The Evolution of Electronic Drums
Electronic drums have become a permanent fixture in drumming history. They are certainly the go-to solution for apartment dwellers or those with noise and space restrictions, but their use extends beyond these scenarios, increasingly embraced by both beginners and professional drummers in various situations.
The History of the Electronic Drums
Looking back, electronic drums gained popularity in the 1980s when major artists began incorporating them into their music.
Initially, they were primarily used in rock/pop bands of the era, representing a significant technological advancement at the time. However, both in terms of sound and expressiveness, they were still a long way from satisfying more discerning drummers.
Over the years, electronic drums have seen substantial technological advances in sample quality and pad responsiveness, offering drummers greater dynamics and expressiveness. Mesh heads or TCS pads, for instance, not only provide a very realistic feel akin to acoustic drums but also accurately capture and reproduce every played note, thanks to the modules' high polyphony.
Sound Engines, Features & Samples
Samples have also become increasingly realistic, featuring recordings of top-notch drums, cymbals, and percussion. Specialized microphones and techniques capture every detail of each piece, delivering extremely faithful sounds.
Other features, such as training functions, backing tracks, metronomes, and effects, have also been greatly enhanced, contributing significantly to the popularity of electronic drums among drummers of all levels.
When discussing electronic drums, it's also worth mentioning electronic percussion or pads, which come loaded with various sounds and are highly versatile, making them a great addition to acoustic drum setups.
Who Benefits From Electronic Drums
Let's delve into how we can make the most out of electronic drums in different scenarios:
Hobbyists
The largest group of electronic drum users is hobbyists. For those often living in noise-sensitive environments, electronic drums offer a great alternative. As mentioned earlier, with advancing technology, electronic drums provide numerous tools for beginners:
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Training Functions and Metronome: These are invaluable tools that aid in the drummer's learning process, making it dynamic and enjoyable. Modules typically come with an integrated metronome that can be customized in various ways, including time signatures.
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Backing Tracks: Most modules are equipped with diverse backing tracks spanning different musical styles. Some allow you to adjust the tempo, mute the drum track, and activate the metronome. Specific models even let you record your performance, which is excellent for self-assessment and tracking progress.
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Kit Customization: This feature allows drummers to unleash their creativity by customizing kits with sounds from acoustic drums, percussion, and effects. Many models also allow customization of effects such as ambiance, cymbal size, sustain, and drum dampening—offering endless possibilities.
Apps: The majority of electronic drum models on the market today offer companion apps that connect the drums to smartphones or tablets. These apps may include accompaniment tracks, recording capabilities, and social media sharing features, all designed to enhance the user experience.
Professionals
Increasingly, professional drummers are adopting electronic drums in various capacities. Not every professional drummer has access to a complete studio for practice or recording at any time, making electronic drums essential.
With today's technology, connecting electronic drum modules to computers and other devices for quick and easy recordings and pre-production has become straightforward. This also facilitates online drum lessons, as modules can be directly connected to computers or other devices.
Some professional drummers also incorporate electronic drum pads or percussion pads into their setups, creating hybrid setups that allow them to play a variety of percussion sounds, effects, and samples. Examples include legendary drummers like Akira Jimbo or Neil Peart (RIP), among many others, who have embraced hybrid setups.
Churches, Venues, Studios & Schools
Small to medium-sized churches, as well as bars and other venues, increasingly opt for electronic drums over acoustic ones to avoid disturbing attendees. This solves volume issues and enhances overall environmental comfort. Music schools also often favour electronic drums because they don't require soundproof rooms and are easy to connect to computers or other devices, facilitating online lessons.
In conclusion, the evolution of electronic drums—from their inception to the present day—has revolutionized the world of drums and music as a whole. With continual advancements, electronic drums are steadily gaining popularity among drummers, even among the most discerning.
Beginner Electronic Drums to Rent or Purchase
For the beginner who wants handy tools like a metronome and training functions:
Alesis Nitro Max 8-piece electronic drum kit with mesh heads and Bluetooth
Nitro Max raises the bar for both beginner and more advanced drummers, delivering an authentic playing experience with ultra-quiet Alesis mesh drum heads, all in a compact design. Featuring 32 different kits from the renowned BFD drum sample library, Nitro Max offers seamless play along with music streaming services via Bluetooth, a host of built-in learning features, and 3 months of Drumeo for unlimited lessons with the world's best instructors.
Purchase: $599
Rent: $24/week or $47/month
Roland TD-02K 5-piece electronic drum kit with stand
The TD-02 series brings you the world's finest entry-level electronic drumming experience at an affordable price. Backed by decades of V-Drums innovation, these compact and highly expressive kits are far greater than the sum of their parts.
Every element works together to form a complete musical foundation, from the world-class sounds and ultra-responsive pads to the onboard practice tools, robust hardware, and practical features for reducing noise when playing at home. And with expansion options such as Bluetooth® connectivity for mobile devices, upgradable pads, and more.
Purchase: $579
Rent: $25/week or $49/month
Yamaha DTX402K Electronic Drum Kit
The DTX402 sounds combine years of experience creating authentic, top-quality drum sounds with 10 built-in drum kits, including acoustic effects and electronic sounds to help you find the perfect voice. You can easily create your own kits and choose from a variety of high-quality sounds.
Give voice to your musical sensibilities with the expressive range of the DTX. The DTX comes with 10 built-in training functions. Connect the module to your computer via USB and generate audio data from the sounds produced by the DTX. The rack is made of sturdy steel with four vertical posts. It is also compact, lightweight, and portable, so you can take it with you wherever you go.
Purchase: $499
Rent: $20/week or $40/month
Professional Electronic Drums to Rent or Purchase
For the professional, looking to record him/herself on the fly:
Roland VQD106 V-Drums Quiet Design 5-Piece Electronic Drumkit
Roland V-Drums are already some of the quietest electronic drums available, thanks to years of research and development, precision engineering, and the ability to monitor with headphones. Yet even standard V-Drums can sometimes be too loud to enjoy.
The physical noise of striking pads may be bothersome to others in your living space. In addition, the kick and hi-hat pedals transfer low-end thumps and vibrations to the floor, which resonate through the structure and create audible noise in other rooms.
Purchase: $2699
Rent: $110/week or $220/month
Alesis Strata Prime 10-Piece Electronic Drum Kit with Touch Screen Drum Module
Strata Prime is an electronic drum kit without compromise. Every detail has been carefully crafted to deliver a responsive, natural experience for the player. All-mesh drumheads have adjustable tension; the 360-degree cymbals are free to move and respond like acoustic cymbals, and the hi-hat is laser-accurate and plays naturally with any hi-hat stand or hi-hat technique.
Together, they create the kind of expressive feeling that you should expect from a meticulously crafted instrument. However, under the hood, there is a truly state-of-the-art sound engine that features a vast, detailed library of beautifully recorded drum kits.
Purchase: $4990
Rent: $194/week or $387/month
Hybrid Electronic Drums for Rent or Purchase
Yamaha EAD10 Electronic Acoustic Drum Module
With the EAD10 Electronic Acoustic Drum Module, drummers can dynamically change the sound of their acoustic kit. From practicing to recording or performing, EAD10 has features for all applications. Built-in bass drum triggering for reinforced attack, and XY mics to capture the overall drum kit, combine to deliver high-quality sound in any environment and on any kit.
Using an iOS App, drummers can easily record, edit, and share their playing. Simply put, EAD10 will make your drums do more.
Purchase: $749
Rent: $23/week or $46/month
Alesis Strike MultiPad
The Strike MultiPad has been designed around the drummer's need to sample, edit, loop, and perform seamlessly. To that end, the MultiPad offers an unprecedented 8000+ built-in sounds, 32GB of storage and the ability to record samples from any source (smartphone, mic, off the internet, via USB, from virtually any other audio device).
The nine velocity-sensitive pads feature customizable RGB lighting and can be easily configured for maximum playing convenience. Plus, the customizable RGB lights under each pad ensure players never miss a beat, no matter how dark or foggy the stage is.
Purchase: $899
Rent: $33/week or $65/month
Roland SPD-SX Pro Percussion Sampling Pad
The SPD-SX PRO is the ultimate sampling pad for the most demanding gigs. With years of road testing and extensive user feedback from the SPD-S and SPD-SX, the top-tier SPD-SX PRO raises the bar again. Harnessing the advanced sample pad technology of its predecessors, the SPD-X-PRO boasts an array of requested professional enhancements and is built for life on the road.
Purchase: $1599
Rent: $58/week or $115/month
