. Maybe it would fill no new role that a traditional kit or e-kit would. I don't know how it would even be possible. Maybe really shallow, stuffed shells?
Re: Anybody use an electric drum kit for practice?
19Yes. I mimic'd that Steve Smith setup I posted at the beginning of the thread (kick pad yes, silent hats no.. just more muffled). The mesh heads feel good enough, and the quiet ride is more satisfying than hitting rubber. My partner is happier and unless I'm willing to build out a room-in-a-room setup at home (I haven't completely ruled it out..) this is probably as good as it will get.yard barf wrote: Thu Sep 09, 2021 10:36 amYou can put silent stroke drum heads on any kit, and Zildjian makes low volume cymbals. Together, they are excellent for saving your ears and for saving your relationships with family and neighbors. They are also fantastic for playing along to records. I've been using them for a couple years now and they're great!VaticanShotglass wrote: Thu Sep 09, 2021 1:19 am I wonder why no one has just made a quiet drum kit. Maybe it would fill no new role that a traditional kit or e-kit would. I don't know how it would even be possible. Maybe really shallow, stuffed shells?
Re: Anybody use an electric drum kit for practice?
20Can you speak to this [emphasis mine]:yard barf wrote: silent stroke drum heads
To me, this suggests these would have a similar feel to Roland V-Drums which are b-b-b-b-b-b-boingy...which is fun but maybe not a close substitute to standard acoustic drum heads. Honestly I think the "plastic frisbee" pads feel closer to actual drums than these do if that's the end goal.the remo website description wrote: "Constructed with 1-ply mesh material, Silentstroke™ drumheads provide a soft spring-like feel"